Paragraph Quotes Flashcards
1
Q
Lizzy and Darcy
A
- Upon arriving in Pemberley, Elizabeth approaches the house with “super perturbation” and soon after contradicts this with feelings of “high flutter”. Here, Austen utilises the internal dichotomy between her relentless anxiety and her excitement, with Austen’s lexical choices in “flutter” connoting the fragility experienced by Elizabeth. Indeed, symbolising her feelings on Darcy and how they begin as unsure and later turn into feelings of love.
- Austen remarks, through the use of free indirect discourse, that “every window there were beauties to be seen.” This mirrors Elizabeth’s evolving perspective, as she begins to see Darcy in a new light. Just as she observes the varied beauties of Pemberley from different vantage points, Elizabeth learns to adopt a similarly nuanced view of Darcy. Initially clouded by prejudice and first impressions, her perception shifts as she begins to notice the subtle and diverse aspects of his character.
- This is further solidified within Elizabeth’s interaction with Ms Reynolds as she finds that Mr Darcy “is the best landlord”, cementing Darcy’s nurturing character and thus demonstrating how Austen promotes the transcendence of ones social class
2
Q
Transactional marriage
A
- the business of her life was to get her daughters married” the use of the term “business” connotes on the transactional nature of marriage at the time. Also this double entendre, while seeming as a humorous comment to Mrs Bennets caricature, truly speaks to a literal role as to rescue them from the perils of primogeniture, given the lack of options for progression otherwise.
- Likewise, the transactional dangers of marriage is highlighted through “odious” Mr Collins. When proposing to Elizabeth his “reasons for marrying” focus entirely on his own benefits, fulfilling his duty, and pleasing Lady Catherine, while his use of pronouns like “I,” “me,” and “my” underscores his egocentrism. Austen uses his verbose, sycophantic speech to satirize the superficial, materialistic nature of marriages based on social and economic gain. Through Elizabeth’s rejection, Austen critiques the neoclassical ideal of marriage as a transaction and champions the importance of personal compatibility and emotional connection.
3
Q
Wickham and Darcy Foil
A
- Darcy is described as “the most disagreeable man in the world” through free indirect discourse, reflecting the collective opinion of the Meryton society, as well as Elizabeth’s own biased perspective. This technique allows Austen to subtly expose how external judgments and personal prejudices can cloud true character.
- In contrast, Wickham is introduced with the impression that “there were truth in his looks,” a phrase laced with irony. While Wickham’s appearance suggests honesty and sincerity, the reality is quite the opposite. This ironic presentation of Wickham serves as a critique of how easily charm and outward appearances can deceive, leading character and readers to make faulty judgments.
- To solidify this warning, Austen uses Jane, the voice of reason within the text, to conclude of the two foil characters that “one has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it”, a concise juxtaposition which serves to finalise how both characters are only truly understood once their true natures are thoroughly investigated. Therefore, through the juxtapositions between the preconceived and true natures of both Darcy and Wickham, Austen cautions
4
Q
Objectification of women
A
- Early in the novel, Mrs. Bennet is referred to as “his wife,” where the possessive pronoun reflects neoclassical discourse of 19th centaury England, reducing her identity to her relationship with Mr. Bennet. This language reinforces the idea that women are possessions, creatures to be owned, rather than autonomous individuals.
- Similarly, Mr. Collins’ motives for marriage further illustrate this objectification. His decision to marry is heavily influenced by the Fordyce Sermons, a popular guide that emphasized the importance of marriage for a man’s social standing and personal gratification rather than the well-being or desires of the woman involved. The Sermons advocated that women should be submissive and solely focused on pleasing their husbands, viewing marriage as a transactional arrangement that benefits men.
5
Q
Acceptance of Gardiners
A
- Despite being part of the mercantile class, the Gardiners are described as “intelligent” and “well mannered,” demonstrating that social worth is not determined by birth but by character and behaviour. This depiction aligns with Austen’s broader critique of a society that values wealth and status over merit.
- The novel’s epilogue reinforces this theme, as Darcy’s genuine affection for the Gardiners shows his ability to appreciate those of lower social rank “Darcy… really loved them… they were both ever sensible.” In** this final moment of the romantic plot, Austen endorses the idea of a meritocratic society**, where respect and affection are based on virtue and manners rather than inherited privilege. Through this, she advocates for
