Opening in Pride and Prejudice

It introduces the main themes
1. Social etiquette
  1. Doesn't agree with social etiquette envolving relationships marriage
    1. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
      1. Example of sarcasm
      2. Sets the novel in motion
      3. She is also stating the opposite is true , by saying that a single woman who finds a man with a good fortune must want to marry, which we discover later in the novel
  2. Century period (regency period)
2. Love and marriage
  1. "Happiness in marriage is purely a matter of chance"
    1. General thought of the public at that time
  2. "Is he married or single?"
    1. One of the first questions Mrs B asks about Bingley
      1. Shows Austens views on society, obsessed with getting with people
      2. She doesn't ask anything about his personality, showing how personality doesn't seem to come into accounts in Austens eyes
3. Money
  1. "£5000 a year"
    1. Said by Mrs Bennet without asking about him as a person
      1. Austen showing us through Mrs B how she feels people act towards relationships
4. First Impressions
  1. Original title of book
  2. "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to temp me"
  3. "...since then I have thought of her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance"
We meet the main characters for the first time
1. The Bennets
  1. Jane
    1. Direct contrast to Lizzie
      1. Similarities suggest similar paths for them
      2. Differences suggest different reasons for outcomes
    2. Based on relationship Austen had with her sister
  2. Elizabeth
    1. Sharpest and most clever
    2. Very close to Jane
  3. Mr Bennet
    1. "so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve and caprice
  4. Mrs Bennet
    1. "mean understanding, little information and uncertain temper
    2. Relationship with Mr B is an exaggeration of Jane and Elizabeth
  5. Lydia
Austens Intentions
1. Show us first impressions aren't always right
  1. Elizabeth and Darcy
  2. Mr Wickham
2. You shouldn't discriminate against people because of their backgrounds
3. There's more to a relationships that material/physical values
  1. Although Elizabeth only fell in love with Darcy because of his house
    1. His house reflects him rather than his money
  2. Charlotte was unhappy with Mr Collins
  3. Although in the regency period it was the main reason for marrying

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Opening in Pride and Prejudice

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	Created by dkyilrakn over 9 years ago