“There is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything then of a book!” (Austen; 47). The world contains many books for our enjoyment, however the best of those books are most often classics. Not any book can become a classic, it needs specific characteristics and traits. However, Pride and Prejudice, a great story known to all, became a classic because it contains those very same characteristics. Pride and Prejudice has universal themes that can transcend place and time and are suitable for modern understanding. Moreover, its main character Elizabeth and Darcy, are well developed, with contrasting personality’s that grow and better throughout the story. The story holds many traits that have made it the great classic it
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Moreover, when Darcy proposed to Elizabeth she declined his proposal, and as Darcy stated that “Perhaps these offences might have been overlooked, had not your pride been hurt” (Austen; 159). This continues the conflict of Elizabeth’s pride and shows that her pride kept her from committing to a man she loved for a long time. This theme goes beyond time and place as people have always struggled with pride and they still do. As “pride is a very common failing… that human nature is particularly prone to it” (Austen; 18). Yet it draws the conclusions that pride might not in itself be a bad thing as Mary had said "Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us."(Austen; 18). However pride can also keep us from great things in life just like Elizabeth and Darcy took a very long time to marry due to pride. However, not only is pride depicted throughout the book, but also the classic shares an important lesson with its audience about prejudices. In the story Darcy was extremely prejudiced to those of lower social status, …show more content…
Darcy was described as “ate up with pride” (Austen; 17). Furthermore, he was prejudiced to people of lower rank and wealth. In spite of that he helped people not asking for something in return. As Darcy helped the Bennet’s find Lydia and have Wickham marry her. Prejudice and kindness rarely go together yet Darcy had both of these characteristics. Moreover, Darcy was self-reflective and understood that he had “have faults enough” (Austen; 49). Not only did he understand his faults, but by the end of the book he changed and let go a little of his prejudices. As Darcy at the beginning of the book was very prejudiced, and believed that she was not wort of him, yet as he stated “in vain have I struggled” (Austen; 157), he wrestled with his prejudices through the whole, book yet near the end he was able to overcome them and see the world through different eyes. He saw that not all poor people are like Wickham, and was able to propose to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was also a richly developed character, in the story she prided herself on her “discernment” (Austen; 171), and believed she could tell a person character through her observations. Yet, she realizes that with Darcy and Wickham she got it all wrong. She had set “a strong prejudice against everything” (Austen; 168), Darcy might say and believed that Wickham was a perfect
Moreover, when Darcy proposed to Elizabeth she declined his proposal, and as Darcy stated that “Perhaps these offences might have been overlooked, had not your pride been hurt” (Austen; 159). This continues the conflict of Elizabeth’s pride and shows that her pride kept her from committing to a man she loved for a long time. This theme goes beyond time and place as people have always struggled with pride and they still do. As “pride is a very common failing… that human nature is particularly prone to it” (Austen; 18). Yet it draws the conclusions that pride might not in itself be a bad thing as Mary had said "Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us."(Austen; 18). However pride can also keep us from great things in life just like Elizabeth and Darcy took a very long time to marry due to pride. However, not only is pride depicted throughout the book, but also the classic shares an important lesson with its audience about prejudices. In the story Darcy was extremely prejudiced to those of lower social status, …show more content…
Darcy was described as “ate up with pride” (Austen; 17). Furthermore, he was prejudiced to people of lower rank and wealth. In spite of that he helped people not asking for something in return. As Darcy helped the Bennet’s find Lydia and have Wickham marry her. Prejudice and kindness rarely go together yet Darcy had both of these characteristics. Moreover, Darcy was self-reflective and understood that he had “have faults enough” (Austen; 49). Not only did he understand his faults, but by the end of the book he changed and let go a little of his prejudices. As Darcy at the beginning of the book was very prejudiced, and believed that she was not wort of him, yet as he stated “in vain have I struggled” (Austen; 157), he wrestled with his prejudices through the whole, book yet near the end he was able to overcome them and see the world through different eyes. He saw that not all poor people are like Wickham, and was able to propose to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was also a richly developed character, in the story she prided herself on her “discernment” (Austen; 171), and believed she could tell a person character through her observations. Yet, she realizes that with Darcy and Wickham she got it all wrong. She had set “a strong prejudice against everything” (Austen; 168), Darcy might say and believed that Wickham was a perfect