Literary Analysis Of Fay Weldon's Pride And Prejudice

Write an essay where you argue your own thesis on the unit. Your thesis must consider BOTH set texts in a comparative manner and reflect on the influence of context. (1000 words)

'Exploration [similar and contrasting] of the connections between the texts will enhance understanding of the values and contexts of each text ' Do you agree?

The comparison of Fay Weldon’s 1984 epistolic novel Letters to Alice on First Reading Jane Austen (here after ‘Letters’) enhances the understanding of the importance of values, issues and context in the 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice (here after ‘Pride’). This is demonstrated through the examining of the similar and contrasting connections between the texts. Despite the large varsity between the contextual

The major concern and value in the novel ‘Pride’, is centered on marriage. Irony is used at the very start of the novel, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife”, demonstrating the importance of the values of marriage in Austen’s time period, due to the pressures to marry for economic continuity and stability of men and especially women. These pressures are displayed through Charlotte’s pragmatic view on marriage; she states to Elizabeth “happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance”. ‘Pride’ continuously reinforces throughout the novel, that in Austen’s time, marriage was a prospect of wealth, class and reputation; rather than mutual affections and love. Austen challenged and reshaped the values of marriage of her time through the characterization growth and relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. She said that her novel was ”providing an escape from reality” due to the major conventions in her time [add in quote and relate to context]. [‘Conclude’ the paragraph, then link to next paragraph] Investigating ‘Letters’ and its connections to ‘Pride’ assist the understanding of the values and context throughout

This universal principle, relevant throughout time, is portrayed through the characterization of Darcy in ‘Pride’. The difference in class, landed gentry compared to middle class, remained a vital factor in Darcy’s behaviour and way of living. The use of verbal irony when Wickham comments, “He (Darcy) was to be above all company, in having been unworthy to be compared” and Mrs. Lucas implying that “With family, fortune, everything he has the right to be proud”, demonstrates the separation created through the class barriers. Austen challenges these social class barriers through satirically implementing the unorthodox unions of Darcy and Elizabeth in her novel, in defiance of the ironic social dichotomy (CHANGE) “Your alliance will be a disgrace, YOU(R) name will never be mentioned by any of us”. The characterization of Darcy also emphasises the importance (Over the top/ruling) of stratification, being at utmost importance and over ruling other positive assets in life such as love, relationships, freedom and being ‘happy’ – “Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections… whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?” showing the importance aspect of Regency England and its relevance to the modern world.