Pride and Prejudice theme analysis

• Social class

  P&P centres around the role of social class and status in romantic life, people know their place in society. Noble and wealthy families were disinclined to marry below themselves. Since in the upper class the primary reasons for marriage was status wealth and land, love is pitted against marriage. Therefore social circles are distinguished by old and new money, inclusions in the gentry and aristocratic status. In the end Darcy and Elizabeth must overcome social class by disobeying the wish of Lady C that Darcy must not marry below him
• Reputation

  Reputation, especially a woman's reputation is woven through the novel. Instance Elizabeth's walk to visit Jane is not understood as caring and noble but rather unconventional. Another example is Lydia Bennet's elopement which potentially would have prevented the other Bennet sisters from finding suitable partners. Mr Collins writes to recommend that they disown Lydia and consider her dead. This illustrates the severity of Lydia's actions ans how they might prevent Elizabeth marrying someone like Darcy
• Love Vs Marriage

  At the centre of P&P, is the love story between the two protagonists. Austen shows the complexity of marital arrangement in a time when status and wealth played a more significant role. Many of the couples in the novel marry for practicality such as Charlotte and Mr C.. Austen uses these couples such as E+D to illustrate what honest relationships look like. E+D's prejudices act to build tension throughout the novel, ultimately leading to a positive conclusion. In this way Austen emphasises that love is often littered with misunderstandings and complications.
• Role of women - physical appearance

  One of the earliest points established is the fact that women are to be admired physically by men. It's perhaps odd to see even high society acting in such an overtly physical and sexual manner; the men surveying the women and judging who's the most attractive. It's surprising how open an indiscreet the conversation between the men was. The surrounding women could all hear this conversation. But, we can see that a lot of these women are proud and celebratory of the comments that they receive about their appearance.
• Role of women - physical appearance

  The role of a women is made very clear: they must work to attract the men they are interest in, men may act with a careless nonchalance but women must fight for their man. Mary Bennet is a an example to show that a women's looks are vital. Because she only has intelligence she cannot attract a suitable partner, reinforcing the importance of a woman's looks,
• Pride

  In the character Mr Darcy, Austen shows us that those who evolve from excessive pride become better human beings. With the potential for greater happiness. At the beginning of the novel Darcy is extraordinarily proud and all to aware of his own elevated social status, so much so he disdains other and exhibits un-gentlemanlike rudeness. In chapter 58, we see a distinct change in Darcy's character. He uses such strong language that really highlights the extent that Darcy now recognises the value of humane decency over excessive pride.
• Pride

  Whereas Darcy evolves, Mr Collins and Lady Catherine remain static throughout the novel in terms of their rigid and excessive pride, which stifles and narrows their perspective on what is really important in life. Austen persistently satirises both characters to gently insult there pretensions. Chapter 19 is partially amusing and features Mr Collins's proposal to Elizabeth.
• Pride

  Not one of the reasons for marriage mentions anything at all about Elizabeth and could be directed to any woman. Such self-centredness, smacks of smug pride was Mr Collins's total lack of awareness that such tactics are unlikely to endear himself to his proposed partner becomes amusing and in short he becomes a caricature for the reader. Those who do not learn from their pride are mocked and influence diminished. Those who do are far happier and more rounded humans
• Prejudice

  Early in the novel Elizabeth makes up her mind that Darcy is a proud, inhuman and spoiled who commits great wrong towards the good natured Mr Wickham. In chapter 26, ignorant of his opportunistic, conniving, self-absorption she praises Mr Wickham to her aunt Mrs Gardiner.
• The effect of the Letter

  The effect of the letter is to remove all her former prejudices, ultimately leaving her open to love and an equal relationship with a man who has been on a similar journey of a greater self understanding in relation to his pride. Darcy's letter forces Elizabeth to recognise her previous prejudices
• Family

  Austens presentation of family differences markedly from our experience as modern readers. Whereas nowadays we are resolutely determined to express ourselves and to be seen as individuals, in Pride and Prejudice shows the close integration of families. Families who, irrespective of the wishes of individual members, will be viewed and judged collectively. In the early chapters of the novel Elizabeth and Jane find themselves repeatedly embraced by their mother and to a lesser and perhaps more forgivable extent their younger sisters.
• Family

  Mrs Bennet is frequently tactless and overbearing which causes her to overstep the bounds of propriety and ironically severely hinders the soul business of her life, getting her daughters married. Mrs Bennet's words imply complacent pride in her own position and social status and unfortunately this pride is utterly misplaced given the perilous situation of herself and her daughter's once Mr Bennet dies. Common prudence would suggest reticence within earshot might be a good idea irrespective of any personal feelings if dislike.
• Family

  Mrs Bennet simply doesn't get this and crucially in Pride and Prejudice how your family members behave matters. Inappropriate behaviour by family members particularly if the family doesn't have much money can cost you dearly and so it proves in Pride and Prejudice. The most obvious example in the novel of the collective importance of family however, is seen in Lydia's elopement with the charmer villain Wickham. And her families reaction to this.
• Family

  Such a family scandal must inevitably torpedo Elizabeth's own chances of a successful marriage and with him the financial solvency needed to survive following the death of her father. What Lydia has done must reflect on every member of the family and imply collective moral turpitude.
• Marriage

  Women depend on marriage to secure a respectable social position and unless they have their own independent fortune, unlikely, they depend on it for their financial survival. Mrs Bennet may be one of Austen's satires, but an intelligent reader must recognise that her obsession with finding husbands for her 5 daughters stems for an acute appreciation of the necessity of marriage for their future well-being.
• Marriage

  Austen uses Mrs Bennet's own problems with her relationship with Mr Bennet to spotlight the problems of marrying for the wrong reasons. Austen makes it clear that Mr Bennet is unhappy in his marriage and the first initial months aside, regrets it. Very early in their marriage affection was gone forever. respect, esteem, confidence had vanishes forever and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown. Intelligent men marrying beautiful but ignorant women doesn't work.
• marriage

  Mr Bennet is even more explicit about the importance of what he terms an equal marriage. Misery awaits those who marry without potential for mental link. Mr Bennet is advocating a 19th century form of equality in marriage, broadening Mrs Bennets narrow minded perspective in which nothing matters beyond wealth and position. But Austen highlights to her readers that genuine misery awaits for men and women who marry each other without the potential for a mental link.
• marriage 


  Darcy and Lizzy's relationship is reassuring because the relationship between them is pure and they have genuine respect for each other's minds.