Does Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Follow the Conventions of a Romantic Novel?
Does Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice follow the conventions of a romantic novel?
A conventionally romantic novel usually focuses on the relationship between a physically attractive man and woman. The hero and heroine usually meet early in the story and fall in love at first sight. The two lovers may, more often than not, have to overcome obstacles in order to be together, but in the end, it seems that love conquers all. Pride and Prejudice does fall into this 'romance' category; it's often considered the most romantic novel of all time. But there are certainly elements of this novel that drive completely against the cliches of a conventional romance novel, and this essay will attempt to pinpoint those 'elements', and argue whether or not Pride and Prejudice follows the conventions of a romantic novel.
Elizabeth, in herself, is not a particularly conventionally romantic character. She is 'not half so handsome as Jane', although she 'has something more of quickness than her sisters'. She is, however, the heroine of the story, and has the rational view of men and relationships that are inverted from the conventional stereotypes found in typical romantic novels. When holidaying with her aunt and uncle, she says 'Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What are men to rocks and mountains?', using the words 'disappointment' and 'spleen' in the same sentence as she is describing men. This is not 'romantic' language, and does not describe men or love in a particularly positive way. Elizabeth Bennet is also used as a literary device to represent Austen’s values and attitudes on the importance of marrying for love enables us to see this world through Elizabeth’s eyes and we are positioned to empathize with her opinion on the absurdity of marrying for reasons other than love. Elizabeth is a free-spirited individual who differs substantially from the other female characters of the novel, and she refuses to be wed to a man to whom she does not love. Her differentiation
A conventionally romantic novel usually focuses on the relationship between a physically attractive man and woman. The hero and heroine usually meet early in the story and fall in love at first sight. The two lovers may, more often than not, have to overcome obstacles in order to be together, but in the end, it seems that love conquers all. Pride and Prejudice does fall into this 'romance' category; it's often considered the most romantic novel of all time. But there are certainly elements of this novel that drive completely against the cliches of a conventional romance novel, and this essay will attempt to pinpoint those 'elements', and argue whether or not Pride and Prejudice follows the conventions of a romantic novel.
Elizabeth, in herself, is not a particularly conventionally romantic character. She is 'not half so handsome as Jane', although she 'has something more of quickness than her sisters'. She is, however, the heroine of the story, and has the rational view of men and relationships that are inverted from the conventional stereotypes found in typical romantic novels. When holidaying with her aunt and uncle, she says 'Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What are men to rocks and mountains?', using the words 'disappointment' and 'spleen' in the same sentence as she is describing men. This is not 'romantic' language, and does not describe men or love in a particularly positive way. Elizabeth Bennet is also used as a literary device to represent Austen’s values and attitudes on the importance of marrying for love enables us to see this world through Elizabeth’s eyes and we are positioned to empathize with her opinion on the absurdity of marrying for reasons other than love. Elizabeth is a free-spirited individual who differs substantially from the other female characters of the novel, and she refuses to be wed to a man to whom she does not love. Her differentiation