Pride and Prejudice: Characterization and Morality

Pride and Prejudice

Things to Keep in Mind

The Flawed Lens

• Use of different narrative styles: dialogue vs. epistolary tradition
• Both used for characterization
  • Collins' long-winded speeches are reflected in the long-winded letters, contrasted with Elizabeth and Darcy's quick-witted exchanges
• Letters: Serve as monologues and reveal inner feelings and sentiments
• Dialogue: Character interactions that develop their complexities in different scenarios
• Both serve for plot development
• Morality in Pride and Prejudice
  • Austen feared that economic considerations would overcome morality in human conduct (reflected in Wickham's mercenary personality)
  • A sense of morality is instilled in the readers as they read about the events that occur
  • The message is made more impactful by the characterization and the readers' ability to empathize with the characters
  • Bildungsroman: Through Elizabeth, who learns the lesson, we learn along with her

Quotes

• "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance." (Charlotte, Chapter VI)
• "His authority as a clergyman [...] made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility" (Chapter XV | Note the contrasting pairs of adjectives)
• "Your portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications" (Collins, Chapter XIX)
• "[Marriage] was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want" (Chapter XXII | Somewhat ironic, possibly link to Claire)
• "Sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage." (In reference to Charlotte, Chapter XXII | money over happiness)
• "Mr. Collins is a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man" (Elizabeth, Chapter XXVI | Possibly use Collins' absurdity/burlesque to compare with 'The Visit')
• "A man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well-bred and agreeable" (In reference of Mr. Gardener, Chapter XXV)
• "What is the difference in matrimonial affairs between the mercenary and the prudent motive? Where does discretion end, and avarice begin?" (Elizabeth, Chapter XXVII)
• "Whatever she said, was spoken in so authoritative a tone, as marked her self-importance." (Chapter XXIX, Colored narration, free indirect speech)
• "Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?" (Darcy, Chapter XXXIV)
• "She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. [She couldn't] think without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced and absurd." (Chapter XXXVI)
• "You know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him to [marry] – she is lost for ever." (Elizabeth to Darcy, Chapter XLVI)
• "It is really too great a violation of decency, honor, and interest, for him to be guilty of it." (Chapter XLVII)
• "Loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable – that one false step involves her in endless ruin" (Chapter XLVII)
• "The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this" (Collins' Letter, Chapter XLVIII)
• "[Darcy and Miss De Bourgh's] marriage to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family" (Lady Catherine, Chapter LVI)
• "Honor, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbit it. [...] You will be censured, slighted, and despise, by every one connected with him." (Chapter LVI)
• "My behavior to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence" (Chapter LVIII | More Bildungsroman)