Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen's Moral Vision

Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen's Moral Vision

Jane Austen is not a proclaimed moralist. Unlike Fielding, her aim is not to propagate the morality. She believes in art for the sake of art. She is the pioneer of the novels. Therefore, her plots are well-knit. Her main interest lies in irony and there is a hidden significance of morality as we come across her moral vision in her novels through irony.

Jane Austen is in a favour of social prosperity than individual. She upholds the organic unity of society. She stresses that the duty of human beings owe to others, to society and maintains that individual desires have to be sub-ordinate to the large scale. Lydia-Wickham elopement is passionate and irresponsible. It shows that how society’s harmony is disrupted and how others lives are ruined by the selfish act of the individual. On the other hand the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane and Bingley bring happiness and stability to everyone, not simply to themselves.

She discusses individuals ‘short comings’. Even the hero and heroine have no exception. Elizabeth blinds herself absurdly because of prejudice whereas Darcy is full of pride.
“... tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
But we can see that both learn and understand each other. Their pride and prejudice are vanished. But the shortcomings of the other characters are not changed. Mr. Bennet is careless and irresponsible man. Mrs. Bennet is vulgar and stupid. Charlotte is very much economic. Lydia is lusty and Wickham is a deceiver.

Society is divided into classes. “Pride and Prejudice” is an attempt to harmonize the two extremes of middle class – lower end and the top end – into one. Bingley’s marriage with Jane and Darcy’s with Elizabeth. It is her moral approach to rub the class distinction-line of society.

She also discusses the institution of family which is disturbed. The heads of Bennet family are not mentally bound. This is a matchless couple. Their role as a parent is not active. The disadvantages of such an unsuitable marriage attend the daughters also. On the other hand Bingley family is betraying because there is no head for them but only guided by Darcy.

Jane Austen is concerned with the growth of an individual’s moral personality measured by the most exacting standards of 18th century values. Popes dictum “know thyself” underlines the theme of her novel. The conclusion of her novel is always the achievement of self-respect and principal mean of such an achievement is a league of perfect sympathy with another, who is one’s spiritual counterpart. Jane Austen traces Elizabeth's prejudice and her anguished recognition of her own blind prejudice before she is united with Darcy in a marriage based on mutual respect, love and understanding. As she says,
“How despicable have I acted! I, who have pride myself on my discernment! – I who have valued myself on my abilities.”

In the end she says,
“There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already that we are to be the happiest couple in the world.”

Main theme of her novel is marriage. She tries to define good reasons for marriage and bad reasons for marriage. Her moral concern though unobtrusive, is ever-present. The marriage of Lydia-Wickham, Charlotte-Collins and of the Bennets serves the show by their failure the prosperity of the Elizabeth-Darcy marriage.

There is corruption in landed class. Jane Austen reflects this problem in her novel also. The Bingley sisters hate the Bennet for their vulgarity but are themselves vulgar in their behaviour. Lady Catharine is equally vulgar and ill-bred.

Army men in her novel are only for flirtation. They come only for enjoyment. They have no love in them. Some of them are deceiver like Wickham who elopes with Lydia not for love bur for money.

Then she discusses the degeneracy of clergy. Mr. Collins is a clergyman. He comes at Neitherfield in search of life partner. But he is rejected by Bennet’s daughters. Then he turns towards Charlotte. He has some reason for marriage.
“My reasons for marriage are, I think it right thing for every clergy (like me) in easy circumstances to set the example of matrimony in parish …”

Jane Austen throws light on the materialism and economic concern of society. Charlotte is more concern with money than man. She is lusty. Her materialistic approach is judged by her remarks.


“I am not romantic, you know, I never was. I ask only for a comfortable home.”

Collins also has materialistic mind. Mr. Wickham is always thinking about money. He elopes with Lydia only for money.

Pride and prejudice, is in fact, corresponding virtue. Pride leads to prejudice and prejudice invites pride. Darcy is proud, at the beginning. As he says:
“… my good opinion once lost is lost forever”
His first appearance is appallingly insolent and we tend to agree with Mrs. Bennet’s complaint:
“He walked her and he walked there, fancying so very great”.
Darcy’s remarks prejudiced Elizabeth. At ball-party, when he firstly sees her, he says:
“... tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
Wickham’s biased account about Darcy increased the hatred of Elizabeth. But we can observe that both earn when they go through the process of self-realization. Then Elizabeth thinks that:
“…Darcy was exactly the man, who in disposition and talents; would suit for her.”

We may say that Jane Austen’s main concern was irony. She uses irony to shake the major figures of their self-deception and expose the hypocrisy and pretentiousness, absurdity and insanity of some of her minor figures. It is definitely possible to deduce from her work a scheme of moral value. Andrew H. Wright rightly points out that irony in her hand is the instrument of a moral vision. As Walter Allen comments:
“She is the most forthright moralist in English.”

Read more »

Pride and Prejudice: Irony

Pride and Prejudice: Irony

Irony is the very soul of Jane Austen’s novels and “Pride and Prejudice” is steeped in irony of theme, situation, character and narration. Irony is the contrast between appearance and reality.

As one examines “Pride and Prejudice”, one is struck with the fact of the ironic significance that pride leads to prejudice and prejudice invites pride and both have their corresponding virtues bound up within them. Each has its virtues and each has its defects. They are contradictory and the supreme irony is that intricacy, which is much deeper, carries with it grave dangers unknown to simplicity. This type of thematic irony runs through all of Jane Austen’s novel.

In “Pride and Prejudice” there is much irony of situation too, which provides a twist to the story. Mr. Darcy remarks about Elizabeth that:
“tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me…”
We relish the ironical flavour of this statement much later when we reflect that the woman who was not handsome enough to dance with was really good enough to marry. He removes Bingley from Netherfield because he considers it imprudent to forge a marriage alliance with the Bennet Family, but himself ends up marrying the second Bennet sister. Collins proposes to Elizabeth when her heart is full of Wickham and Darcy proposes to her exactly at the moment when she hates him most. Elizabeth tells Mr. Collins that she is not the type to reject the first proposal and accept the second but does exactly this when Darcy proposes a second time. The departure of the militia from Meryton was expected to put an end to Lydia's flirtations, it brings about her elopement. The Lydia-Wickham episode may seem like an insurmountable barrier between Elizabeth and Darcy, but is actually instrumental in bringing them together. Lady Catherine, attempting to prevent their marriage only succeeds in hastening it.

Irony in character is even more prominent than irony of situation. It is ironical that Elizabeth who prides herself on her perception is quite blinded by her own prejudices and errs badly in judging intricate characters. Wickham appears suave and charming but is ironically unprincipled rouge. Darcy appears proud and haughty but ironically proves to be a true gentleman when he gets Wickham to marry Lydia by paying him. The Bingley Sisters hate the Bennets for their vulgarity but are themselves vulgar in their behaviour. Darcy is also critical of the ill-bred Bennet Family but ironically his Aunt Catherine is equally vulgar and ill-bed. Thus, the novel abounds in irony of characters.

The narrative of “Pride and Prejudice” too has an ironic tone which contributes much verbal irony. Jane Austen’s ironic tone is established in the very first sentence of the novel.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”

As Dorothy Van Ghent remark, what we read in it is opposite – a single woman must be in want – of a man with a good fortune. There is much verbal irony in the witty utterances of Mrs. Bennet. He tells Elizabeth:
“Let Wickham be your man. He is pleasant fellow and would jilt you creditable …”

In the words ‘pleasant fellow’ is hidden a dramatic irony at the expense of Mr. Bennet, for Wickham is destined to make a considerable dent in Mr. Bennet's complacency.

Jane Austen did not show any cynicism or bitterness in using her irony to draw satirical portraits of whims and follies. Rather her irony can be termed comic. It implies on her side an acknowledgement of what is wrong with people and society. It is interesting to note that ironically, in “Pride and Prejudice”, it is the villainous character Wickham and lady Catherine – who are responsible for uniting Elizabeth and Darcy.

She uses irony to shake her major figures of their self-deception and to expose the hypocrisy and pretentiousness, absurdity and insanity of some of her minor figures. It is definitely possible to deduce from her works a scheme of moral values. Andrew II Wright rightly points out that irony in her hands is ‘the instrument of a moral vision’.

Read more »

Pride and Prejudice: a novel With limited range

Pride and Prejudice: a novel With limited range


Jane Austen reach her activity to the depiction of no matter fell at intervals her vary of non-public expertise. whereas her vary of observation in life isn't therefore wide her work has been multifariously known as because the “Two inches of ivory” and “three or four families”. of these titles exhibit the excellence moreover because the limitations of her craft and outlook.

Although she works on a awfully tiny canvas, nevertheless she has widened the scope of fiction in the majority its directions. Her stories principally have indoor actions wherever solely family matters particularly love and marriages area unit mentioned. However, her plots area unit excellent and characterization is excellent.

All of her six novels, together with “Pride and Prejudice”, are arguable since their publication, on account of Austen’s restricted vary. The essential read is split in 2 teams – detractors and admires. the previous cluster had criticized her on varied points.

Critics object that her novels gift a definite slim physical setting. it absolutely was the amount of yank War of Independence and of Napoleonic Wars, however the characters of writer area unit blissfully unaware of of these disruptive events. Whole of the story of “Pride and Prejudice” revolves around Neitherfield Park, Longbourne, Hunsford rectory, Meryton and Pemberley.

Nature doesn't play any specific role in her novels. It appears to be an underestimation of the history of English literature that once writers like Wordsworth, Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge et al. were discovering the beauties of nature / outer world, writer reach her characters at intervals the four walls of the drawing space or Hall. interpreter states:

“She ne'er goes out of the Parlour.”

Austen avoids the sense of passions delineated by the romantics, owing to her classical views of order and management. Bronte condemns her:

“… the passions art fully unknown to her.”

Critics have complained that her subjects area unit considerably deal|substantially|abundantly|pretty much} constant all told her novels and she or he writes constant variety of story and additionally that she doesn't introduce any great selection in her characters.

All of her six novels contend with same theme of affection and marriages. There area unit pretty women expecting eligible bachelors to be married to. The line of “Pride and Prejudice” is that the theme of her six novels. She writes:

“It could be a truth universally acknowledged that one man in possession of an honest fortune should be in wish of a married person.”

Another limitation of Jane Austen is that the pathologic process of her novels. Men ne'er seem except within the company of ladies. All the knowledge regarding Darcy is well-tried through Elizabeth’s purpose of read. Hence, the reader appearance at Darcy through Elizabeth’s eye.

Even in her restricted world, writer restricts herself to the depiction of a specific category of country upper crust. She excludes the matters of socio-economic class and hardly touches aristocracy. for example she has mentioned woman Catherine just for the aim of humour.

There is no terrible happening in her novels. Everything happens in an exceedingly civilized manner. the acute severity in “Pride and Prejudice” is running away of geographical region with Wickham.

“Wickham might flee with geographical region.”

A illustrious critic, Charlotte Bronte believes that writer has no concern with the morals and she or he is associate author of the surface only:

“Her business isn't 0.5 most with the human heart like the human eye, mouth, hands and feet.”

A. H. Wright remarks that there's little or no faith in her novels. Politics isn't mentioned too. There are not any adventures found in her books, no abstract concepts and no discussion of non secular or metaphysical problems.

The defence of Jane Austen’s restricted vary comes from the character of her novels, true of her time and her physical surroundings. Austen’s novels area unit termed as “domestic novels”. She belongs to the time once neither the women were allowed to be admitted to universities nor to be amalgamated freely with men. therefore it's natural that her vary is restricted.

Austen was a girl of a rustic reverend. She has terribly less exposure to the globe except her short visits to London and some years study at bathtub. thus the globe she intimate with was terribly tiny. in an exceedingly letter to her kinswoman, writer wrote:

“There area unit four families {in a|during a|in an exceedingly|in a terribly} country village is that the very issue to figure on.”

Though Austen’s limitations area unit terribly self obligatory nevertheless at intervals her deliberately restricted field, her art is ideal. Realization of one’s limitations could be a positive virtue. The restricted social setting and strictly interests, lend a way of discipline to her art.

“Within the bounds she is excellent.”

She gains comprehensive, what she loses in width of canvas. Her characters stem from a category that she is aware of well and thus they're terribly realistic and life-like. Elizabeth Bennet is one amongst the foremost pleasant heroines one may encounter in literature. Wordsworth remarks:

“Her novels area unit associate admirable copy of life.”

It would be wrong to mention that her novels lack passion and profundity. Her themes area unit love, entreaty and wedding and it's not possible to stay the sentiments out from such a completely unique. Besides love, there also are vital emotions, like jealousy of Bingley’s, cunningness of Wickham, hauteur of woman Catherine – all area unit pictured by writer with excellent sincerity and conviction.

She additionally holds a precise ethical concern in her novels. She laughs at the shortcomings of individuals to correct their behaviours. below the theme of affection and wedding, she deals with manners to correct the conduct of the center category country upper crust. She preaches the dictum of “know thyself”. thus she aims at high morality. She additionally depicts the deserves and strength of a wedding supported understanding through the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy. the character of her craft is outlined by writer herself as:

“With little bit of irony on that I work with therefore fine brush to provide very little result when abundant labour.”

Within her theme and subject material, Jane Austen is incomparable in her talent and plot construction. The sub-plots of Jane-Bingley, Lydia-Wickham, Charlotte-Collins all area unit closely coupled to the most Elizabeth-Darcy plot and highlight the theme of excellent wedding. Even in her limits, no 2 of her characters area unit continual. G. H. Lewis remarks:

“Her circle could also be restricted however it's complete. Her world is ideal orb and very important sphere.”

Thus it's going to be terminated that at intervals her restricted vary writer handles all the characters, events, dialogues and also the plot of her novels {in a|during a|in an exceedingly|in a terribly} very exquisite manner. Her art is ok, excellent and distinguishable. little question she could be a fine flower of the expiring eighteenth century.

Read more »

Jane Austen's contribution to English novel

 Jane Austen's contribution to English novel


An objective and impartial estimation of Jane Austen’s contribution to the event of English people novel involve comparisons that square measure, also, possible to undermine her voluntary limitations as associate creator.

Austen’s vary is extremely slim. The plots revolve around 3 or four families within the country, consisting principally of many typewritten characters. there's just one theme – the theme of affection and wedding – recurrent in each novel. Deep philosophy of life is prominently absent and there are not any hidden meanings to be discovered. There are not any adventures to thrill, no violent passions to ruffle, no sensations to tickle and tease. nevertheless she is one amongst our major novelists. Safely rising through 2 centuries and severe criticism, these days she enjoys secure name.

Austen’s initial vital action is to awaken English people novel dramatic plots. She has the genius of a good playwright. Baker with success verified the plot of “Pride and Prejudice”, in its numerous stages of development, to the pattern of a five-act play. The unity of functions, the entire inter-dependence of the most plot and therefore the sub-plots, the right association of the action and therefore the characters, irony and short, partaking dialogues render her plots extremely dramatic. to the current could also be more the sound judgement of narration, the entire withdrawal of the creator from the creation, for she hardly speak in her own person to provide a right away comment.

Jane Austen has given US a large number of characters. All of them square measure commonplace like we tend to meet everyone.

“Yet they're al absolutely discriminated from one another as if they were the foremost eccentric of persons.”

Remarkably, no 2 villains square measure alike, nor 2 fools for even the best novelists square measure guilty of repetition. However, her real action in characterization is that the ironic exposition of the ‘follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies’ of human conduct. She excels within the depiction of the ridiculous associated of the hiatus between a reality and an look, between a purpose and a pretence that amuses and entertains, however additionally perplexes and exasperates.

Another of her vital preoccupations is that the theme of self-cultivation. Her protagonists square measure usually self-deceived. They bear a painful method of discovery however they need the humility and honesty to admit their earlier illusionment and therefore the bravery to provide a brand new direction to their life.

Austen represents feminisation of English people novels. She attracts her men as they seem to girls and to not men. Her Darcy and Bingley, Knightly and Frank Churchill square measure seen through the eyes of her girls, Elizabeth, Jane and Emma. the boys ne'er seem alone; they're continuously within the company of ladies, engaged in such activities as girls will participate in – balls, dinners, card sessions, or simply walks. This accounts for the shortage of masculinity in her novels. It imposes a significant limitation on her art as a author, however it needn't be regretted; we tend to praise it for its rarity.

The inventive excellence of Austen’s novels deserves high praise. The plots square measure contrived and dead with consummate ability. There are not any digressions and no loose ends square measure left suspension. Among her characters, there square measure hardly any superfluous. The dialogues square measure natural, yet lively, they assist within the development of plot still because the evolution of character. Her vogue is balanced, even aphoristic. Ruben A. Brower thinks that several pages of “Pride and Prejudice” will be browse a sheer poetry of wit. Sir writer concedes that although her subjects don't seem to be usually elegant and definitely ne'er grand, they're finished up to Nature and with a exactitude. He more says:

“The fille had a talent for describing the involvements, feelings and characters Pine Tree Stateasure} normal life … however the exquisite bit that renders commonplace things and characters attention-grabbing from the value of the depiction and therefore the sentiment is denied to me.”

Jane Austen has usually been known as a pure author for her art is merely for art’s sake and could be a supply of nice aesthetic pleasure on account of its inventive beauty. Besides, it's additionally the vehicle of her ethical vision that being supported sense is pretty sound. A. J. Wright comments:

“Working with materials very restricted in themselves, she develops themes of the broadest significance; the novels transcend social record, to a lower place the informative, to ethical concern, confusedness and commitment.”

At one level, her novels gift associate authentic record of the lifetime of the higher middle categories in Southern European nation at the tip of the eighteenth century, whereas at another level, her novels will be thought-about as broad allegories. “Pride and Prejudice” displays and illustrates the risks of excessive Pride and overweening Prejudice. “Sense and Sensibility” vindicates Sense and exposes the risks of Sensibility. Emma deals with misconception. “Persuasions” describes the risks of over-persuasion.

Her most significant contribution to English people novels is her ironic view. This read lies within the recognition of the very fact that man is confronted with the selection of 2 things that square measure reciprocally exclusive. the 2 square measure equally enticing, equally fascinating, however ironically, incompatible. Sense could also be additional fascinating however Sensibility too isn't while not attraction or desirability and its claims. The irony is that the claims of “Sense and Sensibility” square measure conflicting.

Ironically, the theme of “Pride and Prejudice” is that the distinction between complexness and ease. each the qualities have their own attractions and dangers in them. Darcy associated Elizabeth square measure involved and enticing however they're susceptible to the risks that accompany such an complexness. Jane and Bingley square measure easy, and that they square measure free from such dangers however they're boring and lifeless. maybe one would really like to be easy and complex all promptly, however that's not possible; that is that the irony. writer comes this ironic view much all told her novels

Read more »

Jane Austen's contribution to English novel

 Jane Austen's contribution to English novel

An objective and impartial estimation of Jane Austen’s contribution to the development of the English novel involve comparisons which are, also, likely to undermine her self-imposed limitations as an artist.

Austen’s range is very narrow. The plots revolve around three or four families in the countryside, consisting mostly of a few typed characters. There is only one theme – the theme of love and marriage – repeated in every novel. Deep philosophy of life is conspicuously absent and there are no hidden meanings to be discovered. There are no adventures to thrill, no violent passions to ruffle, no sensations to tickle and tease. Yet she is one of our major novelists. Safely emerging through two centuries and severe criticism, today she enjoys secure reputation.

Austen’s first important achievement is to bring to the English novel dramatic plots. She has the genius of a great dramatist. Baker successfully verified the plot of “Pride and Prejudice”, in its various stages of development, to the pattern of a five-act play. The unity of purposes, the complete inter-dependence of the main plot and the sub-plots, the perfect association of the action and the characters, dramatic irony and short, engaging dialogues render her plots highly dramatic. To this may be added the objectivity of narration, the complete withdrawal of the creator from the creation, for she hardly speak in her own person to give a direct comment.

Jane Austen has given us a multitude of characters. All of them are commonplace such as we meet everybody.

“Yet they are al perfectly discriminated from each other as if they were the most eccentric of human beings.”

Remarkably, no two villains are alike, nor two fools for even the greatest novelists are guilty of repetition. However, her real achievement in characterization is the ironic exposition of the ‘follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies’ of human conduct. She excels in the depiction of the ridiculous and of the hiatus between a reality and an appearance, between a purpose and a pretence that amuses and entertains, but also perplexes and exasperates.

Another of her important preoccupations is the theme of self-education. Her protagonists are often self-deceived. They undergo a painful process of self-discovery but they have the humility and honesty to admit their earlier illusionment and the courage to give a new direction to their life.

Austen represents feminization of the English novels. She draws her men as they appear to women and not to men. Her Darcy and Bingley, Knightly and Frank Churchill are seen through the eyes of her women, Elizabeth, Jane and Emma. The men never appear alone; they are always in the company of women, engaged in such activities as women can participate in – balls, dinners, card sessions, or just walks. This accounts for the lack of masculinity in her novels. It imposes a serious limitation on her art as a novelist, but it need not be regretted; we praise it for its rarity.

The artistic excellence of Austen’s novels deserves high praise. The plots are contrived and executed with consummate skill. There are no digressions and no loose ends are left dangling. Among her characters, there are hardly any superfluous. The dialogues are natural, yet lively, they help in the development of plot as well as the evolution of character. Her style is balanced, even epigrammatic. Ruben A. Brower thinks that many pages of “Pride and Prejudice” can be read a sheer poetry of wit. Sir Walter Scott concedes that though her subjects are not often elegant and certainly never grand, they are finished up to Nature and with a precision. He further says:

“The young lady had a talent for describing the involvements, feelings and characters are ordinary life … but the exquisite touch which renders commonplace things and characters interesting from the worth of the depiction and the sentiment is denied to me.”

Jane Austen has often been called a pure novelist for her art is only for art’s sake and is a source of great aesthetic pleasure on account of its artistic exquisiteness. Besides, it is also the vehicle of her moral vision that being based on common sense is pretty sound. A. J. Wright comments:

“Working with materials extremely limited in themselves, she develops themes of the broadest significance; the novels go beyond social record, beneath the didactic, to moral concern, perplexity and commitment.”

At one level, her novels present an authentic record of the life of the upper middle classes in Southern England at the end of the eighteenth century, while at another level, her novels can be considered as broad allegories. “Pride and Prejudice” displays and illustrates the dangers of excessive Pride and overweening Prejudice. “Sense and Sensibility” vindicates Sense and exposes the dangers of Sensibility. Emma deals with self-deception. “Persuasions” describes the dangers of over-persuasion.

Her most important contribution to the English novels is her ironic world view. This view lies in the recognition of the fact that man is confronted with the choice of two things that are mutually exclusive. The two are equally attractive, equally desirable, but ironically, incompatible. Sense may be more desirable but Sensibility too is not without attraction or desirability and its claims. The irony is that the claims of “Sense and Sensibility” are conflicting.

Ironically, the theme of “Pride and Prejudice” is the contrast between Intricacy and Simplicity. Both the qualities have their own attractions and dangers in them. Darcy and Elizabeth are intricate and attractive but they are prone to the dangers that accompany such an intricacy. Jane and Bingley are simple, and they are free from such dangers but they are dull and lifeless. Perhaps one would like to be simple and intricate all at once, but that is not possible; which is the irony. Jane Austen projects this ironic world view practically in all her novels

Read more »