Pride and Prejudice - Theme of
the Novel and Title
Introduction: First written in
1797 under the title First Impressions. It was later revised and published
under Pride and Prejudice in 1813. Jane Austen took the
title and theme from Fanny Burney, who wrote of her novel, Cecelia, ‘the whole
business was the result of Pride and Prejudice’. First impressions do play
an important role in the novel.
First impressions do play an
important role in the novel. Elizabeth is misled in her judgment of
both Darcy and Wickham. Her attitude towards both the characters is only a result
of the First Impression. But if we study the novel deeply, we find that P&P
is an apt title. The first Impressions only last for the first few chapters of
the novel while P&P permeates the soul of the novel. The novel is about the
pride of Darcy and the prejudice of Elizabeth and the change andcorrection of
their attitude caused by first impressions.
Theme of Pride and
Prejudice: Darcy embodies family pride. Wickham tells Elizabeth that
he has a ‘filial pride’. Darcy himself says that his pride consists in being
selfish and overbearing, caring for none beyond his own family circle,
thinking meanly of all the rest of the world. No doubt, he is a proud man.
Nothing can excuse his remark about Elizabeth …tolerable but not
handsome enough to tempt me. And other remarks such as …my good opinion once
lost is lost forever. His first appearance is appalling insolent. The climax of
Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice is most prominent when Darcy
proposes to her but his proposal is based on pride and rests on the sense of
inferiority of Elizabeth. He remains blind to the faults of Lady Catherine
and Miss Bingley and is prepared to think meanly of those beneath him in social
standing. Darcy’s pride stubs Elizabeth and her prejudice stems from
her feeling that he is all pride. Being rejected by him at the ball, her
prejudice mounts up and from the start; she willfully misinterprets all his
utterances and actions. Her prejudice clouds her clear judgment and foresight
and she believes the poor account of Darcy as related by Wickham and blinded by
prejudice, she rejects his proposal. It is at Rosings that hteir process of
self-discovery andeducations starts. At Netherfield Park, Elizabeth’s
family had seemed vulgar and ill-bred, but at Rosings, Darcy is embarrassed by
the vulgarity of his aunt, Lady Catherine and realizes that the refinement of
manners is no monopoly of the elite. His lesson is complete when he is totally
humbled by Elizabeth’s rejection of his proposal and realizes his
misplaced pride in the woman whom he loves. This excessive love for Elizabeth cures
Darcy’s pride and humbling himself, he writes a letter of explanation to her. Elizabeth’s
prejudice is neutralized by the revelation of Darcy’s character. She receives
the letter and learning the truth about Wickham’s character, she realizes her
own blindness and prejudice in having judged Darcy and Wickham mere on first
impressions. She is also able to see some of the validity of some of his
objections to Jane-Bingleymarriage. The Lydia-Wickham episode brings the final
reconciliation. Darcy overcomes his pride and completely gets involved in the
solution of the Lydia-Wickham elopement and this softens Elizabeth and
also cures her of her initial pride.
Other themes: However, to say
that Darcy is proud and Elizabeth is prejudice is to tell but the
half story. The fact is that both Darcy and Elizabeth are proud and prejudiced.
The novel makes clear the fact the Darcy’s pride lead to prejudice and Elizabeth’s
prejudice stems from a pride in her own perceptions. Darcy is proud of his
refinement and superiority of social standing. This lead him to a general
prejudice for all those below his social status and Elizabeth’s
prejudice stems from her pride when she is offended by Darcy’s refusal to dance
with her and this lead her to be prejudiced with him. In the proposal scene,
there is an ironic reversal. Both suffer from the faults of pride and
prejudice, but they are also the necessary defects of desirable merits:
self-respect and intelligence. It is true that Jane and Bingley are not a part
of this theme but their love is an important link in the novel without which
the story cannot be complete. Jane is a specimen of faultless beauty and she is
free of all the vices of Elizabeth’s temperament. She is neither proud nor
prejudiced and is always willing to see good in every one. It is the intricate
characters of Darcy and Elizabeth that hold our interest and
exemplify the theme and title of the novel.
Appearance and reality: Distinguishing
appearance from reality is yet another theme in the novel. The theme of fully
knowing one’s mate before marriage is closely linked to the theme of
A&R. A&R has been exemplified in Elizabeth. She is a good judge
but is not able to see though reality and merely falls into appearances of
Darcy and Wickham. Thus the theme of appearance and reality has been knitted
into the theme of marriage.
The aptness of the title: Lady
Katherine is a also an example of P&P. She has the family and status pride.
Mrs. Bennet is proud of her daughter and in her stupidity she is also
prejudiced against Darcy. So there is a theme of P&P in minor characters
too. The title, P&P aptly points to the theme of the novel. The novel goes
beyond a mere statement of first impressions and explores in depth the abstract
qualities of pride and prejudice – how they grow and can be overcome.
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