Pride and Prejudice

A detailed Summary of Pride and Prejudice

"A lady should be quiet in her manners, natural and unassuming in her language, careful to wound no one's feelings, but giving generously and freely from the treasures of her pure mind to her friends. Scorning no one openly, she should feel gentle pity for the unfortunate, the inferior and the ignorant, at the same time carrying herself with an innocence and single heartedness which disarms ill nature, and wins respect and love from all." (Victorian Station Online)

This a description of what a proper lady was expected to act like during the times in which the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was written. Women were expected to be passive and be consistently compassionate and understanding. The novel, which deals with the upper class during the 1800's, contains a diverse collection of characters that posses various personalities -from the balanced to the ridiculous. The main character, Ms. Elizabeth Bennet, may at first glance seem to posses somewhat typical characteristics and behaviors of her time and class, but at a closer examination, one will find that she possesses a very unusual personality for her time, because she at times completely rejects the expectations of her by others, she has different views on marriage

but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. You shewed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased. (239).

And on went the conversation the women finding her with "no style, no taste, no beauty." (31) Knowing what would be thought of her, Elizabeth went anyway. Elizabeth shows great independence and confidence when she goes to Lady Catherine and, to Lady Catherine's surprise, stands up to her.

Women were not given the opportunity to have an education equal to that of men. A woman was normally educated in things that would help her attract a husband "such as the ability to draw, sing, play music, or speak modern (i.e. non-Classical) languages (generally French of Italian)." (Pemberley Online) When introduced to someone, especially a male, a woman would make a point to speak of her accomplishments as was commented by Mr. Bingley in a discussion between himself, Mr. Darcy, and Caroline, "I am sure that I never heard a young women spoken of for the first time without being informed that she was very accomplished." (Austen 112) In the same discussion Caroline explains what a woman must know to deserve the word "accomplished", "A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and language." (113) With all the importance placed on a lady's abilities, it would be natural to assume that they would all work very hard at perfecting these skills, but with Ms. Elizabeth Bennet this was not the case. Elizabeth had potential when it came to playing the piano but she didn't practice as much as she should to master the art; she even admitted that she wasn't as good as she could be "I suppose it is my on fault because I would not take the trouble of practicing..." (145) If a woman read she should "read neither poetry nor politics, but keep to books of piety and cookery," (Pemberley Online). But Elizabeth is very fond of reading and while visiting Jane at Netherfield, she spends much of her time reading which seems to bother Caroline somewhat, "Will you read all night? Why don't you put that book down and join us Elizabeth?" (Austen 32)

She did indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country because her sister has a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy! cried Miss Bingley (31)

Elizabeth has an independent streak running through her as well as a deep love for her sister Jane. It is this indepen

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Approximate Word count = 1657
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English