Jane Austen - Pride & Prejudice

• Published January 28, 1813
• Themes
• Love - Overcoming the pride and prejudice to love someone for who they are
• force separate from society
• can conquer most difficult circumstances
• Reputation - Darcy doesn't respect Elizabeth's reputation, money, and families situation/class
• Jane - Mr. Bingley
• Elizabeth - Mr. Darcy (Main story thread)
• Lydia - Wikham, who eloped & threatened to ruin the reputation of the whole Bennett Family
• Charlotte - Collins (who can't dance, but has money)
• Dancing=sex, 18th C, Austen had to be subtle, as with Pope's The Rape of the Lock   
• Actually 19th C. Written during the Romantic period, but she wasn't romantic
• She focuses on human relationships, weddings, country life, etc, but didn't focus on nature, the sublime, etc. 

Pride & Prejudice - good companion vs good lovers? Vindication?
Epic adventures - needs a role call

"as when" epic simile

Writing during the Regency period 1813
Napoleonic Wars
Almost more enlightenment
Radical because of the difference in classes - old money
stupid people seem to rule
We like Mr. Bennett
Behavior defined everthing
Charlotte Lucas & Mr. Collins won't change
People are wicked & dangerous.
Brought irony to the novel
It's a big dance.
Good characters can change
Value Elizabeth for who she is, not her class. Democratic
Darcy values her intelligence. Self-respect