Pride and prejudice

  

                Pride and prejudice

                                         - Jane Austen

                        

                                           ( Jane Austen :- 1775 - 1817)

          

                            Pride and prejudice is an 1813 novel of manners written by Jane Austen. Jane Austen was an English novelist known for primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security.

           

                                     

                 Pride and Prejudice mostly called a romantic novel, it is also a satire. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet , the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgements and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

                          Pride and Prejudice has consistently appeared near the top of " most - loved books "among  literary scholars and the reading public. It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature with over 20 million copies sold, and has inspired many derivatives in modern literature.

                         For more than a century, dramatic adaptations, reprints, unofficial sequels, films, and Tv versions of pride and prejudice have portrayed the memorable characters and themes of the novel, reaching mass audiences.

                Thinking activity on Pride and Prejudice :-

           1}   Explain title " Pride and Prejudice " :-

         

                   

                A title is one of the important aspects of a novel. A good little should hint at the general theme of the novel and at the same time should carry a deeper meaning. For example, in R.K. Narayan's The Guide, the title is not only hinting at Raju's profession , but it's also hinting at his seeming guidance as a saint to the people of the village which is highly ironic.

                   The title Pride and Prejudice is also relevant in the Merryton   episode. The action of the novel weaves itself forward through Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's prejudice until they melt and mellow to mutual liking and happy marriage. After the Merryton incident Elizabeth's attitude towards Darcy gets twisted. Her prejudice against Darcy is further strengthened by a series of incidents happening successively. Elizabeth's meeting with wickham is one such incident. Wickham,the son of the steward of Darcy's father paints Darcy as black as he can.

                   Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy is further made strong by colonel Fitzwilliam's statementent. The colonel says that Darcy had saved Bingley from an unfortunate marriage. This at once makes Elizabeth realize that Darcy is responsible for the separation of Jane and Bingley.

                      Elizabeth's prejudice slowly lifts like a dag. Ironically enough , Elizabeth comes to know of Darcy's sterling qualities only after she has rejected his suit. Darcy's letter the next day show him in new light. She comes to know of Wickham's wicked nature. He also gives a valid justification of his intention to separate Bingley from Jane. 

                     Thus, Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's prejudice play a vital role throughout the novel. Jane Austen does not simplify the study of pride and prejudice in the novel . Elizabeth too seems to be proud of her capability of judging people. Similarly Darcy ia prejudiced against any outside the circle of his class and so long held the view that girls of beauty as well as virtue is a monopoly of the aristocracy.

                    Thus , the  title Pride and Prejudice seems to fit the story when we consider that the two main protagonists of the novel are Elizabeth and Darcy.

        2}    Can we say that Elizabeth is a Modern woman?

                                          

   Elizabeth Bennet is one of Jane Austen's most memorable characters. Elisabeth Bennet ia the protagonist in the 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. She is often referred to as Eliza or Lizzie by her friends and family. Elizabeth is the second child in a family of five daughters.

                        Elizabeth has all the following characteristics in her which make her an attractive character of the novel moral integrity, character strength, charming personality and superb intelligence.

                         Elizabeth does not only express liberal feminist ideas but she also acts on them. She chooses to go her own way and make her own decisions, thus establishing a very strong and independent character. Elizabeth has inner strength. She doesn't value people and things just because society values them. She judges according to her own values. She has high human values, and employs her good sense and strong will as she sees fit, thinking independently of her family , friends and neighbors.

                        Here some reasons, why Elizabeth Bennet is a very relatable to modern woman :-  

→  She is confident in herself and won't let others biases bring her own. She      is witty with a touch of sweetness. Her confidence is something to aspire for . Her carefree attitude and animated conversation drew the attention of even Darcy, who cannot help being attracted to her.

   

→    She is fiercely loyal to her sisters...Even the annoying one. She values her family and friends. Her regard for Jane is evident in the way she runs to Bingley's house on learning about Jane's illness, with no regard for the distance or bad weather.

→       she refuses to let men intimidate her and calls them out on their rude behaviour. She challenges others through her witty and intelligent refortsrather than through anger and petty remarks.

→     She doesn't conform to others' low expectations of her. She would rather sacrifice financial security than be stuck in a loveless marriage with unworthy of her.

→       She doesn't place a man's value on his appearance. She judges a man for his morals rather than his attractiveness.

→     She recognizes her faults and tries to right her mistakes rather than stay  in denial. Even the best person can make mistakes. Elizabeth is mistaken about Darcy, and realizes her assessment of him was wrong. She is quick to accept her mistakes and rectify them.

→    Education for women was not something which was fashionable in those times. She is well read, opinionated and loves a good argument.  

                  Elizabeth Bennet is like a breath of fresh air, while regency novels. Her rebellious nature and never say die attitude makes me root for her. In this way she is nineteenth century women but her personality make her modern women, concern her to twenty first century's women.

         3} Jane Bennet is representation of traditional marriage? If yes then explain.

                    

                        

 

                                  Jane is a very pretty girl, she is not only prettiest of the five daughters of the Bennet family but prettier than most of the girls living in the neighborhood of Longbourn. As the oldest, Jane Bennet heads up the group. The two most prominent of Jane's   characteristics ate her beauty and goodness. Whenever another character talks or thinks about Jane, they usually use one of these words to describe her.

                           Jane's desire to see only the best in people becomes rather than extreme at time, as in her disbelief that wickham could be a liar, but she is not so entrenched i her world view that her opinion cannot be changed. Take, for example, her relationship with Caroline Single when Jane finally recognizes Miss Bingley's when Jane finally recognizes Miss Bingley's insincerity, she stops making excuses for her and does not pursue the friendship.

                   Although Jane enters into one of the happiest and most successful marriages in the novel, her relationship with Singlet is a rather static one. Just as she is consistently good and kind, her feelings and regard for Single never falter or change. She feels sorrow when he leaves, of course, but that does not diminish her love for him.

                Their relationship, while pleasant, is not marked by the range of emotions that Elizabeth and Darcy feel for one another. Her marriage, then is favorable because she and Single married for love and are compatible, but is not quite ideal because it lacks the depth found in Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage.

                Jane sees that this marriage is a sensible decision, although an unimaginable match. Thus, we see that Jane tends to hold the more stereotypical and traditional view of society. This is patently seen in this extract when Jane says, " consider Mr. Collin's rospe ability and Charlotte's prudent steady character." Jane is more practical when it comes to charlotte Luca's marriage and understands that a woman should marry for financial security. Jane in an attempt to find the best in this situation compliments their personalities and tries to persuade her opinionated. In that way Jane was practical about marriage than her sister, we find her as a representative of traditional marriage that also give priority secure future and wealthiness than love.

       4}  Do you agree with inheritance and rules and regulations which is explain in the novel ( Girls can't get inheritance ) Give your point of view on that rules.

      

                   In the novel Mr. Bennet, the father of protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, had only a life interest in Longbourn, the family's home and principal source of income. As the property was entailed Mr. Bennet had no power to sell it or gift it through his will as it was to be inherited by the next male heir.

               If Mr. & Mrs Bennet had a son Longbourn would have passed to him, but it could not pass to any of his five daughters. Instead, Mr. Bennet's cousin Mr. Collins as the next nearest male heir would inherit the property. Upon Mr. Bennet's death Mrs. Bennet would get a life interest in the estate but the five Bennet daughters, would lose their home and income. In the novel Mrs. Bennet is motivated by the desire to arrange a good marriage for each of her daughters to ensure their financial security.

                I'm disagree with this te of rules about inheritance. Because it is not important that only man or boys are eligible for inheritance. Girls or women are also eligible for it. It illustrates the problems that can arise through the entailing of property if there is no male heir.

                    If there is no male hier then girl should also inheritance their will because she is also part of family and closely attached with them. It's not right that girl should have to get married for getting inheritance. There is same rules and ragulation for both men and women. They both are same. And they both have to equal right of inheritance.

    5}     Can we say that this novel is focusing on marriage, inheritance, male dominating and class conflict?

                            The novel focuses on the different ways love may grow or disappear, and whether or not society. This novel is romance novel of manner . This novel is mainly focusing on marriage, inheritance, male dominating and class conflict, we can see this aspects in the novel.

                            In this novel one of the main theme is marriage and its close relation with money and social status. The novel's oft-quoted opening sentence: " it's a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife shows views on marriage in Austen's time. There are marriages based on love and also for attaining wealth and social status.

                        In the novel Austen puts marriage into al kids of social and economical relationship from beginning to end, which makes the novel have great practical experience.

                          Another important theme of the novel is inheritance. Because we can see in the novel there is  all the concept of inheritance. Form the beginning , it is important to understand the very real danger that faces the Bennet girls if they do not marry. And to make secure their inheritance Bennets wants to their girls marry with wealthy person. And they search for their husbands and they faces problems.

                     In this novel we can see male dominant. We can see the traditional nation of inherent male superiority by exploring men s property in both romantic and social relationship. Male is only can acquire the inheritance and the rules of inheritance also in fever of men , parents whom have not male heir, they must give their inheritance to their cousins.

                      In the novel Austen also describe class conflict. Class conflict is commonly the barrier of human interaction between high and middle classes with that of the lower classes . Social classes demonstrate how one's treatment of other is occasionally based an another's family name or status in society.

                    So, we can say that this novel is focusing on marriage, inheritance, male dominating and class conflict this all aspects used in the novel.