Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice defined the Regency era of Britain, and her leading characters influenced literature for centuries to come, essentially birthing the “enemies turned into lovers” trope. Her depiction of two lovers needing to overcome the faults of their own pride and prejudices and their own internal struggles is an idea still surging throughout modern day literature. The novel’s original purpose was to criticize the social hierarchy of England at the time and the superficial society Austen lived in, and yet it continues to be viewed as a significant novel in the twenty-first century. Jane Austen successfully wrote a novel that redefined literature, defined modern day romance, leaving every teenage girl waiting for their
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Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s societally unconventional relationship in Jane Austen’s Pride and …show more content…
Neither Elizabeth, with her independent personality, nor Fitzwilliam, with his reclusive demeanor, completely fit societal standards. Within one of the earliest scenes of Pride and Prejudice the reader sees that Lizzy and Darcy are both social outcasts in their own ways, which immediately piques their interest in regards to these characters. Mr. Darcy originally saw Miss Bennet as merely “tolerable” and the latter returned a pretty similar sentiment for the former (Austen 13). This scene also sets up the foundation for their relationship, because while they are outside of the society in the way they act they still view each other in the way that society does. This allows for them to grow as a couple from superficial societal members to individuals who see past societal expectations, which overall creates their charm. By the end of the novel Mr. Darcy sees Elizabeth as one of the loveliest ladies he has ever met, and Eliza’s praise is just as high for the other half of the novel’s dynamic duo (303). The couple has grown immensely throughout the novel, overcoming their pride and prejudices, and this growth is obvious once again with the change in Darcy’s proposals. Darcy’s original proposal is focused on his own pride and how he is a higher social class than Lizzy; however, his second proposal is all
Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s societally unconventional relationship in Jane Austen’s Pride and …show more content…
Neither Elizabeth, with her independent personality, nor Fitzwilliam, with his reclusive demeanor, completely fit societal standards. Within one of the earliest scenes of Pride and Prejudice the reader sees that Lizzy and Darcy are both social outcasts in their own ways, which immediately piques their interest in regards to these characters. Mr. Darcy originally saw Miss Bennet as merely “tolerable” and the latter returned a pretty similar sentiment for the former (Austen 13). This scene also sets up the foundation for their relationship, because while they are outside of the society in the way they act they still view each other in the way that society does. This allows for them to grow as a couple from superficial societal members to individuals who see past societal expectations, which overall creates their charm. By the end of the novel Mr. Darcy sees Elizabeth as one of the loveliest ladies he has ever met, and Eliza’s praise is just as high for the other half of the novel’s dynamic duo (303). The couple has grown immensely throughout the novel, overcoming their pride and prejudices, and this growth is obvious once again with the change in Darcy’s proposals. Darcy’s original proposal is focused on his own pride and how he is a higher social class than Lizzy; however, his second proposal is all