Character Personality Types in Pride and Prejudice

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“Pride and Prejudice” was written by Jane Austin and published in 1813. Since its publication, Pride and Prejudice has remained a hugely popular book with multiple film adaptations. The success of “Pride and Prejudice” can be attributed to many factors such as its idyllic setting, the strained romance between the two main characters and the witty dialog. However, the relatability of the characters and the abundance of personality types reflected in modern society have made Pride and Prejudice one of the most loved books of all time. We can use the Jung theory on personality types to classify each character. Jung states:

“ …my first concern must be with the two general types I have termed introverted and extraverted. But, in addition, I shall also try to give a certain characterization of those special types whose particularity is due to the fact that his most differentiated function plays the principal role in an individual's adaptation or orientation to life.” (Jung)

Just and introvert and extrovert are opposites of each other, the other types that make up a person personality are also opposite each other. This is best explained on the Meyer-Briggs Foundations website which describes four “dichotomies.” Introvert and extrovert are the first set of dichotomies, followed by sensing and intuition, thinking and feeling, and judging and perceiving. The combination of these characteristics make up one’s personality type. (Myers and Briggs Foundation) By using Jung’s theories we can analyze each character and identify what it is that makes the character relatable.

Elizabeth is strong willed and knows what she wants. “A stile-jumper by conviction as well as instinct, she not only flouts convention, she holds it up for deliberate mock...

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...xperienced an abundance of success and will continue to delight readers for years to come because of it relatable characters.

Works Cited

Austin, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. London: Egerton, 1813. Print.

Deresiewicz, William. "Community and Cognition in "Pride and Prejudice"." ELH (1997): 503-535. Web.

Ewin, R. E. "Pride, Prejudice and Shyness." Philosophy (1990): 137-154.

Jung, C. G. Psycological Types. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1976. Web. 11 December 2011. .

Morgan, Susan. "Intelligence in "Pride and Prejudice"." Modern Philology (1975): 54-68.

Myers and Briggs Foundation. MBTI Basics. 2003. Web. 11 December 2011. .

Sherry, James. "Pride and Prejudice: The Limits of Society." Studies in English Literature (1979): 609-622. Web.

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