Literary Essay: Pride and Prejudice - A Novel By Jane Austen Two Victorian Friends Compared

Throughout self-respect and prejudice, Jane Austen describes several(predicate) flakes who act as foils to her main sensation, Elizabeth bennet. Charlotte Lucas is a good example. Her close jockstrapship with Elizabeth allows us to monitor their interactions and tell isolated both similarities and contrasts between them. We ar introduced to Elizabeth Bennet in the first chapter of superciliousness and injury when her father describes her as having ?something more(prenominal) of speediness than her sisters? (pg.7). This reveals her intelligence championship being only ?one and xx? (pg.162). Her intelligence is besides revealed by the show upance she is able to call for her profess when confronted by or inter acting with the other tempera handsts in the book. We ar given a similar nonion of Charlotte Lucas, being describe as ?a(n)...intelligent wo homo? (pg.19). Although Elizabeth is jr. than Charlotte, who is ? or so twenty-seven? (pg.19), we fuck immedia tely guesswork that they are intellectually compatible and are non surprised to capture Charlotte called ?Elizabeth?s intimate friend? (pg.19). Although Elizabeth Bennet is often envisioned as brotherlyly unconventional, she neer loses her soft femininity (www.collegeresearch.us). She is expound by Darcy to be o.k. and have fine look: ?...the very great delectation which a pair of fine eyes in the impertinence of a pretty cleaning lady can bestow? (Pg.27). He besides mentions that her figure is ? elation and pleasing? (Pg.24). After ab initio saying she is only equal to look at, Darcy later describes her as ?one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance? (Pg.259). Colonel Fitzwilliam is give tongue to to be caught up by her prettiness (www.pemberley.com). Charlotte however is exposit as a sooner plain girl and the men do non search to show her much attention. This mayhap contributes to her harsh view of men. Mrs. Bennet says of Charlotte and her sisters: ?she is very plain? and ?it is a pity they are not ! very handsome? (pg.44). Elizabeth has a ?lively, playful disposition? (pg.14). This is show by the modality she makes period of play of Mr. Darcy?s comment close to her being only acceptably good looking. Austen writes: ?she...delighted in all thing ridiculous? (pg.14). This facetiousness can also be seen in the behavior she admits that she ? discern(s) a laugh? (pg.56). She often banters with the other characters and yet does not affront anyone ? ?there was much(prenominal) a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which make it difficult for her to affront anybody? (Pg.51). Throughout the novel, Elizabeth makes humorous comments and is even described as vivacious by Mr. collins (Pg.104). In concomitant it is her ease and articulate path of handling conversation that has do Darcy ?bewitched? by her (pg.51). Although it is never mentioned directly, it would appear as if Charlotte is more reserved and serious than Elizabeth. She is never set up joking, but pr eferably giving sound advice. For instance when Elizabeth finds sport in the way Jane expresses her feelings to Bingley, Charlotte very seriously recommends that Jane had better be more unaffixed with her affections (Pg.22/23). She inevitably exhibits the ?silence and respect? that Mr. collins is looking for in a wife. Elizabeth Bennet is also an unconditional thinker. She does not conform to the expectations of smart set (Cummings, M. 2009). This is seen when she tramples through the mud to chaffer a indisposed Jane, knowing that her appearance and actions will be criticised as unladylike. Yet, her independency is shown to be at bottom ? well-founded limits? (Joubert, Z. 2009:57). She is concerned with ?propriety, good tact and virtue? and she stands up for what she believes (www.gradesaver.com). Elizabeth also shows her independence by not being awed by wealth and titles. She seems to rebel against the fashionable idea of class in society (www.collegeresearch.us). This is especially seen when she refuses to cringe before L! ady Catherine and her threats. Charlotte, on the other hand, shows how Elizabeth ?should? behave. She goes along with the customs of that time to marry for circumstance and money. She does what is socially acceptable, disregarding her own feelings on the matter. She is submissive to the social order, whereas Elizabeth believes that respect should be bring in and not skillful given because of rank. Another striking residuum between these characters is their integrity. The way in which Charlotte plots to marry Mr. collins afterward Elizabeth has rejected him, shows us that she is cunning. She has hidden motives when she spends more time with collins under the pretext of being useful. Contrary to this, Elizabeth is open and does not scheme. Darcy says ?whatever bears parity to cunning is despicable? (pg.40). We notice that Elizabeth is forever morally upright, not deceiving for the sake of advancement. Charlotte, however, is not. Elizabeth?s strength of character is shown by t he way she rejects both the proposals of Mr. Collins and Darcy. Unlike Charlotte, Elizabeth does not make her decisions on the basis of financial security. She exhibits great character by acting on principle and following her conscience, contempt the dictates and pressures of Victorian society (Cummings, Michael. 2009). The biggest contrast between these two friends is their different approach to live and uniting. Elizabeth emphasises the importance of love and emotion within marriage. She has witnessed the unhappy marriage of her parents and ?she would not consider marrying a man if she is not in love with him and did not think that they could be happy? (www.collegeresearch.us). For her, love is a principle and she does not allow the easy way by accepting the hand of Collins or Darcy when she does not love them (Anderson, Walter. 1975). Elizabeth pursues happiness whereas Charlotte pursues comfort.

Charlotte sees marriage as just other stage in life; ?without view highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had forever and a twenty-four hours been her objective? (pg.122). Her motive for marriage is unemotional and practical. To Charlotte, ?happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance? (pg.24). She marries Collins ?solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment? (pg.120). optical fusion in this case would provide her with a comfortable class and the status of being a married woman. To Elizabeth ?money is no recompense for feeling? (www.bibliomania.com). She is shocked by Charlotte?s debatable indifference towards love and romance. Their differing view in this area about causes the loss of their frie ndship. Elizabeth feels that all the comfort of intimacy? is over because Charlotte has ?sacrificed either better feeling to worldly advantage? (Pg.123).At the end of pride and Prejudice, we see that Elizabeth has come to terms with Charlotte?s decisions and their friendship continues despite their differing views regarding love and marriage. Charlotte Lucas is portrayed as a character that is kinda contrary to the protagonist Elizabeth Bennet. By creating a character much(prenominal) as Charlotte, who has a typical Victorian outlook, alongside Elizabeth, who has a more modern outlook, Austen manages to highlight Elizabeth?s good and moody qualities. During an age of strict stereotypes, Austen has managed to create a female protagonist that epitomises strength, intelligence and femininity (www.collegeresearch.us). Bibliography:1. Austen, J. (2003). Pride and Prejudice. London: Penguin Books, Ltd. 2. Joubert, Z. (2009). English 1B ? guess Manual. SA: ICP3. Anderson, Walter. ( 1975). Plot, Character, Speech, and Place in Pride an! d Prejudice. Ninteenth Century Fiction, Vol.30, No.3. pg. 372. Retrieved August 6, 2008 from hypertext conveyance protocol://www.jstor.org/stable/29330754. Pride and Prejudice withdraw Guide. Retrieved house 8, 2009 from hypertext transfer protocol://www.gradesaver.com/pride-and-prejudice/study-guide/character-list/5. Pride and Prejudice Hypertext. Retrieved kinsfolk 9, 2009 from http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/ppdrmtis.html#ElizabethBennet6. Cummings, Michael. (2009). Pride and Prejudice: A Study Guide. Retrieved September 8, 2009 fromhttp://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides7/PrideandPrej.html7. Pride and Prejudice Study Guide. Retrieved September 8, 2009 from http://www.bibliomania.com/1/7/6/2017/frameset.html8. How Does Jane Austen protest for the Themes of Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice? Retrieved September 8, 2009 from http://www.collegeresearch.us/show_essay/45809.html9. Pride and Prejudice - Charlotte Lucas and Elizabeth Bennet. Retrieved September 8, 2009 from http://www.collegeresearch.us/show_essay/36688.html If you neediness to get a teeming essay, order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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