Comments on Jane Austen

Pieces of a Novelistic Puzzle


When it comes to Jane Austen’s novel, “Pride and Prejudice,” most people want to talk about the main characters: Elizabeth and Darcy; but there is another world behind those characters that support the plot and contribute to the value of the novel as well as the authenticity, creating a novelistic puzzle. The plot revolves around marriage and the customs of that day. Austen is brilliant in the way she develops her characters and uses them in such nuptials to get a main characteristic of her novel across: the union between a man and a woman in order to gain money or happiness and well being for the rest of your family. Austen uses a wide variety of descriptions, conversations, and letters to develop the traits of her characters. What happens between these characters, and the way they act, exemplify the time they lived in. Even a modern reader can make sense of what the do’s and don’ts were back then.

Mrs. Bennet is the typical mother. She just happens to be blessed with five daughters and no sons. Naturally, her focus in life is gaining husbands for her daughters. What’s so funny about her character is that she goes against everything that represents a sense of propriety in society. Austen brings this aspect of the character out to the fullest. Elizabeth has a very embarrassing mother; and she knows it. However, she never truly accepts this fact until Mr. Darcy makes his first proposal. After her refusal, he is forced to explain himself, and thus lists out all the undesirable things he found in her family, which led to his decision to break up Jane and Mr. Bingley. Austen uses some strong diction in these two scenes. “Had you behaved in a more gentleman like behavior,” and “I was more kind to Bingley than I was to myself,” are phrases that stick to the reader’s mind like glue. This is a very powerful part of the book where things start to change. Austen is good at that. She uses events such as this to turn the plot in many directions to make the novel successful.

Mr. Collins is an 18th Century nerd. There probably weren’t such things as nerds back then, but if there were, he was definitely one of them. There are no exact words to describe Mr. Collins, and yet Austen manages to bring out the worst in Collins so the reader is forced to cry aloud, “ewe!” When at a ball, Collins talks to Mr. Darcy without having been properly introduced beforehand. Darcy’s disgust and Elizabeth’s embarrassment prove that this was not kindly thought of in society. Later, he walks up to a piano and starts to make a hideously boring speech about music. It takes a proud and conceited Miss Bingley to put a stop to this. When the time comes for Collins to propose to Elizabeth, the reader is completely disgusted with him. He is obsequious, selfish, and brags all the time about Lady Catherine de Bourgh, his patroness. Naturally, Elizabeth refuses his offer in a long speech. Austen uses such speeches often in situations like these. Such long and detailed language and dialogue adds to the value of the novel. Scenes like this are always the most memorable, not just because of the event that takes place, but also because of the way that the event takes place. Austen also uses Collins’ character to further what a girl wants and needs in this kind of society. If a woman does not have a husband when she is in her mid-twenties, things are not likely to go well in the future. That is where Charlotte Lucas comes into the picture. She marries Collins despite his stupidity. Austen enhances both Collin’s character and Charlotte’s character by allowing the two to come together in a seemingly undesirable and unlikely union. When Elizabeth questions Charlotte’s choice, Charlotte is not surprised. She tells Elizabeth that she never has been a romantic person, and that all she desires is a comfortable home where she is well taken care of.

Austen forms bonds between unlikely pairs that seem ill matched, until you look closer. Bingley and Jane are not one of these, but they are a match. Austen is good at pairing up both likely pairs, and unlikely. Jane and Bingley seem made for each other. Elizabeth and Darcy may be a strange match at first, but their personalities actually are very similar. Wickham and Lydia, however, form one couple who are entirely put together on chance. Lydia is a flirtatious girl who likes any man in a uniform. She ignores what is really going on around her and cares only about herself. This is the one attribute that they share. Wickham lies about his experience with Mr. Darcy in order to boost his self-esteem. At first it seems like his intentions are towards Elizabeth, then towards Mary King and her money, and then they take an unexpected turn towards Lydia. Austen’s high-quality writing incorporates these unexpected turns in the plot. They are what make the book. As ordinary as the day-to-day conversations and events get in her story, the quality of the novel only increases.

Austen’s diction and use of clever syntax and colloquialism bring the characters, their values, and the situations of the novel to life. She often uses letters that the characters write to convey information, rather than explain by detail in third person as the narrator. Conversation brings out the little details of her characters.

No character is without their unique quality, and no situation goes without some sort of deep felt emotion. The variety in characters and use of their personalities contribute to this. Smaller characters, such as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, are just as important as the main ones. Lady Catherine arranges a marriage between Darcy and her daughter that stands in the way of his love for Elizabeth. The moral standards of society were obviously important in Austen’s day. She uses those in her story to bring everything to its rightful end after a long series of events. The pieces come together to make a wonderful, classic story, full of memorable characters and events that readers will remember for ages to come.