P&P Essay

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/ Mr. George
December 8, 2009
Essay Topic Four
The Pride and Prejudice of Society
Throughout history, members of a society have been separated based on their social standing. The idea of social classes is neither a new concept nor a retired one. However, simply because the custom of separation of class has existed for so long does not mean that it is an accepted ideal. Those at the bottom of society are often abused or ignored by those at the top, while those at the top of society enjoy the undeserved praise from those on the bottom. Oftentimes, members of the lower class rebel against the society that has oppressed them. Such was the case in the novel Pride and Prejudice, in which Elizabeth Bennet, a member of the lower class, behaves in a manner contrary to what is expected of someone of her class. In the end, she marries Mr. Darcy, a wealthy member of the upper class. When reading Pride and Prejudice, many would assume that the title refers to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy respectively. However, the title may refer to more than just two characters. For while Mr. Darcy represents pride, and Elizabeth represents prejudice, there is one entity that represents both ideals; the classist society in which they live. A society in which people are judged based on first impressions and those of a higher class than others are given the right to behave grotesquely. Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, lived her life during the time her novel was written. Therefore, it only makes sense that she would be able to illustrate the evils of a classist society so expertly. Being that Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the novel, is a member of the lower class, readers are shown the effects that the classist system has on her and those around her. This novel can be read as a critique of the classist structuring of society in that it demonstrates the antagonistic side of those in higher classes, the ridiculousness of those who find value in the classist structure of society, and the negative stereotypes that come with being a member of the upper class.
There are many points throughout the novel in which a character behaves in an unattractive manner, prompting the readers to think ill of them. However, no character plays the part of antagonist more consistently than Lady Catherine De Bourgh, who is the physical representation of the all that is debauched with the classist society. Being of the upper class, Lady Catherine believes herself to be of great importance to society. If held by anyone else in the upper class, this belief might have been reasonable, as he role of the upper class is to set an example of the proper way to behave for those in the lower class. However, such a belief should not be held by Lady Catherine, as she ignores her duty to set an example and instead lives a life of self-glorification. Furthermore, Lady Catherine, having simply married a wealthy man to gain her position in society, has done nothing that merits her pride. This is a critique of how being a member of the upper class fills a person with pride, whether they are deserving of it or not. Therefore, even though some members of the upper class behave properly and set an example for the lower class, there will always be others in high society who do the opposite, like Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine constantly searches for ways to bring attention to herself, such as dressing extravagantly and speaking in a manner that ensures that she is heard by all of those around her. Her speeches are made worse by the fact that she interjects her own opinion into every word: “There was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted”(Austen 126). Lady Catherine’s high opinion of herself makes it impossible for her not to be insulted when someone does not behave in the exact manner that she expects them to. An example of this is when Lady Catherine is asking Elizabeth a series of personal questions, and Elizabeth speaks what is on her mind rather than agreeing with her. This trait is common among members of high society, as they are used to having their own way all the time. When the demands of those in high society are not met, they are astonished. There is a simple explanation for why those of the upper class have come to expect so many luxuries. For as bad as Lady Catherine’s personality is, it was worsened by those who enable her to behave to haughtily.
Those who find value in the classist structure of society within the novel are often portrayed as foolish sheep. This is especially true in the cases of Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet, both of whom find no problems with their present society despite the fact that they are not at the absolute height. In the case of Mr. Collins, he worships Lady Catherine simply because she is a member of the upper class. Lady Catherine has done nothing to earn such adoration, yet Mr. Collins has nothing but good things to say about her: “’I confess,’ said he, ‘that I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship’s asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen’”(123). Collins compliments traits in Lady Catherine that do not even exist. At no point in the novel is Lady Catherine shown performing any act that could be considered affable. In fact, every one of Lady Catherine’s actions were nothing short of malevolent. The critique here is that subordinates will blindly worship their masters simply because it is the role of a subordinate to do so. By praising Lady Catherine so ardently, Mr. Collins fans the flames of her ego. Mrs. Bennet’s crime is slightly different from the crime of Mr. Collins, but no more forgivable. Rather than worshipping the members of the upper class themselves, Mrs. Bennet admires the lives they live. She desires to have friends in high places, so she devotes her life to seeing to it that her daughters are married to wealthy and respectable men. She is so intent on achieving her goal that creates situations that are detrimental to her daughters just to increase their chances of starting a relationship. An example of this is when Mrs. Bennet purposely causes Jane to catch a fever so that Jane would have to stay with Bingley. This is a critique of how people become so obsessed with becoming a part of the upper class that they lose sight of everything else in order to attempt it. Both Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet serve as the comic relief in the novel, making Austen’s feelings towards those who find value in the classist society very clear.
The novel contains many instances in which the behavior of a character is dismissed as having something to do with their social class. This creates a few negative stereotypes against those in the upper class, particularly Mr. Darcy. An example of this is when Miss Lucas comments on Mr. Darcy’s pride: “’His pride,’ said Miss Lucas, ‘does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud”(13). Although her words can be interpreted as a compliment to Mr. Darcy, it can also be interpreted as an insult against the upper class. Miss Lucas’ words make it clear that in this classist society, proud behavior from those in the upper class is to be expected. Another instance of a stereotype against the upper class is Elizabeth’s belief that Mr. Darcy only behaves so rudely because he is of good social standing. However, Mr. Darcy does not actually pay much mind to the classist society he lives in, so all assumptions of his characteristics having anything to do with his position in society are false. This demonstrates that the lower class are just as classist as the upper class in some respects.
Having lived in a classist society herself, Jane Austen was able to make her novel more three-dimensional. Through demonstrating the antagonist side of those in the upper class, the ridiculousness of those who find value in the classist structure of society, and the negative stereotypes that come with being a member of the upper class, Austen cleverly incorporated her critique of the classic structure of society within her novel. By having Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, the two characters who got over their feelings towards social class, meet with a favorable end, Austen shows how pointless the separation of classes truly is. Also, having Lady Catherine be the only miserable character at the end of the novel demonstrates how putting too much emphasis on class can ruin a person. Austen expressed the views of both classes in order for them to be compared. In the end, the similarities between the classes were much more important than the differences.