Jane Austen's Pride and
Prejudice is saturated with pride. Characters focus on their social
status and reputation, which in turn creates comedic and/or aggravating
scenarios that warn the reader how to live his/her life and how to behave.
Pride is the focus of characters during marriage
proposals, as exemplified by Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy. When Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth,
rather than expressing his love, he proposes by stating his reasons to marry,
explaining, “I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances
(like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add
very greatly to my happiness…(Austen 103)”.
His proposal becomes more pride-filled after Elizabeth says no, to which
Mr. Collins replies, “it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of
the man whom they secretly mean to accept…I am therefore by no means discouraged
by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the alter ere long”
(Austen 104-105). Mr. Darcy’s proposal
to Elizabeth as well shows how pride dominates marriage proposals. Darcy’s marriage proposal is put in a critical
review it is described by stating “there were feelings besides those of the
heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness
than of pride. His sense of her inferiority- of its being a degradation- of the
family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt
on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was
very unlikely to recommend his suit” (Austen 185).
Pride shapes how the characters interact with each
other and events in the story. When Lady
Catherine is first introduced and is about to share dinner with Mr. Collins and
Elizabeth, Mr. Collins down talks the importance of formal attire by stating, “I
would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the
rest, there is no occasion for anything more.
Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank
preserved” (Austen 158). Pride makes an
even stronger presence when it is discovered that Lydia has run away with
Wickham, who has massive gambling debts.
Mr. Collins responds to the scenario by saying, “The death of your
daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this… Howsoever that may
be, you are grievously to be pitied; in which opinion I am not only joined by
Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have
related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in
one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as
Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such
a family” (Austen 281-282).
Austen’s depiction of
pride is a warning to readers to evaluate how they use pride in order to
prevent snobbish, rude lifestyles.
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