Sydney's Analysis of Style and Structure

Section 3

Pride and Prejudice includes many literary devices, themes and different symbols. I believe this novel’s main theme is love. Love is the universal theme happening throughout the book. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy fall in love with each other as well as her other sisters, Jane and Lydia. Jane Austen also includes the theme of reputation. In the novel, Elizabeth’s sister Lydia runs off with Wickham who plan to run away and get married. If they decide to elope, both Wickham and the Bennett’s family reputation will be ruined. The Bennett’s family are a middle class family while the Wickham family is higher than them. Prejudice is also a major theme considering that Elizabeth had some comments about Mr. Darcy at the beginning of the novel.

Jane Austen uses foreshadowing and also symbolism. She uses symbolism at the very beginning of the novel when she starts off by saying “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife”. Austen gives us a little hint of what was to expect in the novel. Jane also uses symbolism when she relates Mr. Darcy’s estate as something artificial.

The author Jane Austen did a great job of involving many themes, literary devices or symbols in the book and letting us relate it to  ourselves, objects or even issues today in our society. 

Chantelle's Analysis of Style & Structure

SECTION 4

              Jane Austen uses a variety of literary techniques that have created Pride and Prejudice to be the classic novel we know and love today. She deals with themes such as love, pride, prejudice, and reputation. We see love throughout the novel, and how it ultimately overcame all the obstacles in the end. Pride is seen as well through many characters, but especially Darcy. Darcy in the beginning was the most prideful man anyone had met, which led Elizabeth to turning down his proposal. Prejudice is also discussed and most evident in Elizabeth because she had made preconceived opinions about Darcy without even knowing him, which led her to treating him with contempt. Reputation was another theme most evident. We see reputation having a large impact on all the characters as those who were high in class looked down upon those less wealthy. We see this treatment the most in Lady Catherine de Bourgh as she tries to stop the relationship between the two main characters. When speaking to Elizabeth she says “ True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.” (Austen, 392) Lady Catherine exposed that she thought just because Elizabeth was not born into a wealthy family, she wasn’t good enough to be engaged to her nephew.

                Symbolism is also another literary technique seen through the novel. When Elizabeth finally starts to fall for Darcy, she is about to visit him. Once seeing his house, she seems to describe him in her mind as “in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adored.” (Austen, 269) The home of Mr. Darcy appeared to be symbolizing the type of man he was. Darcy was naturally important based on his wealthy status, but sometimes his pride “swelled” him, but without any masks. He was who he was from the beginning and was “neither formal, nor falsely adorned.”

                Many literary techniques were used by Jane Austen to create this classic novel. She used themes and symbols that encourages readers to read on with the knowledge that some of these major themes, relate to our society, even today.

Analysis of Style and Structure

By: Ashley Jose

Section 2

            Pride and Prejudice is a novel that consists of many different themes, literary devices, and symbols. I believe that the central theme of this novel mainly concerns itself with marriage. In the beginning of the book it says, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” As I read this, I automatically came to the conclusion; this book is mainly dealt with love. This novel is not about a man seeking for a spouse, but a mother seeking suitable husbands for her daughters.

            Pride and Prejudice is filled with the theme of love because of Darcy and Elizabeth’s love for each other. Although Elizabeth’s pride makes her misjudge Darcy and Darcy’s negative thinking about Elizabeth’s poor social standing blinds him, they still managed to find love with each other. Jane Austen portrays that true love is separate from society and should be a love that can fight through any obstacles that fall in their way.  This novel also portrays a theme of reputation. During these times, women were told to act and dress a certain way, and if they didn’t, they were greatly frowned upon. The theme of class is related to reputation,  both themes reflect the strict nature of life for the middle and upper classes in England. The Bennett’s, who are middle class socialize with the upper-class Bingley’s and Darcy’s.  The Bennett's and other woman had thought negatively towards Darcy because he is a higher class than they are. The themes of love, reputation, and class are extremely popular in this novel.

            Foreshadowing occurs once, to hint at Elizabeth’s eventual love for Mr. Darcy. This is when she is struck with admiration for Pemberley, which is a symbol for Darcy himself. Darcy’s estate Pemberley is a great symbol to describe this novel. Elizabeth visits it at a time when her feelings toward Darcy are beginning to increase; she is mesmerized by the estates beauty and charm, and by the countryside image. Austen makes the connection when she describes the stream that flows beside the place. “In front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance.” This can also be interpreted as Darcy possessing a “natural importance” that is “swelled” by his arrogance.

           

                    In conclusion, Pride and Prejudice deals with many different types of themes, literary devices and symbols. Jane Austen has done a terrific job balancing this out and showing that symbols have a much deeper meaning then expected. Themes and symbols have a great impact on literature because, it tells us the author wants us to think deeper and understand the book in a more interesting way.  Through the Darcy-Elizabeth and Bingley-Jane marriages, Austen shows the power of love and happiness to overcome class boundaries and prejudices.

Analysis of style and Structure.Marina Section 1

Theme:

                I think the theme overall is reputation, class and love, especially in the 18^th century.

                Reputation is huge in society in this time period. This book shows that a woman's reputation is one of the most looked at and important things. A woman is expected to behave a certain way and if not she is opened to be criticized. For example this is shown when Elizabeth walks into the Netherfleids looking unappealing. Because of this action she was now given a bad reputation becoming someone who is snobby and bad-mannered regardless the reason for unacceptable appearance.

Love is another huge thing in society in this time period. Every single young woman/gentlemen was to be married and if you were not there was something wrong with you. For example, in the beginning of this novel when word or Mr.Bingley was coming to town, they automatically assumed that he is in search for a wife. Also  the theme love implies that it is important, so no matter what society says you must find who you truly love and who makes you happy. This novel shows that Darcy and Elizabeth go against the common good of society.

Class is another big theme in this book because there are many clashes between the middle class and the upper class. In this book there is a specific way that the each class is supposed to act ,for example the highest class must act with a polite and well- mannered attitude. However it is not expected as much from the middle class, and if you are well-mannered you are worthy of being part of the upper class. And it also shows that because many characters began to act as social inferiors to the lower classes.

Narrative Structure

In the book, “Pride and Prejudice” the narrative structure is a narrator. There is someone telling the story and giving the reader an understanding of the story. The author makes the reader understand by describing what's happening and how each character feels.

Symbolism

Jane Austen does not use the technique of symbolism in her writing.

Literary Devices

Irony is used when Elizabeth is talking about Mr. Darcy “Yes; but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage.”...” But people alter themselves so much, that there is something new to be observed in them forever. “  this shows that someone's behavior can be shown in many ways but it can be easily changed to. It's ironic because she is talking about Mr. Darcy changing however it is also foreshadowing that she is going to change and so will her behaviour.