Society in the novel

Courtship is relegated to the periphery of Sense and Sensibility, but it re-assumes a very central position

 in Pride and Prejudice."It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good

 fortune, must be in want of a wife".

In Jane Austen´s novels difficulties between hero and heroine are usually created, and their final union

 delayed, by the immaturity that one or both of them brings into their relationship. Pride and Prejudice,

however, does not obviously conform to this pattern, in that both Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are extremely

 mature people by the time that they meet. This uncharastetic immaturity can be explained by the fact that,

 although each is fairly knowing in the ways of his own social circle, neither has an acurate sense of the

 other´s. Elizabeth Bennet is firmly located in a world of lesse gentry and bourgeoisie.

Lacking any exprerience of the other´s world, each relies on stereotypes; Elizabeth accepts the common

view that aristocrats are worthless snobs, and Darcy believes that anyone connected with trade must be

vulgar and unworthy of respect. Darcy does indeed quickly come to see some of Elizabeth´s virtues, tries

to isolate Elizabeth from her background. and express contempt for the Bennet family and the people of

Meryton. By so doing, darcy provides Elizabeth with plenty of evidence to confirm her prejudices. Darcy

makes many attempts to approach Elizabeth. Elizabeth rejects him. And that cannot be resolved until each

 has come to a better understanding of the other´s social group. He fails to recognise that the gentry-middle

 class as a whole is worthy of his respect. Until she has arrived at a fair estimation of the environment

which has shaped him. Darcy´s meeting with the excellent Gardiners, and Elizabeth´s introduction to

Pemberley.

The social and the personal are so closely bound together in the relatrionship between Elizabeth and Darcy.

 Jane Austen tends to suggest that the continuerd moral well-being of society depends on the ability of the

 gentry to ward off the disruptive influence of the middle class and the aristocracy.

The materialism and vulgarity of the bourgeoise are very evidence in Pride and Prejudice. So is the snobbery

 of the aristocracy. But here people like Charlotte Lucas and Lady catherine de Bourgh represent deviations

 from the norm of their groups rather than the norm itself.

Pride and Prejudice is very cleaner in its structural lines. Readily divides into three sections, each controlled

 by a different and thematically appropiate social ritual-dancing for the problems of courtship, the visit for

the broadening of social horizons, and marriage for the resolution of conflicts.

Elizabeth are kept apart by the belief that a deep social rift lies between them. Bingley and Jane illustrate

 how mistaken they are. His background is in trade, and he has not yet acquired the essential qualification

 of the gentleman.

The Bennets, on the other hand, are a log-established family in possession of an estate. There is, then,

 much to be gained on both sides from a match between a rising man of fortune and the daughter of a

 rather faded gentleman.

Some education is needed in order that Darcy and Elizabeth might come to recognise society as a network

of interconnections broad enough to embrace Darcy´s, Bingleys and Bennets.

Emotional liberation begins with Elizabeth´s. Is completed by realisation that Darcy will accept her uncle

 and aunt, whom she had believed would be lost to her is she married him.

Lydias´s elopement. Jane austen delays her main action in this way so that Darcy´s acceptance of the

Bennets might be fully tested. Far from rejecting the Bennet family, he demonstrates an active concern

with their affairs by becoming involved in the search for Lydia and Wickham.

At the end all conflicts and misunderstandings have been resolved, and Darcy and Elizabeth have been

placed firmly at the centre of a world characterised by a sense of order and harmony. This union of

aristocracy and gentry-middle class is not achieved easily; but it is possible, the two groups are united

 by a shared ideal of concern for others.

Copyright©David Monaghan 1980

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