The novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a social commentary on money, marriage, and rank. Austen juxtaposes multiple characters throughout the novel to comment on human behavior. The author’s employment of diction, dialogue, detail, and omniscient narration highlights significant differences between characters, thus arguing that being overly concerned with beauty and wealth causes people to be proud, vapid, and intimidated by wealth.
Austen employs dialogue, diction, and irony to show that Mr. Collins is too prideful. Collins practically puts all of his self worth into his relationship with Lady Catherine De Bourgh, his wealthy benefactor. Upon first meeting the Bennets, she is practically all he discusses, stating that he had “never …show more content…
After spending months away from her sisters, Lydia’s primary concerns are her new bonnet and whether her sisters have met any men in their absence. Moments after they reunite she says, “Look here, I have bought this bonnet. I do not think it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well buy it as not” (205). The dialogue here is very important to understanding Lydia’s character. She hasn’t seen or heard from her sisters in months and one of her first topics of conversation is a new hat she doesn’t even like, but that she felt she should have just for the sake of having it. It’s also important to mention that two sentences earlier she told her sisters that they would have to pay for the lunch she herself had “treated” them with because she didn’t have money left. These details suggest that Lydia cares more about material items than her own sisters, and reflect upon her selfish and superficial nature. Additionally, Lydia is excessively proud of her marriage to Wickham, an initial scandal patched up by her husband’s greed and her sister’s fortunate connections. While visiting her family for the first time since running away, Lydia expresses her concern over the community’s knowledge of her nuptials, stating that she was so determined for a neighbor to know that along the way home by carriage, she “let down the side glass next to him, and took off [her] glove and let [her] hand …show more content…
Austen employs omniscient narration to contrast characters and thereby comment on theme. An example of this is the contrast in responses from Sir William, Maria, and Elizabeth to the greatness of Lady Catherine’s home. The narration follows, “Maria’s alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. Elizabeth’s courage did not fail her... the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could witness without trepidation” (194). From scenes previous in which Elizabeth was the only character to be found with any reason, the reader can gather that the perspective to trust is the third. This narration illustrates the points of view of three characters when faced with wealthy extravagance- two who believe themselves inferior despite having plenty of reason not to (i.e. Sir William’s title) and one who knows oneself to be inferior in rank, but worth as much as those who are wealthy. Another excerpt states “[Maria], frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly” (155). The discrepancy in the behavior of the three guests, especially that of the main character, suggests that being overly impressed or intimidated by money and social standing is
Austen employs dialogue, diction, and irony to show that Mr. Collins is too prideful. Collins practically puts all of his self worth into his relationship with Lady Catherine De Bourgh, his wealthy benefactor. Upon first meeting the Bennets, she is practically all he discusses, stating that he had “never …show more content…
After spending months away from her sisters, Lydia’s primary concerns are her new bonnet and whether her sisters have met any men in their absence. Moments after they reunite she says, “Look here, I have bought this bonnet. I do not think it is very pretty; but I thought I might as well buy it as not” (205). The dialogue here is very important to understanding Lydia’s character. She hasn’t seen or heard from her sisters in months and one of her first topics of conversation is a new hat she doesn’t even like, but that she felt she should have just for the sake of having it. It’s also important to mention that two sentences earlier she told her sisters that they would have to pay for the lunch she herself had “treated” them with because she didn’t have money left. These details suggest that Lydia cares more about material items than her own sisters, and reflect upon her selfish and superficial nature. Additionally, Lydia is excessively proud of her marriage to Wickham, an initial scandal patched up by her husband’s greed and her sister’s fortunate connections. While visiting her family for the first time since running away, Lydia expresses her concern over the community’s knowledge of her nuptials, stating that she was so determined for a neighbor to know that along the way home by carriage, she “let down the side glass next to him, and took off [her] glove and let [her] hand …show more content…
Austen employs omniscient narration to contrast characters and thereby comment on theme. An example of this is the contrast in responses from Sir William, Maria, and Elizabeth to the greatness of Lady Catherine’s home. The narration follows, “Maria’s alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. Elizabeth’s courage did not fail her... the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could witness without trepidation” (194). From scenes previous in which Elizabeth was the only character to be found with any reason, the reader can gather that the perspective to trust is the third. This narration illustrates the points of view of three characters when faced with wealthy extravagance- two who believe themselves inferior despite having plenty of reason not to (i.e. Sir William’s title) and one who knows oneself to be inferior in rank, but worth as much as those who are wealthy. Another excerpt states “[Maria], frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly” (155). The discrepancy in the behavior of the three guests, especially that of the main character, suggests that being overly impressed or intimidated by money and social standing is