Pride and Prejudice
Going once, going twice, SOLD to the wealthiest and most eligible bachelor in town. In a society based on monetary values, many marriages came to being in this manner and many marriages did not occur because of this monetary priority. The social views and values of early nineteenth century aristocratic England revolved around who had money and who did not producing attitudes both materialistic and self-involved. Jane Austen saw these fallacies in society. Her novel Pride and Prejudice, employs the elements of pride and prejudice to satirize the social values of her era through such characters as Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Mr. Collins. Mrs. Bennet's actions of pride and prejudice in her pursuit of social acceptance for her family develops stereotypical early nineteenth century socially driven woman. Throughout the novel, Mrs. Bennet is constantly securing her place in society by making sure her family is acquainted with anyone and everyone who is "someone". Even her marriage is an example of a social victory for her family because Mr. Bennet is a gentleman. His "captiv[ation] by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour, which youth and beauty usually give, " (155) causes him to mar
With that same snobby attitude she tells Eliza that she is not worthy of Darcy's affection and demands that she refuse his proposal. When Eliza states, "We never had a governess [,]" (110) Lady Catherine is exceedingly surprised and comments on how odd that is, pushing her snobby attitude even higher. Lady Catherine de Bourgh states that Elizabeth is " a gentleman's daughter. Bennet's mindless actions and comments, Austen develops a sarcastic air about her indicating both ignorance and superficiality stemming from the system of values to which she is accustomed. Bingley moves into Netherfield Park, Mrs. As he proposes to Elizabeth, he tells her indirectly that he lives to please Lady Catherine by yet again praising that "her [Lady Catherine] manners [are] beyond any thing I can describe; and your wit and vivacity I think must be acceptable to her, especially when tempered with the silence and respect which her rank will inevitably excite. Each character is a "child" of its society--born and bred to act as they do and treat others as part of a "pecking order. As a lady of title, she has both money and status and is self-assured others lofty impressions of her. He writes, "let me advise you then, my dear Sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence" (193) which is ironic, because he is a reverend. Thus much is for my general intention in favour of matrimony" (72-73). But I am particularly attached to these young men; and know them to be so much attached to me! -They were excessively sorry to go! But they always are" (138). Her inferior status causes her daughters to be deemed less worthy of wealthy gentlemen. " Pride and Prejudice explores a society that thrived off of money and status and mirrors people's flaws in hopes that they would notice and correct them. But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts?" (232) pointing out that she is not of "pure aristocratic blood" and not worthy of a man like her nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy.
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