Doesn't agree with social
etiquette envolving
relationships marriage
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a
single man in possession of a good fortune,
must be in want of a wife."
Example of sarcasm
Sets the novel in motion
She is also stating the opposite is true ,
by saying that a single woman who finds
a man with a good fortune must want to
marry, which we discover later in the
novel
Century period (regency period)
Love and marriage
"Happiness in marriage is purely
a matter of chance"
General thought of the
public at that time
"Is he married or single?"
One of the first questions Mrs
B asks about Bingley
Shows Austens views on society,
obsessed with getting with people
She doesn't ask anything
about his personality,
showing how personality
doesn't seem to come into
accounts in Austens eyes
Money
"£5000 a year"
Said by Mrs Bennet without
asking about him as a person
Austen showing us through Mrs
B how she feels people act
towards relationships
First Impressions
Original title of book
"She is tolerable, but
not handsome enough
to temp me"
"...since then I have
thought of her as one of the
handsomest women of my
acquaintance"
We meet the main characters for the first time
The Bennets
Jane
Direct contrast to Lizzie
Similarities suggest similar
paths for them
Differences suggest
different reasons for
outcomes
Based on relationship
Austen had with her
sister
Elizabeth
Sharpest and most clever
Very close to Jane
Mr Bennet
"so odd a mixture of quick parts,
sarcastic humor, reserve and caprice
Mrs Bennet
"mean understanding,
little information and
uncertain temper
Relationship with Mr B is an
exaggeration of Jane and
Elizabeth
Lydia
Austens Intentions
Show us first impressions aren't always right
Elizabeth and Darcy
Mr Wickham
You shouldn't discriminate against
people because of their backgrounds
There's more to a relationships
that material/physical values
Although Elizabeth only fell in love
with Darcy because of his house
His house reflects him rather than his money
Charlotte was unhappy
with Mr Collins
Although in the regency period
it was the main reason for
marrying