Pride And Prejudice Motif
Pride and Prejudice Motif Essay
In her novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses various characters in her novel to convey her message of the injustices and bias that were experienced during the early 19th century in society. Throughout the novel, Austen shows how destructive the mindset of a prejudiced person can truly be. Austen conveys her message through the novel's protagonists, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
In the opening pages of the book, the residents of Longbourn are all attending a ball, most notably in attendence is the Bennet women and the Darcy family. While at the ball, the narrator describes the interactions between Darcy and the attendees. “Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty …show more content…
When Darcy begins to realize his perception of Elizabeth was clouded, and he truly reflects on his view of her and the Bennet family, she is still hostile towards him. “The feelings which, you tell me, have long prevented the acknowledgment of your regard, can have little difficulty in overcoming it after this explanation” (Austen 172). Here, Elizabeth shows that her opinion of Darcy is unchangeable, and him admitting his true feelings about her, which reveal themselves as loving, cannot do anything to change how she feels about him. Elizabeth shows that her feelings will remain the same, and his words and actions do nothing to alter that. However, Austen’s use of the motif of prejudiceness becomes clear when Elizabeth comes to a crossroads with herself. Elizabeth begins to realize and acknowledge that her perception of Mr. Darcy is in fact jaded and limited. Austen shows this revelation and reevaluation of self when she says, “She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. -Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd” (Austen 188). Here, Austen begins to reveal the true meaning behind prejudice, and why it is such a dangerous attitude for one to have. Elizabeth’s examination of her actions and mindset cause her to realize she has become the person she strongly detested, and prided herself on not
In her novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses various characters in her novel to convey her message of the injustices and bias that were experienced during the early 19th century in society. Throughout the novel, Austen shows how destructive the mindset of a prejudiced person can truly be. Austen conveys her message through the novel's protagonists, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
In the opening pages of the book, the residents of Longbourn are all attending a ball, most notably in attendence is the Bennet women and the Darcy family. While at the ball, the narrator describes the interactions between Darcy and the attendees. “Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty …show more content…
When Darcy begins to realize his perception of Elizabeth was clouded, and he truly reflects on his view of her and the Bennet family, she is still hostile towards him. “The feelings which, you tell me, have long prevented the acknowledgment of your regard, can have little difficulty in overcoming it after this explanation” (Austen 172). Here, Elizabeth shows that her opinion of Darcy is unchangeable, and him admitting his true feelings about her, which reveal themselves as loving, cannot do anything to change how she feels about him. Elizabeth shows that her feelings will remain the same, and his words and actions do nothing to alter that. However, Austen’s use of the motif of prejudiceness becomes clear when Elizabeth comes to a crossroads with herself. Elizabeth begins to realize and acknowledge that her perception of Mr. Darcy is in fact jaded and limited. Austen shows this revelation and reevaluation of self when she says, “She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. -Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd” (Austen 188). Here, Austen begins to reveal the true meaning behind prejudice, and why it is such a dangerous attitude for one to have. Elizabeth’s examination of her actions and mindset cause her to realize she has become the person she strongly detested, and prided herself on not