Pride and Prejudice Essay

Macda Gerard
AP English 11: Mr. George
17 April 2009
Pride & Prejudice Essay

In “a world of social, moral and economic stability…where characters are free to make their own choices and pursue their hearts’ desires” (Austen XIII) happiness is rare. Throughout the novel Pride and Prejudice, the world of valuing social stability and making choices stimulates the emerging of marital motives. Society does not provide many choices for unmarried women as they age, which forces many to seek marriage with the understanding that contentment may later arrive as long as they are secured. Through acting on their hearts’ desires, some women hold a disposition that attract them to pursue a mercenary marriage or perhaps a prudential marriage in order to insure security; however, a marriage based on love is most favorable and results in security but also ultimate happiness.

In the novel, women are highly encouraged to marry as soon as possible: “Young women should always be properly guarded and attended, according to their situation in life” (Austen 208). Women did not commonly receive inheritance from their fathers; instead, entails were often passed down to the sons of families. With the lack of pecuniary aid, it created limited options for a comfortable single lifestyle. This entailed living with relatives as a dependent or residing with employers and taking on jobs such as a teacher or housekeeper. Many women sought eagerly to marry in order to avoid such inauspicious lifestyles and gain security through finances and beneficial rewards. Marriage became the only way out of said situations often resulting in desperation to gain a husband through financial and practical motives.

Many characters were willing to marry simply because marriage was the only means of obtaining financial security. Throughout the novel, Wickham is clearly demonstrated as having motives pertaining to money or other rewards for marrying. When speaking of Wickham’s relations with Miss King, it is evident that he simply wanted her for a financial gain: “But he paid her not the smallest attention till her grandfather’s death made her mistress of this fortune?” Furthermore, in regards to Wickham’s relationship with Lydia, it is evident that he had no intention of marrying her. However, the rogue married Lydia after Darcy offered an amount of money that would guarantee him an opportunity for a job and the absolution of debts. Wickham certainly was not alone in his mercenary beliefs.

Mrs. Bennet certainly had mercenary motives pertaining to her daughters. She felt it was her ultimate purpose to marry her daughters solely to their advantage. However, in doing so, she was depicted as extremely shallow and insatiable: “[Mrs. Bennett’s] thoughts and her words ran wholly on those attendants of elegant nuptials, fine muslins, new carriages, and servants" (226). And on Elizabeth's marriage she exclaims: "What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! ... A house in town! ... Ten thousand a year!” (365-366). Mrs. Bennet ceased to judge by first impression or civility and solely took into account how much the men were worth, which would be the crux of her judgment toward the men. Contrary to seeking pecuniary aid from marriage, many also look to practical matters as well.

A prudent marriage implies that there is a practical sense to the union. Many seek to marry for prudent motives with the sole intention of being content and satisfied. Mr. Collins exemplifies these motives through his initial proposal to Lizzy: “I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish” (105). Throughout the desperate attempts to acquire her approval, Mr. Collins does not once mention love. This was simply a pretense of passion working as a masquerade for his practical desire of marriage. This clearly demonstrates that his sole purpose of obtaining a wife was to ensure that she was provided for, disregarding emotion within the marriage.

Charlotte seeks a prudent marriage as a way of securing her lasting contentment. This is clearly expressed by Charlotte, whose pragmatic views on marrying are articulated countless times: “Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want” (122). In marrying Mr. Collins, she achieves this but does not expect ultimate happiness: “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of choice” (24). Her intent of marrying was not to achieve extreme happiness but to achieve satisfaction. While this may indeed be sensible, other motives for marrying may result in a more gratifying end.

Marrying for love is certainly prevalent among characters in the novel. Bingley and Jane traveled a long journey before attaining their ultimate happiness. Due to the fact that Bingley was in love with Jane, he did not hesitate to step down from his high social standing to meet hers. However, because of a misunderstanding, Jane and Bingley were separated, causing Jane great sorrow. Later on, Bingley took it upon himself to return and continue his courtship of Jane. He proposed to her choosing to disregard any opinions his sisters may have had. Regardless of what may have seeped through the cracks of their love, it is genuine and will remain unchanged.

The greatest illustration of ultimate happiness is demonstrated through Darcy’s strive for Lizzy’s hand in marriage. Darcy’s love did not act as a motive solely to marry her, but also pushed him to overcoming obstacles. With a shaky start beginning at the Meryton Ball, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me” (13), prejudices arose and trickled throughout their relationship. Nevertheless, Darcy proves his undying love for Lizzy by humbling himself and paying for Lydia and Wickham’s marriage, along with paying for Wickham’s debt, and providing him with a job despite the fact that Darcy loathes him. Darcy disregards the disapproval of others and sets aside the fact that he is of a higher social standing and proclaims his love to Lizzy by proposing.

In both love marriages, Bingley and Darcy undergo leaps and bounds to achieve their goal of obtaining a wife that completes them. In regards to Jane and Lizzy, not only do love marriages bestow a sense of enduring happiness upon each couples, it also provides them with lasting contentment and financial security. All had to face ridicule at some point; however, their love prevails over all condemnation. Love marriages result in ultimate happiness and more, whereas prudential and mercenary marriages tend to border contentment and certainly never come into proximity of the ultimate happiness and contentment experienced in love marriages. “Love is the condition in which happiness of another person is essential to your own.” (Robert Heinlein). Love trumps all.

Lady Catherine

Lady Catherine’s overbearing behavior proved to be a direct reflection of how highly she valued the ludicrous and absurd class system making her apathetic to the opinions of others.

If one were to approach Lady Catherine, it would not be out of the ordinary if she were to treat the person as if he were her footstool. Lady Catherine’s high ranking in the class system gave her the understanding that she may treat anyone as she pleased. This snobbish heiress assumed everyone would treat her with utmost reverence; however, Elizabeth shattered this fantasy after Lady Catherine attempted to discourage Darcy and Elizabeth’s engagement: “Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence” (Austen 165). Lady Catherine was not accustomed to having her judgment questioned, and often took it upon herself to inquire in an offensive manner about subject matters that were none of her business. Embodying the most perverse form of pomposity, she valued those who consistently flattered and praised her opinions regardless of if they were the most irrational and unfair remarks one has ever heard.

Lady Catherine is like a peacock. Just as Lady Catherine flaunts her affluence and high social status to maintain a sense of superiority, a peacock flares out brilliant tail feathers for all to see. It comes across as extremely ostentatious to such an extent that it belittles others around. With every strut, either a sense of jealousy or admiration is evoked through what or in Lady Catherine’s case, who, is around. Also, in order to obtain attention, a loud obnoxious cry is often emitted, which certainly applies to Lady Catherine’s consistent need to obnoxiously comment on what has absolutely nothing to do with her.

Arrogance is to Lady Catherine as egocentricity is to P Diddy in that both feel as though all must grovel for their approbation believing that whatever they say is law.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of Pride and Prejudice, was known for being the wittiest, most insightful, and most intelligent amongst her sisters.

Elizabeth held qualities of lively wit, honesty, and frankness that enabled her to stand apart from her family and rise above the haughty and condescending behavior that existed in such a classist society. Elizabeth is seen as an insightful and levelheaded sister who sees people for who they really are. She acts as a driving force that attempts to have Jane, her older sister, see others in the same light and dissuade her from thinking that "all the world is respectable" (Austen 134). Despite Elizabeth’s virtues, she also had a tendency to formulate unfair judgments on first impressions, which would result in disaster in regards to her relationship with Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth’s candor and first impression of Darcy forces her to reject Darcy’s initial marriage proposal. However, as she gradually came to recognize the rectitude of Darcy’s motives, she also came to terms with the error of her false judgment of his character.

Elizabeth is like a lie detector. Just as Elizabeth is confident and can easily see the inconsistency of human beings, the lie detector can determine what is true and what is false. Lie detectors, however, hold a certain percentage of accuracy in their calculations along with a percentage of possible error. In regards to Elizabeth, at times, correct judgments were made; nevertheless, erroneous judgments also came about. Though lie detectors hold the accountability for being correct and induce a confidence among its users, they can be flawed.

Frankness is to Elizabeth what honesty is to Oprah in that both women have the confidence to be outspoken and exert their opinions regardless of what others think of them.

P&P #13: Ch. 10-12

“ I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character after all” (313).

• In the past few chapters, Darcy is depicted as more than perfect, to the point where even one negative trait results in good actions. Rather than be a play on words, this quotation could be considered as a play on “comprehension”. Darcy insists that he personally provide Mr. Wickham and Lydia with pecuniary aid. After doing so, Darcy was also adamant in regards to making Mr. Gardiner take the credit for such a good deed. Obstinacy is often understood to be a negative or haughty characteristic. It is usually deemed as disrespectful or condescending. However, within the context, it is evident that obstinacy becomes a form of humility. Austen elucidates the reasoning behind Darcy’s obstinacy, which forces the reader to conclude that the sole “defect” Darcy possesses results in positive and constructive works which makes Darcy even more unbelievably perfect.
  

Multiple Choice:

Which quotation best describes Mrs. Gardiner’s opinion of Darcy?

A) “His behavior to us has, in every respect, been pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and opinions all please me” (315)
B) “I must say that I hate the very sight of him” (323).
C) “Silent, grave and indifferent” (328).
D) “Everybody declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world; and everybody began to find out, that they had always distrusted the appearance of his goodness” (285).
E) “His countenance, voice, and manner, had established him at once in the possession of every virtue” (203).

P&P #12: Ch. 7-9

“To know that her daughter would be married was enough. She was disturbed by no fear for her felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct” (296).

• While Mr. Bennet is extremely grieved by the incident of Lydia’s sudden act of irrational and irresponsible behavior, Mrs. Bennet is overjoyed at simply the fact that her daughter is getting married. Mrs. Bennet is blind to disobedience and whore-like behavior as long as marriage is the result. This clearly demonstrates that Mrs. Bennet has indeed, made her purpose, or obsession, in life to marry off her daughters regardless of how it may come about. She is careless in her means of raising her daughters because instead of reprimanding Lydia for her wrongdoing, she congratulates her. Mr. Bennet, acting extremely fair and reasonable, chooses to stand his ground and not show affection whatsoever toward the marriage of Lydia and Wickham (300). Nevertheless, Mrs. Bennet, “was more alive to the disgrace, which her want of new clothes must reflect on her daughter’s nuptials, than to any sense of shame at her eloping and living with Wickham a fortnight before they took place” (300). It is evident that with having such an upbringing where marriage was always seen as priority, we can only conclude that Mrs. Bennet should be to blame for Lydia running off and ruining her life.
  

Multiple Choice:

Who is Elizabeth referring to in the following passage?

“She began to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes” (301).

A) Mr. Wickham
B) Mr. Darcy
C) Mr. Collins
D) Mr. Gardiner
E) Mr. Hurst

P&P #11: Ch. 3-6

“That loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable, that one false step involves her in endless ruin, that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful, and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex” (280).

• We do not come across Mary very often in the text; however, when she speaks it is often very insightful. She is known to be an intelligent reader that keeps to herself. When reading this passage, it is evident that Mary has intelligent explanations. She is indeed younger than both Jane and Lizzy, nevertheless, her intelligence level can be considered to have exceeded her age. She explicates Lydia’s situation as being a lesson to be learned so no one may commit the same mistake. Mary also illustrates one of the common themes in the novel—impressions. The society is extremely focused on social structure and how one is obligated to act. If this is not done, people will often speak badly of that person, which will eventually destroy their reputation. Just as, if the citizens are aware of how the marriage came about, people would begin to speak badly of not only her but her entire family. Lydia obviously did not think of the damage she would be causing. This could be considered a common case of the moral triangle where Lydia allowed for the end to justify the means.
  

Multiple Choice:

What type of emotion does Mr. Bennet evoke through the following passage?

“ ‘Say nothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, and I ought to feel it’” (289).

A) Guilt because he feels responsible for allowing Lydia to go
B) Anger because he had personally told her not to go
C) Sarcastic Happiness because he does not care for the foolish acts of his family
D) Indifferent because Lydia is marrying into wealth
E) None of the above

Huck Finn Essay

Macda Gerard
AP English 11: Mr. George
March 25, 2009
Huck Finn Essay

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2) Societal constraints have been a large influence on Huck’s life and behavior, but that soon changes with the renewal of his mind. In the novel, society is displayed as unjust and excessive. Miss Watson forced Huck to eat, speak, and think properly against his will. Pap allowed Huck to escape the formality of society, while still constraining Huck through his lenient influence, but also his violent nature. Both were responsible for molding Huck’s decision making, but also hindering his ability to think for himself up until he rids himself of the differing views and creates his own path. Society is demanding of Huck’s conformity, but ultimately fails, which gives him the opportunity of acting outside of the corrupted society.

Huck finds felicity and contentment in the woods because that is where he was raised and feels most comfortable. He did not have the luxury of attending school, nor of having nice clothes, so when such things are offered to him, Huck feels constricted and uncomfortable:
“The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldn't stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied” (Twain 9).
At Miss Watson’s house, Huck was forced to act with great propriety and attend school. Proper etiquette and education were of the utmost importance, and valued over what Huck was taught by his father. One can hold the supposition that being educated and instructed on proper etiquette is what Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas believed was truly best for Huck; however, this does not prevent him from going against these restrictions and reverting back to what he is accustomed to.

Pap was indeed lenient in raising Huck; however, he was also partly responsible for influencing Huck’s decisions. Society calls for a high sense of propriety and good manners, but Pap and Huck were certainly lacking: “I didn’t want to go back no more. I had stopped cussing, because the widow didn’t like it; but now I took to it again because pap hadn’t no objections. It was pretty good times up in the woods there, take it all around” (34). Huck could do and say whatever he pleased without having to walk on eggshells. His rebellion against the proper rules and regulations of society is a direct result of the fact that he was not born into such a system. Nonetheless, Pap certainly held societal influenced beliefs that contributed to Huck formulating his own views.

Miss Watson and Pap unquestionably have differing opinions and values regarding a child’s upbringing. Pap shows this when recognizing that Huck is attending school: “You’re educated, too, they say; can read and write…I’ll take it out of you. Who told you you might meddle with such hifault’n foolishness, hey?” (29). Pap does not value education and good manners, while Miss Watson’s sole attempt for the betterment of Huck was through proper etiquette and education. While offering a contrasting view on manners, both Miss Watson and Pap share the same societal view about slavery.

With the enormous disparity of beliefs between Pap and Miss Watson, it is difficult to grasp how they could possibly agree on anything. Nonetheless, they both share common beliefs regarding slavery. Society teaches that slavery is acceptable and a necessity. It makes blacks subordinate to whites regardless of if a white man is at the top or bottom of the class structure. With Miss Watson and Pap disagreeing on the good part of society, but agreeing on the shameful aspects of society, one is forced to question the sensibleness of the belief. Slavery is such an abominable practice and for Miss Watson to disagree on the good and agree on owning human being, it makes slavery seen absurd. These influences certainly aid in Huck’s formulation of his own ideas.

Huck goes off on his own escaping societal pressures, and later finds refuge with Jim on the river. In every decision Huck makes, it is evident that he draws on the influences of Miss Watson and Pap, often attempting to find a mean between the disparate views. Doing so is not always successful and simply forces him to formulate his own morals and values: “Well, I says to myself at last, I’m agoing to chance it; I’ll up and tell the truth this time, though it does seem most like setting down on a kag of powder and touching it off just to see where you’ll go to” (200). Huck’s muddled moral process was unclear solely because of the many influences he had in his life. However, it is clear that Huck overcomes his muddled thought process and decides to go out on a limb and tell the truth for once: “here’s a case where I’m blest if it don’t look to me like the truth is better, and actuly safer, than a lie” (200). Huck forming his own thoughts can also be seen through his relationship with Jim.

Huck had always understood, from both Miss Watson and Pap, that slavery was a standard practice that was acceptable. However, when hearing such different views on other matters, and finally hearing an agreement on the subject of slavery, Huck is forced to reevaluate slavery and create his own opinion. Informing Tom of his plan, “ ‘You’ll say it’s a dirty low-down business; but what if it is—I’m low down; and I’m agoing to steal him, and I want you to keep mum and not let on’” (240), Huck is blatantly choosing to act against what society deems to be normal.

With the onset of Huck’s moral dilemma, he took on others’ opinions in decision making and determining what was good and bad. Escaping such influences placed Huck outside of society, which gave him the opportunity to make independent decisions. Huck’s bad upbringing gives him the opportunity to be just in an unjust society, ultimately resulting in his independence.

P&P #10: Ch. 19-2

“Her thoughts were all fixed on that one spot of Pemberly House, whichever it might be, where Mr. Darcy then was. She longed to know what at that moment was passing in his mind; in what manner he thought of her, and whether, in defiance of everything, she was still dear to him” (246).

• Elizabeth had never once wondered what Darcy thought of her. She never valued his supposed arrogant opinions or ideas—and never once did she ever expect this to change. However, this quote depicts this drastic change. Upon Elizabeth’s realization of Darcy’s true character, she shifts from having feelings of hatred and disdain toward Darcy, to respect and admiration. Elizabeth longs for some type of sign that may release her uncertainty of Darcy’s feelings for her through a glance or a mannerism. She wonders if Darcy still has feelings for her, but assumes and expresses certainty that he doesn’t: “It is impossible that he should still love me” (249). However, we gain insight from an outside source that, “it was evident that he was very much in love with her” (257). Elizabeth still remains unsure of her own feelings toward Darcy (258), let alone attempting to figure out Darcy’s.
  

Multiple Choice:

What are Elizabeth’s feelings on being acquainted with Miss Darcy?

A) Elizabeth felt that it was a compliment of the highest kind
B) Elizabeth dreaded the meeting because Miss Darcy proved to be arrogant
C) Mrs. Reynolds had spoken ill of Miss Darcy’s upbringing and persuaded Elizabeth not to speak with her
D) Indifference

E) Elizabeth was already well acquainted with Miss Darcy and despised her