Pride and Vanity in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Vanity in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen makes the point that an excess of pride or vanity is indeed a failing. Pride, observed Mary, . . . is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed, that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or another, real or imaginary.†¦show more content†¦Mr. Collins possesses a definite sense of vanity. He is in no way concerned about his own opinion of his character, for as we see his character leaves much to be desired. All he cares about is what others think of him. He always needs the approval of his present company. When he gives Elizabeth the grand tour of his nothing-spectacular home, he is looking for her approval of his position and possessions. It is not important to Mr. Collins for people to like him as a person, they just had better be impressed his status in life and his connections. Mr. Darcy, as one of the main characters, is for the better part of the novel a focus of the theme of pride. His pride is very obvious. It is a part of his nature and is seen in his mannerisms and in his speech. Darcy has such a high opinion of himself that he does not care what others think of him or his prideful actions. He believes that he is the best in every way possible and finds that his standing in society gives him the right to be critical of those not as perfect as he. Elizabeth Bennet, the other main character of the novel, is just as guilty of being proud as any of the other characters in the novel. She prides herself on being unprejudiced and rational in the judgement of others. Yet, this is an imaginary quality as she learns that her preconceived notions of both Mr.Show MoreRelated Class, Money, Pride and Happiness in Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen1721 Words   |  7 Pagesstated in the novel Vanity Fair that she â€Å"could be a good woman if she had five thousand pounds† and she â€Å"could dawdle about in the nursery and count the apricots on the wall† (VF 414). Marianne Dashwood of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility says that she â€Å"cannot be happy with a man whose taste did not in every point coincide with my own† (SS 15). Most importantly, Elizabeth Bennet of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice states that she would be happy with someone who â€Å"has no improper pride† and â€Å"is perf ectlyRead MorePride And Prejudice Love Essay1238 Words   |  5 Pagesand logic. The literary work of Regency era author, Jane Austen, details such a balance, as it endeavors to convey Austen’s interpretation of true affection between couples of well-examined intrinsic morality. The characters of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice contend with the moral vices of pride and prejudice as they overcome judgements about one another and ultimately experience love. To begin, Pride and Prejudice’s Fitzwilliam Darcy is a wealthy, intelligentRead MorePride Prejudice Literature Analysis1311 Words   |  6 Pagesare about to spend their time reading about. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is an example of a novel with such a title that is very significant in the development of the story. As the reader proceeds through the book, the significance of the title becomes more obvious. Using only three words, Austen is able to tie together the main components of the novel, such as character descriptions and a basic plot summary. The title Pride and Prejudice is effective in narrowing down all words usedRead MoreDichotomy In Jane Austens Pride And Prejudice878 Words   |  4 Pagesdichotomies in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice is made evident in the title. Namely, the book and the title reflect the division between individual as a spontaneous self and individual as socially constructed part of a greater whole, and the interaction that takes place as a result of the interaction between these selves. â€Å"Pride,† while it can be informed by the presence of others, is a character trait that can exist individual qua individual. For example, compares â€Å"pride† to â€Å"vanity,† a word withRead MorePride And Prejudice By Jane Austen1442 Words   |  6 PagesIn Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen there are several characters that at initial glance seem only to serve as a comparison point for Elizabeth Bennett’s shortcomings and successes. Mary Bennett, the middle Bennett sister, serves as a contrast to Elizabeth Bennett; the two sisters despite having many commonalities are handled quite differently in the text. Mary is used a reflection of what a woman who seeks a husband ought not to be. She has for too long studied the behavioral books for young ladiesRead More Essay on the Metamorphosis in Pride and Prejudice1235 Words   |  5 PagesMetamorphosis in Pride and Prejudice   Ã‚   As the story develops in Jane Austens novel, Pride and Prejudice, the reader is witness to a shift in attitude between the principle characters. The chapter in which Elizabeth Bennetts reactions to Mr. Darcys letter are explored provides valuable insights into this metamorphosis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first description of Elizabeths state upon perusing Fitzwilliam Darcys revelatory missive is characteristic of Austen when relating heavy emotion:Read MoreEssay about Social Classes in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen1737 Words   |  7 PagesJane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, was originally to be titled First impressions. Austen suggests she chose the original title late in the novel, after Elizabeth has seen the change in Darcys manners at Pemberley and feels it can only be due to her influence. However, in 1801 another novel was published using that title so Austen renamed and published her novel, Pride and Prejudice, in 1813. (Stovel â€Å"A Contrariety†). The former title accurately depicts the attitudes of several charactersRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1294 Words   |  6 PagesJane Austen s exceptional novel Pride and Prejudice has been depicted as a classic that is as much a social study on class, marriage and gender as it is a romantic tale. It is an amusing representation of the social atmosphere of the late eighteenth and mid nineteenth century England, and it is primarily required with courtship rituals of the English high class. The novel is more than a romantic tale, however through Austen s subtle, and ironic style, it addresses gender, class, and marriageRead MoreThe Social Hierarchy Of Pride And Prejudice1708 Words   |  7 PagesEnglish IV DC - 3 4 March 2016 The Social Hierarchy in Pride and Prejudice â€Å"Lady Catherine will not think the worst of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved† (Austen 127). Distinction of social classes has been slowly fading away in today’s modern society, but contributed to create a society dominated by a ironclad hierarchy prior to the twentieth century. Jane Austen published Pride and Prejudice in 1813, which revolves around the love story between ElizabethRead MoreDue To The Allure Of Star-Crossed Romance, Intelligent1133 Words   |  5 Pagespro quo, and illustrious balls, the novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, has established a name for itself amongst brainy, female youths and underappreciated wives as merely a â€Å"Mom’s Romance Novel.† But contrary to popular belief, Austen’s novel not only tackles issues on public perceptions and the impacts of inbred prejudice, but it also reinforces that idea right away, with evidence of it living in the often overlooke d title, â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† itself. Although, who could forget the Hollywood