Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice"

Paper Summary:

The paper shows how the opening sentence of "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen and confirms the importance of marriage and family in the early Victorian era. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife". Jane Austen states this and creates an immediate sense of urgency as the book opens.The paper discusses how this statement reveals nearly the entire plot in a single thought, emphasizing how central marriage, family, and financial security are to the common woman.The paper further shows that Austen's writing pushed the boundaries of typical behavior of men and women in the Victorian age by creating a strong female character in contrast with the period, and telling stories of untraditional marriages during a very traditional time.

From the Paper:

"Elizabeth Bingley is the protagonist character of Pride and Prejudice. She is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth, while not the prettiest of the five, is respected as the most intelligent and sensible, however throughout the novel it becomes apparent that she is too clever for her own good. She is an independent woman, with a bold personality, which is quite opposite the traditional 19th century view of how women should behave. Far from proper and pious, Austen has created a feminist character that the reader will grow to love, regardless of her behavior s and judgmental attitudes. This is in opposition to the "perfect woman", who marries into wealth, reproduces, and is seen and not heard."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Dover Publishing, 1995.
• Republic of Pemberly. Index of Characters. http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/ppdrmtis.html.

More papers on Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice":

• Analytical Essay # 126904 : "Jane Austen and Maturation, Class, and Gender"
• Book Review # 120226 : "Marriage and Jane Austen"
• Book Review # 104252 : "Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"
• Book Review # 103615 : "Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"

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