Jane Austen s `` Pride And Prejudice Comments On And...

Abigail Hill (Billie Jean) Mr. Devin Michael King FYS2: Writing Nature 10/12/16 TITLE Arguably Jane Austen’s most acclaimed work, Pride and Prejudice comments on and satirizes ideals of love and class in polite society. Her strikingly unconventional yet witty and charming protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, boasts her ability and skill at discerning character, yet before the story comes to a close, she is forced to reconsider several of her initial judgements. By analyzing the text, one can observe specific instances of Elizabeth’s judgements and choices made throughout the novel that act as a means to demonstrate Austen’s own understanding of knowledge, following the order of events in the text; when Elizabeth visits Jane at Netherfield, her refusal of Mr. Collins, her judgement of Charlotte after she marries, and the way her opinion of Darcy changes after reading his letter. Consequently, we can better understand Austen by analyzing the changes that take place in Elizabeth. Throughout the novel, it is made clear that Jane is Elizabeth’s closest sibling. This is augmented fairly early when Elizabeth decides to walk from Longbourn to Netherfield, a three mile excursion, to visit her sister after she falls ill; through this display of concern for her sister’s health, Austen presents the reader with her understanding of consideration and urgency for those we love. Based upon the contemptuous reaction Elizabeth receives from Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, one would assume that