Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

The Title of Jane Austen's 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"

This is the first sentence of Pride and Prejudice and stands as one of

the most famous first lines in literature. Even as it briskly

introduces the arrival of Mr. Bingley at Netherfield, the event that

sets the novel in motion, this sentence also offers us a miniature

sketch of the entire plot, which concerns itself with the pursuit of

"single men in possession of a good fortune" by various female

characters. The preoccupation with socially advantageous marriage in

nineteenth-century English society manifests itself here, for in

claiming that a single man "must be in want of a wife," the narrator

reveals that the reverse is also true: a single woman, whose socially

prescribed options are quite limited, is in want of a husband.

Elizabeth Bennet is the second daughter in the Bennet family, and the

most intelligent and quick-witted, she is the protagonist of Pride and

Prejudice and one of the most well-known female characters in English

literature. She has a sharp tongue and a tendency to make hasty

judgments often lead her astray; Pride and Prejudice is essentially

the story of how she and her true love, Darcy, overcome all

obstacles-including their own personal failings-to find romantic

happiness. She must also overcome her own mistaken impressions of

Darcy, which initially lead her to reject his proposals of marriage.

Her charms are sufficient to keep him interested, fortunately, while

she navigates familial and social turmoil. As she gradually comes to

recogni...

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...tle and

more implied, she does not pass judgment but depicts them in a

humorous and unflattering manor.

I believe that the title "Pride and Prejudice" is very appropriate for

the novel. Nearly every single character in the novel expresses either

pride or prejudice characteristics. The original title "First

impressions" I think also fitted the book quite well, but I don't

think that we can make first impressions of people without our pride

and our prejudice.

I've read the book before and I really enjoy it. Studying it has made

me see more into some of the issues and different themes of the book.

I have also learnt a lot more about Jane Austen and her life and about

her own opinions. I really like this book because while it has some

quite serious themes it has so much humour in it and it really made me

laugh!