Mary Bennett is a rather intriguing character. I find that Austen’s prose is always providing a judgement of her, yet I wonder if that judgement reflects a lack of understanding on the author and protagonist themselves. Take the following lines for example:
Her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display (17).
In this characterization, Mary comes off as both unattractive and attention-seeking. The word choice, “plain” strike an image that Mary lacks anything uniquely attractive about her. Earlier in the text, she provides a definition of the word “pride’ and is characterized as someone “who piqued herself upon the solidity
Her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display (17).
In this characterization, Mary comes off as both unattractive and attention-seeking. The word choice, “plain” strike an image that Mary lacks anything uniquely attractive about her. Earlier in the text, she provides a definition of the word “pride’ and is characterized as someone “who piqued herself upon the solidity