pride and prejudice essays on social class

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Social Class in Pride and Prejudice

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“really, believed all his (Bingley) expectations of felicity, to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding, and super excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself.”.

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The Role of the Social Class in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

Classism is evident in the classical novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin on all levels. Social division is an obstacle shaped by the times that creates symbolic meanings worth discussing today. One of them is the role of class in a romantic relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. A middle-class woman’s position drastically differs from a place that an upper-class man occupies in society’s eyes. Hence, the differences between Elizabeth and Darcy make their union significant to a reader. The class division has an essential role of a stereotype that Austin aims to destroy through Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s storyline.

The reader is continuously introduced to Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s contrasting living conditions to juxtapose their social roles. Austen compares even their incomes to show the extensive gap between the middle and upper class of British people in the 1810s. Thus, Elizabeth’s revenue is estimated to be around 2000 pounds a year (Austen 466; Dewi and Thoyibi 5). As for Darcy, the source of income of a landowner was about “of his having ten thousand a year” (Austen 450; Dewi and Thoyibi 6). Not only their source of income varied, but also did their education, occupation, residence, and even fashion (Dewi and Thoyibi 6). There is a descriptive difference between Darcy and Elizabeth’s way of life. Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship depicts the relationships built on contrasts.

The dilemma of how these two socially varying characters become a couple is the main prejudice that Jane Austin breaks. The effect of the novel’s climax is enforced by all the hardships shaped by class differences between lovers. Throughout the plot, Elizabeth shares multiple stereotypes about Darcy based solidly on his descent: “I had supposed him to be despising his fellow-creatures in general” (Austen 515). The possibility of marriage based on “pure love” is an act of rebellion against the marriage market’s structuralism (Bogos 40). Hence, the main characters’ social incompatibility is a tool to express the rebellious position and catch the reader’s attention.

Another vital feature that social division adds to the novel is the pride dramatization that both Elizabeth and Darcy have. Elizabeth’s stereotypical image of being an average middle-classed woman that Darcy did not even consider asking for dance is developed to a deep feeling of love. The high status justifies the initial pride of Darcy. As phrased by Charlotte, “If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud” (Austen 459). However, Elizabeth’s pride is in her indifference towards Darcy’s status (Awan and Ambreen 651). Miss Bennet does not follow social expectations and finds Darcy extremely unlikable at first: “I have never liked him, I had not thought so very ill of him” (Austen 515). Such an unpleasant attitude based on prejudices is being transformed towards the union of love. Both characters have a dramatized pride that is concentrated on being different from other representatives of their class.

To conclude, it is significant to mention classism as the main background for developing main characters in a Victorian novel by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice. Darcy and Elizabeth come from different environments, share varying family stories and income. Moreover, they challenge the societal norms by building their marriage, not as a purely institutionalized companionship but as a romantic union. Finally, they differ significantly from other representatives of their strata by having a dramatized feeling of pride. All these elements help Jane Austen combat the stereotypes around social division in the British society of the 19th century.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice . Cambridge UP, 1813.

Awan, Abdul Ghafooor, and Ambreen Ali Nasir. “Matrimonial Issues and Marxist Approach in “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austin.” Global Journal of Management, Social Sciences, and Humanities , vol. 4, no. 3., 2018, pp. 651-676.

Bogos, Eniko. Marriages in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice . 2018. University of Szeged, Thesis.

Dewi, Silvana Krisita Amelia, and M. Thoyibi. The Influence of Social Class on Women’s Attitude Towards Men in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813): A Sociological Approach . 2021. Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Thesis.

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The Social Class Of Pride And Prejudice English Literature Essay

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Essay: Pride and Prejudice: wealth and social class

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Have you ever been judged by your social position? In “Pride and Prejudice,” Jane Austen gives readers a glimpse inside the immense standards of wealth and class. Set in the tranquil English countryside the novel takes place at the same time when England was fighting for its life against the threat of Napoleon, and all of Europe was entangled in war and political chaos. But no mention is ever made of the imminence of a French invasion in her novels. Pride and Prejudice was written in 1797-1812 and then published in 1813. The purpose of this romantic novel is to make known that class ranks, while ridgid, do not determine one’s character, and that love can overcome all obstacles, including the pride and prejudice of a person. In Pride and Prejudice there are lots of symbols used to help us better understand the novel. In this novel Jane Austen is able to voice the disapproval towards women in the 1800s through characters like Charlotte Lucas or Mrs. Bennet. Charlotte says “I am not a romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage stage.” (Jane Austen 87) Charlotte only marries Mr. Collins because she put security above marital happiness. She implied this earlier in the book when she was talking about Jane saying, “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of a person with whom you are to pass your life.” (Jane Austen 14) Charlotte represents how most of the women were portrayed in the novel and time period, they don’t believe in marrying for love, but marrying for wealth and status is the goal. Mrs. Bennett can be described as the most captivated with this because throughout the whole book she strives for all of her daughters to marry off into a prosperous family. That’s why when Elizabeth declined Mr Collins proposal, Mrs. Bennet was furious because she wanted them to get married solely because he was a wealthy man, despite his idiotic personality. But when Mr. Bennet says, “An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.” (Jane Austen 77) Mr Bennet. knows that Mr. Collins is not a good husband to have even with all his money, which Mrs. Bennet can’t look past to see his horrible personality. Throughout the book Jane Austen pays attention to the manner and style of many of the characters homes or estates. A small-scale home like the Bennets is presented as adequate, though somewhat plain, it is still decent. But compared the homes like Bingley’s at Netherfield Park, Lady Catherine’s estate of Rosings, or Darcy’s home at Pemberley, they showcase their owners enormous wealth and symbolize their high social position. For example Elizabeth describes Pemberley as “It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!” (Jane Austen 163) Based off the description Elizabeth gives just of the outside appearance of Pemberley makes it seem remarkable and definitely belonging to an upper class. Then, saying that it would be something to live there makes houses even more a symbol of wealth and class. But When Mr. Collins came to visit the Phillips’ estate at Meryton, he compares the drawing room to the “small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings” (Jane Austen 51). He explains that in just one of Lady Catherine’s multiple drawing rooms, the “chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds” (Jane Austen 51). Mr. Collins is a stereotype for wealthy men back then. The Phillips’ estate at Meryton was obviously much smaller than his home but that makes it “ok” for him to talk down on their property. This shows how the houses people have also symbolize their attitudes to some effect. Pride and prejudice makes you realize that wealth and class in this world don’t matter in the end. In the novel, almost every girl married for money and the standards of their time. But they ended up not truly loving the person they were married to. But if you look at Elizabeth, she was nothing like those girls. When Elizabeth looked for a man, she judged their personality and heart, not their class and money. Her and Jane married for pure love and they lived a very happy life. This theme is so relevant in today’s world, adults and students need to learn that standards and expectations do not matter and when you’re looking for the right one to spend your life with, you need to choose them because you really love them, not because of their position. In the novel, the main standard of the day was that relationships are determined by wealth and rank. Based on today’s society the high school reader may feel like this isn’t very relatable because we aren’t getting married off in high school, and we aren’t judging people based on their wealth. In the 21st century high school this isn’t as big of a problem as is was back then. Parents aren’t yearning for their children to get married as soon as they can. In fact the average age people get married today is 28 years old. Back then, charlotte was 26 years old and they called her an old-maid and laughed at her because she wasn’t married yet! In school we should read about a more relevant and understandable topic for students today. Though the novel isn’t as relevant as it could be, it teaches us that reputation does not determine one’s character, and that love can overcome all obstacles, including the pride and prejudice of a person. It reminds us of the stereotypes we are faced with today and the constant challenges we are overcoming. Jane Austen’s work on this novel was wonderful and helps us to remember that people can change, like Mr. Darcy did, and we shouldn’t base out opinions off of preconceptions.

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Social Class in Pride and Prejudice

Authors many times reflect the current time period that they are in and reflect their society in their novels. Jane Austen was no exception as “she did a fair amount of reading, of both the serious and the popular literature of the day” as stated by pemberley.com. Jane Austen criticizes and portrays the societal norms at the time as well as to show the problems in her society. The social classes at the time were a big aspect of society.

The social environment of her life was formed with classes dividing up was embedded in family and the money they had. Jane Austen is very critical in the presumptions and prejudices of England, especially higher class people. They would determine their life choices and their daily operations according to the class that they were associated with. She creates a break between a person’s goodness and what they own such as their social rank and possessions. She also brings up the role and status of women at the time. She taught that women didn’t need to depend on men. These ideas are similar to Mary Wollstonecraft who wanted women to leave the house and get jobs that men do. Although there are many topics that are covered in the novel, Jane Austen focuses mainly on social classes in the novel and criticizes the ideas of class structures during her time.

One of the most prominent examples of the societal conservation and superiority is Mr. Collins and his dealings with the other characters. He wants to marry to get the estate for himself as well as get married to one of the Bennet daughters. He is not doing it for love rather he is doing it because clergymen like himself have to set an example with marriages due to their stance in society. He also thinks it will give him some false happiness and finally, he is doing it to please Lady Catherine. Marriage is a common job for Mr. Collins and he believes that with his social status as well as his wealth, he should get a wife easy peasy. However, when Elizabeth actually rejects him, he states, “my situation in life, my connections with the family of de Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favour; and you should take it into further consideration, that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you. ” He literally says that Elizabeth is making a mistake by rejecting him due to the fact that he has a high social status as well as his connection to other high social status people. In reality, Elizabeth is saying no because she knows that Mr. Collins wouldn’t provide her with happiness. Mr. Collin’s idea of class superiority is very much reflective of the higher class at the time of the novel and shows that a person with his position has influence in society.

pride and prejudice essays on social class

Darcy would be another example of showing the effects that come with his social status and his connections to the other characters in the book. He is seen as socially awkward and can’t engage in small talk. Yet, he still knows his place and class position is greater than most people. This is shown in his thinking that due to his class position, he doesn’t need to dance at the ball in the beginning of the novel. Darcy tells Mr. Bingley, “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” Darcy knows that he is better than the people in the room and doesn’t see the need to talk to the other women in the room. This is also shown in Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth in which he says that even though she is beneath him and marrying her would reduce his status, he was willing to put that aside because he loves her. The social position of Darcy influences the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy and shows the effects of status and wealth on a person at the time.Men were socially seen for being the beacon for women and saviour of women and that women essentially had no choice but to marry for security because without a man, they basically had no value and no assurance that they would live to see a new day. They had to marry for a man’s fortune but not for love.

This idea is expressed in the piece, Advice to the Newly Married Lady in which Samuel K. Jennings talks about what women should do who have been married and how they should act relating to what men think. It was believed that men were clearly superior to women and their wives. The wives needed to yield to them and that they must submit completely to their husband’s needs and put their own aside. They couldn’t question where they were in life and stating “your husband your own companion”. Women could only be successful and accomplished through a good marriage. Women were limited in their freedom to choose the husbands they wanted and the love they wanted which led to little considerations for their feelings and their opinions. This is also portrayed in the painting The Settlement by William Hogarth shows the dealing between a higher class individual as well as a rich merchant. It shows that marriage is basically like a business deal and that the woman gets almost no choice in their life. The couple sitting in the chairs show that they are ignoring each other.

The most prominent detail in the painting is the two dogs chained together to try to get together to show the connection to the couple’s loveless marriage. This whole idea of women needing to marry for security is present throughout the novel. Elizabeth’s first love was Wickham and she sees him as the best man she has met. The thing with Wickham is that he has no class status nor does he have a lot of money, which makes him an unsuitable husband. This leads to a reason as to why she might want to marry Darcy, he has what Wickham lacks. It is also Elizabeth’s social position as a woman that affects the relationship between Darcy and her as well as how people saw the women. Another example of the social status concerning women is Lydia and her running away. Her act of running away shows the impact on the other characters as well as how it affects them. Elizabeth hearing more details about the news from Darcy makes her feel shameful of her family and that Lydia is a source of the family’s weakness. Mr. Collins, more focused on how this is affecting the family’s status claims that Lydia’s death would have been a better alternative to her running away and that she should be disowned by the family. This mash of differentiating opinions and hate of Lydia is showing how important status is and the rules of the societal norms at this time.

Lastly, women were seen as inferior to men and couldn’t do things that men could. This sentiment is stated by Ms. Bingley when he proclaims, ‘A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved.’ She claims that to be a woman, you must be able to know how to play music and draw, be able to sing, and have a graceful walk. This was the settings that were needed to have a woman be a woman and it shows the societal standards of the women at the time.

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Pride and Prejudice is a movie directed by Cyril Coke in 1980 that is inspired by the original book of the same title, written by Jane Austen. The characters and scenes played in the movie, showed more substantial details compared to the previous black and white film on 1940, directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Jane Austen was an English writer who gained her fame through her books that showcase critiques on the British landed gentry by the end of 18th century. Her successful books include Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Pride and Prejudice, and many more. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen portrayed five unmarried Bennet daughters who were pressured by their mother to marry, and were thrilled upon the arrival of two wealthy noblemen. Through Elizabeth Bennet, the author showed how Lizzie must overcome her own false prejudice against class-conscious Mr. Darcy, and overcoming her lower status to find romance. This book also showed the significance of wealth for marriage and the control parents have over their children’s marriage in the 19th century Britain.

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serve her best work ethic toward being the wife of Collins. Referring to her own statement, "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance,”(Austen 30), she has chosen a life of misfortune. Unfortunately, Charlotte and Collins’ marriage was common in 1800s, and still is to our present days. We measure each other’s wealth, not love; we let future to depend on wealth, instead of creating our own pathway; we believe that wealth is the ultimate fame, not happiness. Pride is an empty pleasure that corrupts humans’ primary senses.

Essay on Prejudice and Pride in Pride and Prejudice

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Just as the characters unknowingly follow Darcy's example of pride, they commit Elizabeth's crucial mistake, prejudging people (especially Darcy) according to horribly inadequate experience. Elizabeth's positive judgement of Wickham and negative one of Darcy prevent her from seeing Wickham's devious and whimsical nature and Darcy's honest efforts to improve despite the apparent lack of incentive. Like Elizabeth, the rest of the Bennets, and indeed the rest of those living in the vicinity of Meryton, believe Darcy to be a wholly disagreeable man. (In fact, he began as such, but even when he began to change, everyone refused to realize it, and maintained their dislike of him because of their previous judgements.) Mrs. Bennet is prejudiced against all other mothers with young daughters, believing them to be just as ambitious and scheming as she herself is. When told that Mrs. Long promised to introduce the Bennet sisters to Bingley, Mrs. Bennet hisses

Mrs Bennet Analysis Essay

Mrs. Bennet is generally portrayed to be a selfish woman who cares only about herself through the contrast between the themes of marrying for love versus marrying for money. Pride and Prejudice represents the distorted view on marriage of a middle-class woman in the early nineteenth century by defining exactly what "marrying well" should and did mean to Mrs. Bennet at that moment in history. One of the most important themes explored in the novel is the concept of "marrying well". Mrs. Bennet is portrayed as a selfish was due to the fact that she is an anxious woman with limited knowledge, and her primary objective in life is to make sure that her daughters "marry well". In the novel, Jane Austen describes Mrs. Bennet as

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Mrs Bennet is the perfect example of how Austen uses satire and mockery to make a social comment on the connection between marriage and social structure. The readers are lead to find the character of Mrs Bennet to be irritating and ridiculous. Mrs Bennet is put into the scene in order to further display how ludicrous the nature of Mrs Bennet’s actions together with her language. Mrs Bennet gives Elizabeth the alternative of marriage or disownment. Charlotte Lucas is also a great example of society’s expectations were in terms of marriage for women. The same as Mrs Bennet was doing for Elizabeth, if she didn’t marry she would be subject to disownment by her mother. Charlotte was on a whole another level. If she were not to marry Mr Collins she would also be subject to disownment by the whole of society and become labelled as an “old maid”. This led her to the marriage without love in order for her to be secure within society and not disowned. Charlotte’s choices, to marry without love and as well as Mrs Bennet’s desire to see one of her “daughters happily settled at Neitherfields” appears more realistic and sensible to the responder. Because of the way society was structured in terms of the class system at the time. Satire with this perfectly displays Mrs Bennet sheer determination and persistence in marriage for her daughter. This further reflects the importance of social mobility of the

Jane Austen's View of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essays

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After Collins proposes to Elizabeth, Charlotte, knowing she needs a husband, jumps straight in with her tactics. She doesn't however tread

The Social Hierarchy Of Pride And Prejudice

“Lady Catherine will not think the worst of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved” (Austen 127). Distinction of social classes has been slowly fading away in today’s modern society, but contributed to create a society dominated by a ironclad hierarchy prior to the twentieth century. Jane Austen published Pride and Prejudice in 1813, which revolves around the love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Both Elizabeth and Darcy have to overcome various issues of the Regency era, and learn to accept each other towards the end of novel. Jane Austen showcases the nineteenth century turmoil between the upper class and the working class through the strict social hierarchy and conflicts between the characters in Pride and Prejudice and ultimately proposes a solution towards the end of the novel.

Essay on Pride And Prejudice: First Impressions

First Impressions First impressions are very important. In the Victorian age, people based their whole opinion of someone on first impressions. Most times the first impression of someone is not the way they truly are. Sometimes a first impression can cause you to think negative of someone but later you find out that they are very nice and a very positive person. One example is when Mr. Darcy meets Elizabeth in the book ,Pride and Prejudice.

Importance Of Social Class In Pride And Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is set in the 18th century, when the future of society relied on social class. According to social class, the relationship between Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth should have been impossible, but they are able to break through these restrictions.The progression of Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship through the obstacles of breaking through social class dominates the novel. Jane Austen illustrates the restrictions of the social construct of class based on wealth along with her own views on social class in the fiction novel, Pride and Prejudice, through the relationship of Elizabeth and Mr.Darcy.

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Class Theme in Pride and Prejudice | LitCharts
Class Theme Analysis. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Pride and Prejudice, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Class is the target of much of the novel's criticism of society in general. Austen makes it clear that people like Lady Catherine, who are overly invested in their social position, are guilty ...
Social Class in Pride and Prejudice - UKEssays.com
Going deeper in pride and prejudice, it shows us the power of money and the importance of social rank in past, and gives us an opportunity to analyze also our society and to have some kind of relations between past and now.
Class in Pride and Prejudice: Explanation & Examples
Thinking About Class. Jane Austen's critique of class-based snobbery is one of the main themes of Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813. In the contemporary English society Austen describes ...
The Role of the Social Class in Pride and Prejudice by Jane ...
Classism is evident in the classical novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin on all levels. Social division is an obstacle shaped by the times that creates symbolic meanings worth discussing today. One of them is the role of class in a romantic relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy.
The Social Class Of Pride And Prejudice English Literature Essay
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a fantastic novel of finding love on the opposite side of the social spectrum. All social classes have their prejudices and pride, some more than others, however in the end all haughty arguments and differences are no match for the love of some couples like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
Social Class In Pride And Prejudice Essay | Bartleby
Social Class In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice Social class was a big thing in history and is still a big thing today. Social class prevents people from doing what they really want to do in life. Social class is a label that everyone has whether it's a positive or negative thing.
Essay: Pride and Prejudice: wealth and social class - ESSAY SAUCE
Pride and Prejudice was written in 1797-1812 and then published in 1813. The purpose of this romantic novel is to make known that class ranks, while ridgid, do not determine one’s character, and that love can overcome all obstacles, including the pride and prejudice of a person.
Social Class in Pride and Prejudice - Free Essay Example ...
The social position of Darcy influences the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy and shows the effects of status and wealth on a person at the time.Men were socially seen for being the beacon for women and saviour of women and that women essentially had no choice but to marry for security because without a man, they basically had no value and …
Pride and Prejudice: Social Class Essay - 1105 Words | Bartleby
Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813 and it depicts key themes in society and the impact these themes had on life for the characters in the novel. One of these themes is social class, which was a chief contributor to the characters problems in the story.