Classy In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

Stay Classy (or maybe not) Social class seems to mean everything- in Regency England and even today. It seems to mean the whole world to move up a current social caste and be considered a member of the upper class today. In the former, however, it is not so easy; and for women, the only option to move up in society is through marriage. In the novel Pride and Prejudice, author Jane Austen details the story of a young woman named Elizabeth Bennet, who is quickly thrust into the world of marriage to improve status and its pangs of snobbery and elitism and the effects it has on her nearly tumultuous relationship with the elite Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Bennet wants nothing more that her daughters to marry rich to secure their fortune and reputation- even if it means being overbearing. This desire is so desperate within her that she not only becomes ill, but goes absolutely mad in her search for wealthy men for her daughters to wed. That is particularly why she insists on rushing over to Netherfield at the …show more content…
From the moment Elizabeth walks into the room, she is crudely judged by the Bingleys and Darcy for her appearance, since it was raining that evening. Elizabeth, despite sensing the hostility in the Bingley sisters’ welcome, accepts their offer to stay the night with Jane as she is nursed back to health. The Bingleys mock her behind her back during her stay, furthering her disgust with those of higher class, and even though Darcy defends her, he still manages to disappoint later on. While Elizabeth and Darcy are speaking in the library, he begins to describe his ideal woman. Elizabeth comments that there is no way any woman can fit the standards he has set: “I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe, united.” Elizabeth is further repulsed and begins to find Darcy too