Pride and Prejudice
The thesis that I propose to explore in this paper is illusion and reality.The illusion of personality and society is replaced by the reality of lifeas the main characters experience and learn from their various errors of"pride and prejudice". The theme of illusion and reality is also exploredin the social aspects of the period as well and through the novel we aregiven an insight into the realities and prejudices in the society. Theprogress of the novel is a process of uncovering the reality of individualsand society that lies hidden behind ignorance, prejudice and pride. Jane Austen's England was polarized between the various classes. Theupper class or gentry enjoyed all the privileges while many of the poorwent hungry. Between 1790 and 1819 several bread riots occurred; manypeople in England were concerned with the disparity between the rich andpoor, and an unjust system that prejudiced against the poor in favor of therich and those of high status. Much of this social prejudice is evident inthe novel and forms an important aspect of the illusion under which many ofthe characters labor. This can be seen in Lady Catherine de Bourgh's
" (Austen 16) It is also important to notethat Jane Austen does not make Elizabeth a conventional beauty; this servesto increase the illusion as to her true nature. With a strong prejudice against every thing he might say, she began his account of what had happened at Netherfield. There is also thefurther ironic reality in that she is fact scolding people who arestarving. " (Austen 130) She speaks of the 'cottagers' in a demeaning way, with obviously nounderstanding of them as fellow human beings, but rather sees them asinferior individuals whom she can 'scold into harmony'. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. whenever any of the Cottagers were disposed tobe quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into thevillage to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scoldthem into harmony and plenty. Much had been done, and much had been said in the regiment since thepreceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined lately with theiruncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actually been hinted thatColonel Forster was going to be married". But Darcy is already tornbetween his true feelings and his prejudices. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a differentsort. She read, with an eagerness which hardly left her power of comprehension, and from impatience of knowing what the next sentence might bring, was incapable of attending to the sense of the one before her eyes". What is important is that one of the underlying themesof the novel is that if one does not perceive reality, then often tragedyand illusion become an ever present possibility in life. In conclusion, the theme of illusion and reality flows throughout the noveland the characters that grow and evolve are those - like Darcy andElizabeth - who realize, often through painful experience, the realities oflife. She finds that Darcy is theopposite of what she believes him to be. "Her feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined.
Common topics in this essay:
Darcy Elizabeth,
Austen Elizabeth,
Lady Catherine,
,
Austen's England,
Jane Austen,
Colonel Forster,
Lydia Bennet,
Catherine Lydia,
Elizabeth Darcy,
illusion reality,
austen 16 note,
prejudice pride,
reflected characters,
catherine lydia,
throughout novel,
jane austen,
theme illusion,
darcy elizabeth,
strong prejudice,
austen 16,
theme illusion reality,
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Acceptance Essays
