Class and social status in Pride and Prejudice (0)

Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice
Class and social status in Pride and Prejudice
Mankind has been acknowledging one another ’s superiority since the dawn of time. In the novel under the discussion, social status has a great importance in the turn of events . Everyone in the novel is somehow influenced by the topic of fortune or social class.
To start with, even though “Pride and Prejudice” touches on many different subjects and characters , its main events are related to or caused by the dogmas of class distinctions. The main characters are influenced by that on numerous occasions. Mr. Darcy , of noble descent, finds it hard at first to cope with the relatives and social status of the woman he falls in love with, Elizabeth . He goes as far as mentioning his superiority to her in his first marriage proposal , as was described in the novel. “His sense of her inferiority -of its being a degradation- of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit .” This may show that Mr. Darcy had zero comprehension of politeness, but it can also serve as a proof of the deep -rooted understandings of equal fortune and class between the ones who tie the knot in the 19th century .
Obviously marriage was not the only point that was affected by the class divisions. A conversation carried out by the representative of a great titled family and the members of mediocre class illustrates the differences between them in even the smallest aspects of the everyday life. “When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer , I made a point of her having two men servants go with her. You must send John with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins .” This statement from an aristocrat, Lady Catherine , to the girls of rather inferior descent, comes to show that if one Miss from a noble family required two servants whilst travelling , then two women of mediocre class were expected to have only one. Perhaps Lady Catherine is one of the characters in the book through whom the reader gets the greatest gist of how important class was in everyday life of the 19th century people. During a conversation with Elizabeth Bennet Mr. Collins advises her not to fret about her appearance before visiting her ladyship. “Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.”
However horrid for some aristocrats marriage between the wealthy and the poor appeared, middle class mothers seemed to cherish it as a life goal . Mrs. Bennet is the best example to prove that statement. She did not seem to care about the rich candidates’ personality or behaviour, all that concerned her was his fortune. When a gentleman, Mr. Bingley, is said to be moving into the neighbourhood she immediately runs to her husband , already in the hopes of having one of her five daughters married to him. “A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year . What a fine thing for our girls.” After having an unpleasant acquaintance with the named gentleman’s friend , Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet openly dislikes him, but upon learning that he will marry one of her daughters, she immediately changes her opinion. “But my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of, that I may have it to-morrow.” This illustrates that personality did not matter for the mother , all that counted was fortune and marriage itself.
Every century and society has its norms and rules of behaviour. What people of the 21st century England think of class distinction is probably different from the inhabitants of the same region in the 19th century, but I believe that one thing is sure : social ranking is in no way a definitive proof of one’s intelligence, manners or morals.
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