Pride and Prejudice
It has been said by Roland Barthes that “Literature is the question minus the answer.” Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, poses many questions to the individual about societal and political dogma. The questions posed in Pride and Prejudice help the reader to understand the purpose and message Austen is trying to convey through her literary work. Without some of the central themes, the novel, in my opinion, would be dry and unimportant. One of the central themes, pride, is crucial to the understanding of the novel. The definition of pride as stated by www.dictionary.com is a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc; however, the question throughout Pride and Prejudice is what Jane Austen’s definition of pride is. Does Austen view pride as a positive or negative trait and how should the reader’s view of pride change throughout the novel.
Within the first several chapters of the book, Mary claims, “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us” (pg. 14). This quote makes it seem as if vanity is a far worse trait to have than pride. It seems as if a person can be proud without being vain, but a person cannot be vain without being prideful. It seems as if Austen is saying pride is acceptable even beneficial to possess to some degree. Austen goes on to describe one’s pride as something that must not be damaged regardless. In chapter five, Elizabeth says of Darcy, %26quot;I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.%26quot; Austen places emphasis on the importance of one’s pride and how the damage of one persons pride is irreparable. Pride is placed on a pedestal and must not be tampered with.
Austen’s idea that forgiving one for their prideful ways as long as they do not damage anothers is represented the majority of the novel through Elizabeth and Darcy. Elizabeth and Darcy in my opinion are the two most prideful characters which is why they have drama throughout the entire novel. In chapter 34, Darcy says, “these offenses might have been overlooked, had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design.” The question of whether pride is able to be mended is another question without an answer in Pride and Prejudice. Although Elizabeth and Darcy are constantly damaging one another’s pride, the two end up together in the end. Regardless of the two ending up together, are both characters able to conquer the emotional offense they have received from one another and does Austen place as much importance on the idea of pride by the end of the novel?
In the beginning of the novel, Austen describes pride as one’s opinion of themselves and sensitive to offense, but by the end of the novel, Austen claims that pride can get the best of what is proper. By chapted 48, Darcy claims, “As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit.” The admirable principles that Darcy had been taught as a child were left to be defined by pride and conceit. Austen now sheds light on pride as a negative trait where as in the beginning she sculpted it as a sacred, even favorable trait.
By the end of the novel, I believe Austen views pride as somewhat destructive. Because this novels definition of pride is not completely black or white and remains gray is why I believe it continues to be so impressive. I believe that Austen herself would view pride the way she portrayed it in the end of the novel; however, this book is made more powerful by using prideful characters like Elizabeth and Darcy and attempting to form a relationship with two very similar people. My understanding of the novel was enhanced once I saw that Elizabeth and Darcy became successful together when pride was no longer as involved and both characters became less prideful. I believe Austen’s purpose in writing her 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice, was to form a gray question about whether pride is a positive or negative trait and change the reader’s definiton of pride throughout the novel.
Edit my essay/Critique. Thankkk you!?
SERIOUSLY? i cant believe you would post this piece of crap on the internet. You are one of the worst writers i have ever encountered. this isnt even TRUE!
Edit my essay/Critique. Thankkk you!?
short essayyyyy!
