ENG-216 Literary Analysis Essay #1 Topic #3 Pride and Prejudice

The idea of social class permeates every aspect of the lives of the characters in Pride and Prejudice. The characters are very aware of the effects of class standing, and social class is responsible for the majority of the conflict in the novel. Differences in social class affect the characters interactions and relationships as do class expectations among characters in the same social class. This is most evident in the interactions between and relationship of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Since class consciousness is not as pervasive in our society, it is a little more difficult to identify with some of the actions of the characters and to understand the gravity of some of the conflicts, but the story is still enjoyable. Class issues present themselves between almost every character in the book in some way, but appear recurrently throughout all of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeths courtship. From the first time they meet, Mr. Darcy lives up to the general assessment of the people at the dance, that he is a snob with manners ill-fitting his high standing. He feels he is above the low-class affair and when urged to dance with Elizabeth, he insults her while she is within earshot, She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me (7). Elizabeth is immediately flabbergasted and repulsed by Mr. Darcy. She initially makes light of the situation with her friends, but she is also deeply offended that anyone would feel entitled to make such hurtful comments because of their high class standing, she says, I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine (12). Elizabeth takes the offensive in her next encounters with Mr. Darcy, speaking to him sarcastically, mockingly pretending to be reverent of his high social class, and openly showing

her disinterest. She trades quips with Mr. Darcy out of politeness, but refuses when he asks her to dance, Mr. Darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honour of her hand; but in vain. Elizabeth was determined (17). Mr. Darcy, unused to being treated this way due to his station, is forced to reconsider Elizabeth as more than just a plain, lower-class girl. He is attracted to her, but still a little apprehensive about the class difference, Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger (35). As Darcy begins to warm to Elizabeth, he sheds some of the heirs that he normally carries and stops associating Elizabeth with her uncivilized family. Just because Mr. Darcy is willing to accept Elizabeth as a peer, it does not resolve the class tensions that grow as they get closer. When Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst invite Elizabeth and Jane to stay with them, they are not impressed. As it becomes clear to them that Mr. Bingley has strong feelings for Jane and that Mr. Darcy is infatuated with Elizabeth, the women begin to insult the Bennet sisters behind their backs. They complain of Elizabeths bad manners, saying that she had no conversation, no stile, no taste, no beauty (23). They make fun of Elizabeth for walking such a long way and having muddy clothes and windswept hair in front of Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy in an effort to embarrass them and slander Elizabeth. Miss Bingley suggests to Mr. Darcy that Elizabeth is the type of person who would sell out her own gender to attract a man by flattery, Eliza Bennet is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex, by undervaluing their own (27). To Mr. Bingley, Mrs Hurst says, I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart that she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and with such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it. (24)

Since Mrs. Hurst knows about Mr. Bingleys feelings for Jane, this is an obvious attempt to shame Mr. Bingley for associating with a girl of such low class and to convince him that a man in his position couldnt possibly consider marrying someone like Jane. Elizabeth herself is not immune to classist thinking. Mr. Darcy listens to the complaints of those in his class about the unsuitability of someone like Elizabeth as a potential wife, but ultimately he makes it clear that he will do as he sees fit. He goes so far as to express this to Elizabeth when he first proposes to her (129). Even so, class still manages to interfere with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy getting together. Elizabeth cant get over the class issue. Even, if Mr. Darcy hadnt insulted her, she still wouldnt have been able to trust his affection. Even when she starts learning good things about Mr. Darcys character, she is still hesitant to express her feelings. The idea of class is so deeply rooted in the people in their culture that Elizabeth, who objects to being judged by her social standing and believes that people of all classes should treat each other with respect and dignity, cant help but feel inferior to and unworthy of someone like Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth is proud and resolute, but still has a sense of inferiority among people of a higher class. When she first noticed Mr. Darcy looking at her, [s]he hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man (34). When Mr. Darcy proposes to her out of the blue and at the same time insults her and her family, the narrator says, In spite of her deep-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a mans affection (129). Elizabeth is even more flattered when she considers how much he must have loved her to want to marry her in spite of all the objections which had made him prevent his friends marrying her sister (132). As Elizabeth begins to understand Mr. Darcys character aside from his abrasive personality, she starts to understand how someone like Mr. Darcy could love someone like her.

She is gradually less defensive when it comes to accepting Mr. Darcys kindnesses because she comes to understand that his feelings are genuine despite the class differences, and that she is not leaving herself open to be insulted or judged again. She starts to get back some of her natural confidence, which she lost and had to overcompensate for when Mr. Darcy first insulted her. Her confidence in herself as an educated woman equal to any other is demonstrated in her refusal to kowtow to Lady Catherine who engages her as a subordinate and demands that Elizabeth acquiesce to her wishes simply because she is of a lower class. Elizabeth refuses to take Lady Catherines abuse lying down. She speaks to her impudently and asserts her own self-worth. When Lady Catherine tells her that she should remain in her own sphere, Elizabeth says, In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentlemans daughter; so far we are equal (239). The idea of social class is integral to the story. The class system directly affects how each of the characters behave, and considerations of class color how the characters perceive themselves. Class consciousness and class conflict make up a large part of the plot, especially the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. The problems created by the notion that a persons worth is determined by his or her class seem to prevent the development of this relationship. Although without these problems, the relationship may not have developed at all and the characters would not have had the opportunity for personal growth. Also, without the conflict created by differences in class among the characters, the book would be pretty dull.