EB Context
&
~
Themes:
Love: Darcy and Elizabeth must overcome obstacles in order to have a good
& Jane Austen was born in Steventon England in ending, for example the tension at the start between the lovers due to one’s
own personalities. Elizabeth’s pride causes her to. Misjudge Darcy on the basis
1775. Her Dad was a rector for a local parish of a bad first impression. Mr Darcy prejudice against Elizabeth’s poor social
and mostly taught them at home. standings blinds him. Although Austen has a more cynical style of writing on love
& She began writing as a teen & completed
&
she demonstrates how true love can conquer society’s pressures.
Reputation: Austen illustrates a society where a women’s reputation is
Pride And Prejudice between 1796-1797 and the most important thing, how women are expected to act a particular way in
society and stepping outside the social norms is frowned upon. This is seen
published it in 1813, keepin her anonymity just when Elizabeth walks to Netherfield and arrives in muddy skirt. As well as the ill
using “by a lady” . mannered Mrs Bennet gives her a bad reputation. When Lydia elopes with
& She wrote during a time where class divisions Wickham and lives its him outside of wedlock, Austen treats the reputational
impact this has seriously, by having a relationship with him places Lydia outside
were deeply rooted in family connections and the social pale. This could have impacted all of the daughters as without
Darcy’shelp it would have pushed them all outside of the aspects of being
in her. Work she critiques the assumptions married.
and prejudice of the upper-class. She often & class: class being linked as a theme to reputation is shown throughout the
satirises snobs. novel, they both reflect the straight regimented life for middle and upper class
in Regency England. Whilst the benefits are middle class and socialise with upper
& She often speaks on the traditional gender
roles presented in society and how marriage
class like Bingley and Darcy they are clearly socially inferior. However Austen
illustrates how love can break down class barriers, by the marriages of Darcy-
Elizabeth and Bingley-Jane. However, Austen herself can be seen as classist as
is presented as the end goal for women.
&
she doesn’t represent the lower classes.
Family: family is an integral part of the novel, all of the characters operate
inside of their families connections and that shapes there perspectives and
descisions. For example the behavior and influence of family members has an
enormous impact on their lives “the business of (Mrs.bennets) life was to get
her daughters married” the Bennet sisters constantly have to navigate their
mothers plans & schemes. Whilst male characters like Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley
have much more of a social and financial independence, they still rely on the
Pemberley:Darcys estate, sits at the
-
female family members for judgement and opinions. The theme shows how
centre of the novel. Elizabeth visits once her characters are never totally autonomous when they have family connections.
feelings have warmed up, she is enchanted by its
beauty. “A stream of some natural importance
& Integrity: Elizabeth considers herself to have high standards of integrity
and is often disappointed by the way others behave. “The more I see of the
was swelled into greater”. Pemberley is a symbol world, the more am. I dissatisfied with it, and everyday confirms my belief of
within a symbol crossing class lines. inconsistency of all human characters.”. By the end of the novel Elizabeths
integrity is rewarded by marrying a man. Who shows her respect and makes
her happy. The novel endorsed the importance of integrity but also reminds the
Symbols
&
reader not to be too quick to pass judgement on who has it and who doesn’t.
Gender: the story takes place in a time when gender roles were ridged
/1
sniff men and women had completely different set of options and influences.
marriage is a pressing question for the female characters as its the only way
they can get economic stability and autonomy. as upper class women they
The outside: outside settings in couldn’t work to earn a living.. marriage was the only way to be able to move
Marriage: instead of just being an expression of love, beyond their families. However a women’s marriage ability relied heavily on an
pride and prejudice usually signify or The creation of a couple, in the novel marriage impeccable repuation. For chastity, and for women like Georgiana Darcy and
authenticity and clear judgement. When represents The women’s prospects for the future.. In Lydia a reckless decision to trust the wrong man
the characters are outdoor the Regency England women couldn’t hold onto property and so
demands from society don’t cloud the after the passing of a father women would have to rely on
characters judgement as much. The husbands or male relatives for security. Mrs Bennets
characters see Wachovia for who they
really are. When Elizabeth asks three
excitement over Mr Bingley is because it could lead to one of ·
the daughters being “established” implying permanently
miles too Netherfield, Darcy notices her secure.
beauty and when Elizabeth sees Critic’s opinions: Austen is accused of only
Pemberley she starts to see Mr Darcy Writing about middle class, portraying a limited world. She
for who he truly is. Would have even exposed to poverty as she did parish
work. The class system she speaks of only sees middle
class and upper class, when the lower classes are
E
mentioned they re servants who seem happy in their
position. This was a shared failure from most England at
Motifs: courtship, journeys, misjudgements the time.
#
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller eviefaye1776. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.32. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.