Pride and Prejudice :: English Literature

Pride and Prejudice One of the first Novels written in English, Jane's Austen's Pride and Prejudice which has been around for about 200 years. Published in 1813 during a time when England were at war with France. Pride and Prejudice offers a story in which the upper-middle class society are the setting for the relationship of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. In a time when Women's main aim is to find a husband against financial snobbery and class prejudice, Austen's Novel celebrates the love over class prejudice and financial snobbery. This novel was set in 1797-1815 in Longbourn, rural England. The novel is told from Elizabeth Bennet's point of view. At the time it was written, women had to get married before twenty six otherwise they would have no where to live or have to live with a relative, and not be important in the house, or asked any questions. So women had to go around trying to catch young men's attention before they got too old, this is shown in Charlotte Lucas who marries Mr. Collins who is a fool, she married for a home later on in life which overrules all over considerations. This shows how much pressure was on women to marry so they could be secure later on in life. A young gentleman called Charles Bingley has rented the manor of Netherfield Park. This gets the Bennet's girls excited who have five unmarried daughters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Mrs. Bennet is desperate to get them all married so she can live somewhere later on in life when Mr. Bennet dies. After Mr. Bennet goes to see Mr. Bingley, the Bennet's attend a ball at which Mr. Bingley is there. He is dancing with Jane and spends much of the evening dancing with her. His close friend, Mr. Darcy is less pleased with evening and proudly refuses to dance with Elizabeth. "Which do you mean?" and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, "She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me." These words tell us that he is proud and doesn't think that the people at the ball are worthy enough to dance with him. The rudeness with which Darcy treats Elizabeth creates a bad impression of him in her mind. An impression which will remain for half of the novel, until the truth of Darcy and