Pride and Prejudice Assignment #2

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
December 3, 2009
Pride and Prejudice: Assignment #2

With her novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen critiques the classist society in many different ways, which include having the characters who wish to elevate their social status behave in an absurd manner and through mercenary marriages. However, none of the ways that Austen critiques the classist society of her novel are as prominent as the character of Lady Catherine De Bourgh, who embodies all that is corrupt with the upper class. Lady Catherine plays the role of the main antagonist within the novel, having no positive influence on any of the characters or events that take place. Instead of setting an example of proper etiquette for the lower classes, which is what should be expected from members of the upper class, Lady Catherine behaves in a very proud and condescending manner. What makes Lady Catherine such an outstanding example of that which is corrupt with the upper class is her pride without proper merit, her rudeness towards Elizabeth, and her traditional stance in opposing the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Lady Catherine is a very proud and opinionated person. While feelings of pride are not uncommon for those of a high social status, Lady Catherine’s pride is completely unfounded. She accomplished nothing of importance in her life and only obtained her position in society by marrying into money. This makes her behavior all the more repulsive, especially since she truly believes herself to be deserving of the highest praise. She forgets that she was not always of such great fortune and social standing.
From the initial introduction of Lady Catherine in the novel, it is clear that she is intent on being heard by all on every subject. “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 opinionated disposition is especially obvious during her conversation with Elizabeth, in which Lady Catherine asks Elizabeth a series of personal questions, while inserting her own opinion each time Elizabeth replies with an answer that she find unsatisfactory. By her reactions to each one of Elizabeth’s answers, Lady Catherine makes it evident that she expected Elizabeth to agree with everything she said, rather than argue against her opinion. Lady Catherine believes that because she is in a higher class than Elizabeth, that Elizabeth should bend to her will. When Elizabeth does not, Lady Catherine is astonished.
Lady Catherine, who was intent on Mr. Darcy marrying her daughter, became furious after hearing a rumor that Mr. Darcy may have fallen in love with someone else. Thus, she inserts herself into the situation, telling Elizabeth not to pursue Mr. Darcy “Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay interest, forbid it”(271). Lady Catherine holds the traditional view that those of a certain class should only be married to others within their own class, especially if they are of high social standing. This is an unacceptable view for someone like her, who only gained her position in society through marriage.
Lady Catherine is the only character in the novel who resolves to remain miserable in the end. Her stubbornness and pride do not allow her move on after not having her own way. Austen perhaps had her meet with an unfavorable end to demonstrate how putting so much emphasis on social class will leave a person with nothing. Through her proud behavior, rude conduct to Elizabeth, and objecting to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s relationship, Lady Catherine is cemented as the embodiment of all that is corrupt with the upper class.