Pride And Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet
Jane Austen, like her most beloved heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, is a
keen observer of the nature of man in society. To simplify her studies,
and to give her readers a better understanding of the concept of Pride and
Prejudice, Austen does not focus our attention on the larger social
structure as a whole, but skillfully directs our consideration only to a
small, isolated segment of the society. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen
scrutinizes a microcosm, people dwelling within similar cultural and social
backgrounds, but representatives of the larger human community. Austen
demonstrates in Pride and Prejudice through Elizabeth and Darcy that in
man's perennial pursuit of the joys in life, ...
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125). She is
self-reliant and independent, while "contemptuous of all the conventions
that restrict the individual's freedom"(Litz 65). Darcy observes Elizabeth
as "...sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention...disgusted
with the women who were always speaking, and looking and thinking for
[men's] approbation alone"(Ghent 185). Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collin's
proposal because she does not think that "marriage was the only honorable
provision for a well-educated woman..."(Lauber 45). Nor does she believe
in marriage of convenience. When Mr. Collins says arrogantly to Elizabeth
that, "My situation in life, my connections with the family of De Bou
rgh"(Austen 82), are reasons that she should accept his offer because "in
spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another
offer of marriage may ever be made you"(Austen 83), she politely refused
him. "I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your
proposals, but to ...
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civility"(Austen 132). Also, when Darcy proposed to
her the first time, she was able "to conjure up a polite refusal of his
impolite offer"(Horwitz 49). Elizabeth demonstrats that she has great
restraint even under tremendous pressure.
Elizabeth realizes that she must take responsibility for her own
education because she can not look to either of her parents for advice, and
she must ultimately depend on her own experiences, instincts, and judgments.
Her self-reliant attitude causes her to think of herself as independent,
but her views are distorted because she also regards herself as above
normal social relationship. Elizabeth is unconscious that she suffers from
pride. "She ...
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"Pride And Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet." Essayworld.com. August 24, 2006. Accessed April 24, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pride-And-Prejudice-Elizabeth-Bennet/51300.
"Pride And Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet." Essayworld.com. August 24, 2006. Accessed April 24, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pride-And-Prejudice-Elizabeth-Bennet/51300.
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