Narrative Techniques – Examines Austen’s use of irony, free indirect discourse, and point of view.
This technique allows the narrator to convey a character’s thoughts while maintaining a third-person perspective.
free indirect discourse (narrative technique)
-> Blends third-person narration with a character’s inner thoughts -> allowing the reader to experience events from the character’s perspective while maintaining narrative distance.
-> Reveals character's interior thoughts, feelings, and conflicts. e.g. Reveals Elizabeth’s biases and misunderstandings, subtly guiding the reader through her character growth
Charlotte Lucas’s pragmatic approach to marriage contrasts with Elizabeth’s idealism, illustrating this literary concept.
Character Foil
Charlotte Lucas serves as a foil to Elizabeth by embodying a pragmatic approach to marriage, marrying Mr. Collins for security rather than love. In contrast, Elizabeth values personal happiness over financial gain. Their differing perspectives emphasize Austen’s critique of a society where women often had limited options for securing a stable future.
The novel critiques this institution by portraying relationships based on social status, wealth, or convenience.
Marriage
Austen critiques marriage as a social institution driven by financial security rather than personal happiness. Characters like Charlotte Lucas exemplify the economic realities for women, while Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship presents an ideal where mutual respect and love are prioritized over wealth.
This Bennet sister’s love for books and quiet life symbolizes intellectual depth and virtue.
Mary Bennet
She is the most bookish of the Bennet sisters, symbolizes intellectualism without wisdom. Though she constantly cites moral lessons, she lacks social awareness, serving as a humorous contrast to Elizabeth’s more balanced intelligence and insight.
The opening line, “It is a truth universally acknowledged…” is an example of this kind of irony.
Verbal Irony
Austen’s opening line is an example of verbal irony because, rather than affirming the truth of the statement, she mocks the societal obsession with marriage, setting the stage for the novel’s satirical tone.
Elizabeth Bennet’s misjudgment of Darcy and Wickham is an example of this literary device.
Dramatic irony
e.g. Elizabeth initially believes Wickham to be a victim of Darcy’s cruelty and perceives Darcy as arrogant and unjust. However, the reader, like Darcy himself, knows that Wickham is deceitful and that Elizabeth’s judgment is flawed, making her eventual realization more impactful.
Elizabeth’s realization of her own pride and prejudice happens when she reads this item.
Darcy’s letter, given to Elizabeth after his rejected proposal, serves as a pivotal moment of revelation. It clarifies Wickham’s deceit and exposes Elizabeth’s own prejudices, prompting her to reassess her judgments. This moment catalyzes her character growth, aligning with the novel’s theme that true understanding requires humility and self-reflection.
Lady Catherine’s disapproval of Elizabeth reflects the rigid structure of this social system.
Class hierarchy
Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s arrogance and sense of entitlement reflect the rigid class distinctions of Austen’s time. Her opposition to Elizabeth and Darcy’s marriage stems from her belief that social status should dictate personal relationships. Austen critiques this notion by showing that character and personal virtue matter more than rank.
Pemberley, Darcy’s estate, symbolizes this aspect of his character.
his moral integrity
Pemberley reflects Darcy’s true nature—elegant yet unpretentious, noble yet welcoming. Elizabeth’s reaction to Pemberley marks her growing recognition of Darcy’s genuine goodness, reinforcing the theme that outward appearances can be misleading.
Mr. Bennet’s sarcastic remarks often reveal this about his character.
His detachment from family responsibilities.
Mr. Bennet’s sarcastic wit masks his failure as a father. While his humor is entertaining, his refusal to properly guide his daughters, particularly Lydia, leads to serious consequences.
The novel opens with a famous statement about marriage and wealthy men, an example of this rhetorical device.
Aphorism
A concise, memorable statement that expresses a general truth. The novel famously begins with: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." This ironic aphorism sets the tone for Austen’s satire, highlighting the social pressures surrounding marriage in the Regency era.
This minor character, though ridiculous, represents the dangers of a society that values connections over merit.
Mr. Collins is a clergyman who represents the absurdity of social hierarchy and blind adherence to status. His obsequiousness toward Lady Catherine and his lack of self-awareness make him both a comic figure and a critique of a system that rewards flattery over genuine merit. His character exemplifies Austen’s satire of social ambition.
Lydia’s scandal with Wickham highlights the novel’s theme of this, which is especially important for women.
Reputation
Lydia’s elopement with Wickham endangers her entire family’s social standing, illustrating the fragile nature of a woman’s reputation in the 19th century. Unlike men, whose reputations could recover from scandal, women faced lifelong consequences, a theme Austen highlights to expose gender inequality.
Dancing at balls serves as a metaphor for this.
courtship
The dances at balls symbolize the social and romantic negotiations of courtship. Darcy and Elizabeth’s first dance is filled with tension and misunderstandings, mirroring their relationship’s early struggles, whereas later, dancing represents harmony and mutual respect.
The way Mrs. Bennet constantly obsesses over marriage for her daughters while behaving improperly herself is an example of this comedic technique.
Satire
Mrs. Bennet’s ridiculous behavior satirizes how marriage-obsessed society pressures women into securing husbands at any cost, often leading to imprudent matches.
Austen often shifts perspective to reveal different characters' biases, making her use of narration an example of this.
Allows readers insight primarily into Elizabeth’s thoughts and perceptions. This narrative style both aligns us with Elizabeth’s experiences and misjudgments while also allowing Austen to critique societal norms through her perspective. It enhances the novel’s theme of self-discovery, as readers uncover the truth alongside Elizabeth.
The transformation of Darcy’s character is shown through his actions at this location.
Pemberley, Darcy’s grand estate, symbolizes his true character—strong, respectable, and generous. When Elizabeth visits Pemberley, she perceives Darcy in a new light, realizing that his home reflects his good judgment and moral integrity. This setting plays a crucial role in Elizabeth’s shifting perception of him and marks a turning point in their relationship.
Elizabeth’s resistance to societal pressure makes her an early example of this literary archetype.
An independent heroine
Elizabeth Bennet defies societal expectations by prioritizing her own principles over financial gain or social pressure. Unlike women who conform to traditional roles, Elizabeth asserts her independence by rejecting both Mr. Collins and Darcy’s initial proposal, making her one of literature’s first modern heroines.
Letters play an important role in advancing the plot, particularly as symbols of this.
Truth or revelation
Letters in the novel serve as vehicles of truth, often revealing hidden motives and misunderstandings. Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth, for example, acts as a narrative turning point, exposing the truth about Wickham and forcing Elizabeth to reconsider her judgments.
Lydia’s elopement is ironic because of this reason.
Her belief that she has secured a great match when she has actually endangered her future.
Lydia believes Wickham’s attention is romantic, but in reality, her elopement damages her prospects and reputation.
The novel subtly critiques society’s views on marriage and class through this technique, where seemingly simple events or statements have deeper meanings.
Subtext
Implied meaning beneath the surface of dialogue or events.
Austen masterfully employs subtext in characters’ conversations, particularly in Elizabeth and Darcy’s exchanges, where social conventions often mask their true emotions. Darcy’s first proposal, for example, is layered with condescension and suppressed passion, while Elizabeth’s rejection, though overtly dismissive, hints at her own vulnerability.
This character is initially described as having "no very cordial feelings towards" Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy
Initially, Mr. Darcy’s reserved and aloof demeanor causes Elizabeth and the community to perceive him as arrogant and indifferent. However, as the novel progresses, his true nature—characterized by integrity, loyalty, and self-improvement—is revealed, demonstrating Austen’s theme of the importance of self-awareness and growth.
The novel’s treatment of love and marriage satirizes the common belief in this economic principle.
The marriage market
The novel satirizes the "marriage market," in which women were valued primarily for their dowries and social connections. Characters like Mrs. Bennet, who obsess over securing wealthy husbands for their daughters, embody this mindset, while Elizabeth and Darcy’s union ultimately challenges it.
The contrast between Pemberley and Rosings Park highlights this theme.
The difference between genuine and superficial status.
Pemberley, Darcy’s estate, represents authentic aristocratic virtue, while Rosings, Lady Catherine’s residence, symbolizes arrogance and inherited status without personal merit. This contrast underscores the novel’s theme that true worth lies in character rather than lineage.
The novel satirizes the idea that personal merit is less important than social status, particularly through this character’s entitlement.