It is a truth universally acknowledged
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife².(pg.1) The first sentence of Jane Austenıs Pride and Prejudice is perhaps the most famous opening of all English comedies concerning social manners. It encapsulates the ambitions of the empty headed Mrs. Bennet, and her desire to find a good match for each of her five daughters from the middle-class young men of the familyıs acquaintance: ³The business of her life was to get her daughters married, its solace was visiting and news.²(pg. 3) In this, she receives little help from her mild and indolent spouse, who regards her aspirations with a tolerant and witty cynicism. The main strand of this story concerns the prejudice of Elizabeth Bennet against the apparent arrogance of her future suitor, Fitzwilliam Darcy, and the blow to his pride in falling in love with her. Though a satisfactory outcome is eventually achieved, it is set against the social machinations of many other figures; the haughty Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the fatuous Mr. Collins; the younger Bennet daughter, Lydia; and her lover, Wickham, with whom she scandalously elopes. It is often pointed out that Austenıs novels emphasize characterization and ro
Since the quality of good sense is so important for the characters, we should know what it specifically is. The two characteristics already mentioned, intelligence and sensitivity, are obviously essential. A sense of responsibility also seems to be part of it. Mrs. and Mr. Bennet are not sensible when they fail to guide their family. This responsibility involves a consideration for the feelings of other people which silly characters as Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Lydia Bennet conspicuously lack. This stress on good sense brings characters together as well. Jane, Elizabeth, and the Gardiners are tied to each other by affection and an alert confidence in each otherıs judgment. They can rely on both the mind and the heart of the othersı; this sensible and spirited attitude is what draws Darcy to Elizabeth in the first place. Elizabethıs irony is lighthearted when Jane asks when she began to love Mr. Darcy: ³It has been coming on so gradually that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberly² (pg.163). She can be bitterly cutting however in her remark on Darcyıs role in separating Bingley and Jane: ³Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of him.² (pg. 202) manticism, but in Pride and Prejudice the emphasis is on the irony, values and realism of the characters as they develop throughout the story. Jane Austenıs major weakness as a writer is related to her greatest strength. Her novels are important because they demonstrate the crude vigorous power of society which is not just of her day, but exists today, although somewhat adapted, and still exerts a powerf
Some common words found in the essay are:
Pride Prejudice, Meryton Community, Jane Austenıs, Whickham Lydia, Jane Austen, Darcy Elizabeth, Bingley Jane, Elizabeth Gardiners, Mary Bennet, Charlotte Lucas, pride prejudice, jane austenıs, lady catherine de, falling love, de bourgh, catherine de, lady catherine, bennet daughter, catherine de bourgh, intelligence sensitivity,
Approximate Word count = 1142
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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