Situational Irony

In addition to using situational irony, Austen also uses witty dialogue to provide a biting commentary on her society’s rules and practices pertaining to marriage and relationships. She uses these dialogues to show how those who married for love are happier than those who did not. Within the novel, Austen uses two kinds of dialogue to poke fun at the ludicrous nature of nineteenth century marriages and courtships: providing a comedic air at another’s oblivious expense and conversational banter. The author uses the varying concepts of “laughing with someone” and “laughing at someone” to show that in a happy, natural relationship, those involved have a mutually respect in which repartee is enjoyable whereas in an aloof, somewhat unnatural relationship,

humor is often one-sided with a surly undertone. She also shows the various outcomes when people choose to be implicit instead of explicit in their assertions. This contrast is shown through the conversations between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. For the majority of the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy consistently banter and argue various subjects pertaining to moral and social facets. Though, whenever they verbally spar, there is an air of jest and understanding of equality between them from which they glean an underlying respect for one another. One of these conversations included philosophies concerning human traits:
"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil— a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."
"And your defect is to hate everybody."
"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is willfully to misunderstand them” (38).
While facetious dialogues such as these between Darcy and Elizabeth denote ridicule and judgment, they have a joshing connotation, which alleviates any intention of true hostility between them.
On the other hand, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are the complete opposites in their relationship. While Mr. Bennet is more aloof and indifferent, Mrs. Bennet is daft and spirited. As a result, their conversations mainly consist of futile arguments and sarcastic comments. When Mr. Bennet reveals that he had already spoke with Mr. Bingley prior to Mrs. Bennet’s fanatic requests, Mrs. Bennet complains that he has no regard for her nerves. Mr. Bennet replies, “You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I’ve have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years as least” (2). Here, Mr. Bennet mocks his wife for her antics but the insult goes right over Mrs. Bennet’s head, giving Austen’s audience the sense that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are not on the same level of understanding. Through the sarcastic nature of this response, the effect on the reader in twofold. By including these types remarks, the audience not only sense Austen’s lampooning tone, but also notices the incompatibility and exasperation within the Bennets’ marriage. The contrast between the two, presented conversations shows how Elizabeth and Darcy can explicitly tell one another their honest opinion whereas Mr. Bennet masks his true feelings for his wife with implicit remarks. Through the visible differences in the natures of these conversations, Austen points out how, in a marriage of compatibility and affection, mockery and banter can occur amicably compared to marriages based purely on reason and social expectation, in which sarcasm and jest serve as a coping mechanism for those stuck in conventional relationships. Therefore, Austen uses her dialogue to dispel the marriage practices of her society and show the how enjoyment in a relationship can be found when people are genuinely attracted to and respect each other in comparison to those who marry without any particular fondness or affection towards one another.
Austen further satirizes the marital methods of her own society through the hasty, irrational judgments and decisions of her characters.

It can be inferred that Austen crafted her characters to reflect the ridiculous idiosyncrasies concerning courtship and related issues. One of Austen’s characters that highly accentuates this illogical frivolity is Elizabeth’s mother, Mrs. Bennet. It becomes known to the audience early in the novel that Mrs. Bennet isn’t very bright, and that her skewed logic causes her to construct ridiculous schemes and make irrational decisions. Because “the business of her life was to get her daughters married” (2), Mrs. Bennet shows, throughout the novel, that she will do whatever it takes to marry off her daughters, no matter how heinous or absurd the method. Unfortunately, it is proven that, whenever Mrs. Bennet tries to be clever and scheme, her plans backfire. For example, when Jane is invited to dine with Mr. Bingley’s sister at Netherfield, Bingley’s residence, Mrs. Bennet denies Jane the use of their carriage saying, “No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night” (19). While Mrs. Bennet basked in the cleverness of her scheme, she neglected to consider her daughters physically health while traveling unsheltered through a storm. As a result, Jane becomes very ill and is unable to interact and converse with Mr. Bingley. Austen uses Mrs. Bennet’s antics to show that what may be perceived as the best method to solidify an engagement, may not be the best judgment for the health and physical wellbeing of her daughter, which should be considered more important than the former. Mrs. Bennet’s narrow outlook is also shown as she chastises Elizabeth for refusing Mr. Collins’ proposal of marriage. Mrs. Bennet tries to reason with Mr. Collins after Elizabeth rejects him saying, “She is a very headstrong, foolish girl, and does not know her own interest but I will make her know it”

(73). Here, once again, Mrs. Bennet disregards her daughter’s wish to choose whom she will marry by solely focusing on marrying Elizabeth off, no matter who the suitor is. Austen uses Mrs. Bennet’s futile attempts at scheming to satirize the measures taken by women to ensure a husband. Through Mrs. Bennet, Austen shows the perceivably stilted, illogical mindsets within nineteenth century society that place social and economic gain over personal happiness, health, and contentment.
Another character that exemplifies the poor judgments made in Pride and Prejudice is Mr. Bingley. When Bingley first arrives and Netherfield and Longbourn, he is immediately attracted to Jane Bennet and she with him. However, Bingley is soon showed to be easily subject to mutability as Darcy and his sisters convince him that Jane isn’t of high enough rank to be considered for marriage. One of Bingley’s sisters, Mrs. Hurst, states that “I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl…but with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it” (23). Because of this and similar opinions amongst his family and closest friends, Bingley gives into the peer-pressure and makes the choice to try to forget Jane and find a wife of higher standing and respectable family. This decision early in the plot results in chapters of unhappiness for both Jane and Mr. Bingley. It is only towards the end of the novel, when Darcy finally embraces his love for Elizabeth, that Mr. Bingley realizes his love for Jane and makes his best decision: to finally propose to her. Austen uses Mr. Bingley to show both how easily one could be swayed by nineteenth century social expectations and how happiness can be achieved once apprehensions and predetermined social rules are put aside. In Bingley’s first decision, Austen sought to mock the spinelessness of the individuals in her society who choose to make judgments based on social convention instead of their own, true feelings. By later having Bingley later choose to follow his heart, Austen further shows her favor of decisions based on personal sentiment. Additionally, the author also hints at the idea that much of the unnecessary heartache and separation between Mr. Bingley and Jane could’ve been avoided if Bingley didn’t let society cloud his judgment.
In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses situational irony, clever dialogue, and the flawed perceptions of her characters to mock the marriage practices that were prevalent within her society. Through her strategic use of these techniques, Austen creates a rebuttal against the Enlightenment ideals that she believed neglected consideration of an individual’s personal sentiment. She sought to show the flaws in nineteenth century society’s perception of courtship behavior and how, if these practices were dismissed, people might be happier in their chosen relationships. However, social reputation and status have continued to be present within numerous societies. Perhaps only those who are strong enough are able to rise above petty social convention and obtain their own happiness.