A very romantic
novel,
Pride and
Prejudice by Jane Austen, reflects the aspirations and ambitions of a generation of the Victorian era. The two primary
themes Pride and Prejudice refer to the concept of human character, and it is through the windows of these two themes, other humanistic themes are reflected---themes like love, marriage, social status, women, need for education for women. The title itself does not signify the meaning of the novel. In the novel, Jane Austen personifies pride in the form of the male protagonist Darcy and Prejudice in the form of the female protagonist Elizabeth. Pride then comes to be identified with snobbish or pompous behavior, sometimes stupid to the extent of frivolity as is exhibited in the behavior of Lydia. The
novel Pride and Prejudice deals with the Bennets -consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their five daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. The Victorian ethos, the values and the society at large have been brought to light by the interaction of the various characters among themselves and with others.Mr and Mrs. Bennet have only one aim in life and that is to get their daughters married well. And it is in this regard that there is a great excitement at Netherfield when a young man, Mr. Bingley , very eligible in all respects, arrives on the scene. The other important family is that of the Darcys which is made up of Lady Anne Darcy, Darcy and Georgina. Darcy is a friend of Mr. Bingley and is an exact opposite of him. A very proud man who does not conceal the fact. Despite his position and income, he is not liked by many which include Elizabeth, about whom he makes an unfavorable remark which further prejudices Elizabeth against him. But Darcy shows more reason and sense than Elizabeth. He is not ashamed to admit his wrong judgment. He shows himself to be more polite and gentle when he meets Elizabeth and does not get carried away by his prejudice of Elizabeth, nor does he allow his pride to slip away from him. His pride is revealed in his letter defending his actions to Elizabeth, in his justification of his attitude to Wickham and his role in the love affair of Jane and Bingley. The turn of events later show Darcy in a better light and Elizabeth finds herself understanding him better and all prejudice against him diminishing. He permits Bingley to marry Jane and saves the honor of the family by getting Wickham to marry Lydia. Elizabeth who finally accepts Darcy's proposal, which she had rejected earlier, finds that she has finally overcome her prejudice against Darcy's pride. The novel basically deals with the man -- woman relationship in the Victorian era and the existing morals and ethics of the society then . Through the romance of Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, the idea of love culminating into marriage is shown to be the right morals of the Victoria society. The then prevailing attitude of materialism and economic hierarchy is very explicitly brought out in the interaction between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet when they anxiously discuss their daughters' marriage.
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