1. Introducing Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

2. The Landed Gentry
Definition: people who did not have to work for a living and did not hold a title (like earl, duchess, mainly the upper social class held titles) but still made a living as being landlords
They became a new strata (level) to Britain’s social class system
Many Englishmen strove (struggled) to be landlords, since not having to work by living off rental and other owned property meant you were part of this social class
Monies to buy land were gained from profits from the Industrial Revolution (factories & mills) and an expanding colonial system
Strived to align themselves (gain favor) with England’s landed aristocracy
Purchased estates and country homes that looked like they belonged to the aristocracy, even though they really did not
Newly acquired wealth was spent on material things they would impress your neighbors and make it appear as if you were wealthy

3. Jane Austen’s Characters
Characters tended to be privileged circles of England’s landed gentry and aristocracy
They were either upper class, called the old hereditary aristocracy; or
New landed gentry who came into money through commercial enterprise and ascended from the middle class were called “nouveau riche,” or “new money”
Hereditary aristocracy looked down on the “nouveau riche,” even though some of the Landed Gentry had more wealth than them. Titles separated these two classes
Upper class did not work and frequently employed farmers to work their lands
Upper class controlled England’s politics & government

4. Pride and Prejudice: Setting

5. Who is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy?
A Main character
Represents the hereditary aristocracy, because he was a wealthy landowner who did not have to work for a living
Patronage: the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another.
Darcy’s patronage came in the form of employing workers to farm his land. These same people paid rents & taxes to Darcy.
Surrounding families depended on his patronage to live. IF he stopped giving it, the local towns could go bankrupt!
He is single and wealthy, making him a target for fathers & mothers with single daughters

6. Who are the Bingleys? Both are minor characters
Represents the new landed gentry
Bingley’s father acquired wealth (got rich) through trade, gave up his business, and moved his family to the country
He and his sister are now considered upper class
Charles Bingley is single and wealthy, making him a target for fathers & mothers with single daughters
Caroline Bingley is a snob, and looks down on middle-class families; wants Mr. Darcy

7. Who are the Bennets?
Bennets DO own their land, but they are a middle-class family who must cultivate (farm) their own land to make a living
They had few servants (a sign of being middle class) and limited financial resources, which hurt the chances for the girls to get a “respectable” marriage to a wealthy man
Mr. Bennet
Jane Bennet
Mrs. Bennet
Elizabeth Bennet
Lydia Bennet
Kitty Bennet
Mary Bennet

8. Women, Patriarchy and Property Rights
During this time, society was a patriarchal
Patriarchy: a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it
Women had very few legal rights
Society was set up to make women have to depend on men for protection and survival
Women could not own property, because they were considered property
Their fathers chose who they would marry
Finding a husband was a necessity not a social preoccupation

9. Women, Patriarchy and Property Rights (continued)
Entailment: determined how property would be passed through several generations within a family; usually closest male relative received it
Lady Catherine DeBourgh, patroness of Rosings Park, is a rare example of an independent woman who inherits the estate of her father, because of the way her father’s will was written

10. Theme of Social Class
Conflict arises when members of middle class, such as Bennets, mingle socially with members of the upper classes, represented by Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.
Austen was critical of the social barrier between middle and upper class (while remaining silent about members of lower class)

11. Theme of Marriage and Family
Future of Bennet daughters depends on successful union with suitable husbands
Women often forced into marital unions out of financial necessity (need)
There was the expectation of social networking, respectability, and reputation above individual desire for privacy or personal wants
A family’s reputation was tied to the reputation of each individual member. Meaning, how each person acted in public effected how the entire family was viewed

12. Theme of Propriety, Social Decorum, and Reputation
Person’s value depends on respect of friends and neighbors
Woman who engaged in inappropriate behavior with a man prior to marriage were morally corrupt. No virtue = social outcast
Elizabeth values personal worth and individual character over reputation and status
Standards of proper social etiquette were expected
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13. First Impressions Original title of P & P
Premature preconceptions complicate the relationships between characters
Both characters must set aside their pride and prejudice and form an opinion based on respect and cordial friendship
Error in judgment with Wickham who creates a bad image of Darcy
Must look beneath the surface of a person’s character

14. Satire
Humor or with in order to criticize or ridicule a particular person or group
Disguise criticism of an intended target by clothing it in humorous language, funny characterizations, and sarcasm
Austen satirizes Mrs. Bennet and her need to marry her daughters; also Mr. Collins’ high opinion of himself which often makes him the laughingstock of society

15. Free Indirect Discourse
Narrative style known as “free indirect discourse”
Third-person perspective to convey ideas and thoughts from point of view of a particular character usually the heroine.
Hard to determine objectivity of ideas
Precursor of “stream of consciousness”

16. Comedy of Manners
Uses elements of Satire to ridicule or expose behaviors, manners, flaws, and morals of members of the middle or upper classes.
Incorporate love affairs, witty and comical exchanges between characters, and the humorous revelation of societal scandals and intrigues
Witty banter between characters