Pride And Prejudice Class System

The class system and social ranking has been a deeply rooted aspect of English society for hundreds of years. English society in the 19th century was riddled and plagued with issues of class. In fact, class issues became so prominent that 19th century English novelist Jane Austen's book, Pride and Prejudice has become a peephole into the reality of the class system in England at the time. Social rank was intrinsic to Austen's Pride and Prejudice and formed the single most important issue in personal relations. I believe that Austen's Pride and Prejudice was an intricately accurate depiction of society and class in 19th century England. Although through time it has become less and less emphasized, its effects are still felt within contemporary English social interaction and culture.

19th century England cannot be described as a collective society with mutual norms throughout. Instead, 19th century England was a collection of different social worlds coexisting. Austen's Pride and Prejudice does not and cannot provide insight into the whole of 19th century England's society and class structure but rather that of her own social world. The world that Austen wrote about was not the world of English royalty, nor was it the world of working city folk in London. It was neither the world of bohemians, nor was it

Walton Litz comments, "in Pride and Prejudice one cannot equate Darcy with Pride, or Elizabeth with Prejudice; Darcy's pride of place is founded on social prejudice, while Elizabeth's initial prejudice against him is rooted in pride of her own quick perceptions." Ultimately, both characters' egos drive them towards personal prejudice. Darcy has been taught to scorn anyone outside his own social circle and must overcome his prejudice in order to endear himself to Elizabeth. Similarly, Elizabeth's excessive pride in her discernment leads her write Darcy off too quickly. Ultimately, they find happiness by recognizing the barriers that prejudice