Pride and prejudices

Pride and prejudices : 

                          Jane Austen

      

  

  

              ( Jane Austen 1775-1817)

    

                  Pride and prejudices is a novel of manners is written by Jane Austen. Though it is mostly called a romantic novel, it is also a satire. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgment and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

                Pride and prejudices has consistently appeared near the top of lists 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 adaptation, reprints, unofficial sequels, films and TV versions of Pride and prejudices have portrayed the memorable character and themes of the novel, reaching mass audience.

 

   Thinking activity on Pride and Prejudices :  

1. Explain the title of Pride and Prejudices ? 

               The title of the any story, novel and books of literary work usually conveys the idea of the main theme of the work.One can easily understand what the author will dwell upon in the literary work from the title. For the novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen first selected the title First Impressions. But when she revised it, she gave the current title.

                  This title Pride and Prejudice is so appropriate that it hardly requires any arguments to justify. It indicates what the novel is written about. To show its significance we must go through the novel with a critical attitude and then we can explain why she has renamed her novel as Pride and Prejudice. 

                 Mr. Darcy all activities shows pride in his nature. At the party where Mr. Bingley tells him to dance with Elizabeth Bennet that time he denies and tells that she is not parallel to him. Here we see the pride of Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth Bennet that time thinks about Mr. Darcy is not a good man. She thinks about him by this incident and it's become prejudice for Mr. Darcy. 

             

                  At the end of the novel they both get married. They both has the same nature Pride and Prejudice. At the end they understand each other's thoughts. The title shows main theme of the novel.

                 The title "Pride and Prejudice" has deep meaning. It shows characters nature, it is the main theme of novel and it is the central idea of novel.

2. Can we say that Elizabeth is a modern women ? 

 

                  Elizabeth Bennet is one of Jane Austen's most memorable characters. Here are some reasons the author lists, why she is also very relatable to modern women.

-- An unusual woman for her times: 

       The character of Elizabeth Bennet makes her a personality which is uncommon with the times she lived in. Education for women was not something which was fashionable in those times. She is well read, opinionated, and loves a good argument. 

-- A confident woman : 

      Elizabeth is never offensive. She is witty with a touch of sweetness. Her confidence is something to aspire for. Even when she is criticized by Darcy, she laughs it off, without viewing herself less. Her carefree attitude and animated conversation drew the attention of even Darcy, who cannot help being attracted to her. 

-- A woman who values herself : 

       Possessing the courage to marry for love and living life on her own terms, Elizabeth is comfortable with refusing Mr. Collins' marriage proposal. She stays firm in her decision, even going against her family, and is agreeable with the idea of being an old spinster aunt, playing with Jane's children. 

              

 

-- Waring person towards her loved ones: 

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. Inspite of not agreeing with Charlotte’s life choices, Elizabeth respects her decisions and carries forward her friendship.

-- Has the guts to take on bullies : 

Elizabeth is not a person who can be intimidated. She has the guts to face bullies like Lady Catherine de Burgh, while still maintaining a dignified presence.

-- Not afraid to admit her mistakes : 

But even the best person can make mistakes. Elizabeth is mistaken about Darcy, and realize her assessment of him was wrong. She is quick to accept her mistakes and rectify them.

-- Original in her thinking : 

      Elizabeth dares to be different in her idea of life. For her the character of a man matters more than his wealth. The way she supports Wickham, though misplaced, is admirable. 

 

 -- A rare strength of character : 

     The way Elizabeth says no to Darcy's proposal shows her strengths of character. She rejects a man whom no girl of her time would have said no to. The character of Darcy in dealing with Bingkey and his mistreatment of Wickham had confirmed her refusal. When Darcy insulted Elizabeth by referring to her low birth, she has the dignity of not stooping to his level and calmly dealing with the situation. 

-- Believes in self care : 

       Physics fitness is also important to Elizabeth. Her habit of taking long walks and loving the sights of nature is mentioned in the novel. 

        Elizabeth Bennet is like a breath of fresh air, while reading regency novels. Her rebellious nature and never say die attitude makes me root for her. 

 

-- An empowered woman, sure of her own mind : 

       Today we talk of empowered women who should not be afraid to take the first step. But Elizabeth Bennet is way ahead of all of us. On coming to know about the role of Darcy in Lydia's marriage, she approaches him before he could make up his mind. 

3. Jane Bennet is a representation of 

traditional marriage? If yes then explain.

 

               The oldest and most beautiful of the Bennet daughters, Jane has a good heart and a gentle nature. As Elizabeth's confidant, Jane helps to keep her sister's tendency to be judgement in check by offering positive interpretations of negative situations.

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

                  However, when she and Miss Bingley become sisters-in-law, Jane's good nature causes her to receive Miss Bingley 's friendly overtures with more responsiveness than Miss Bingley deserves.

                 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 favourable because she and Bingley   married for love and are compatible, but it 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 rospability 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 this 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 Longbour, 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.

             The primogeniture system, meant the eldest son inherits the title, even if he had an older sister. Daughters couldn't inherit their father's title even if they had no brothers, and daughter's sons and grandsons couldn't inherit. The title had to pass to and through legitimate sons. Although a work of fiction Pride and Prejudice illustrates the problems that can arise through the entailing of property if there is no make hair. 

                A marriage of one of the girls to a wealthy man would provide a solution, but there is another problem, even for Jane and Elizabeth who do not suffer from ill-bred, vulgar behavior as their sisters do. Each girl possesses a negligible dowry to entice a prospective husband. Any man who chooses to marry a poor girl must do so for love or to acquire a good wife. Clearly Kitty, Mary, and Lydia will not make good wives. They have not been brought up to behave properly. Indeed, as Mrs. Bennet say that, it is a wonder that Elizabeth and Jane have managed to grow up so well.

                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 regulation for both men and women. They both are same. And they both have to equal right of inheritance.And if the rules of inheritance become same for both then many problems reduces that connects with property .

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.

                One of the main themes in Pride and Prejudice is that of 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 wealthiness also. Marriages are connected to financial 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 Bennet  wants to their girls marry with wealthy person. And they search for their husbands and they faces problems.

           

               We can say that the novel is male dominating . It's focusing on male dominating society there is also rules and regulations in favour of male characters. There is rules of inheritance in side of male , only male deserve their parents inheritance and parents without male heir ,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.

                       Thus, we can say that the novel Pride and Prejudice is focusing on marriage, inheritance, male dominating and class conflicts also. 

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Thank you....