Chapter 6 Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice Chapter 6
The point of view that is being narrated in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice is omniscient; Austen has started to tell the story through Elizabeth in this chapter, however still as third person. The main actions of the novel are the communications between opinions, ideas, and attitudes they in the novel are not expressed to the readers directly, some might be told in telling method and another’s in showing method also there is little imagery of the settings. Throughout this chapter, Jane Austen satirizes the manners of women who believe that marriage should not be for love only through Elizabeth’s point of view.
At the start of chapter 6 in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses telling method to show Bingley’s attitude towards the Bennet’s. Mr. Bingley’s sisters start to grow their friendship with Jane for their brother’s sake. Austen in this chapter shows us that Jane was pleased by the attention they are giving her and took it as “great pleasure” whereas Elizabeth on the other hand, was endowed with “something more of quickness” (chap.1) as she believed that it was all an act and her sister just thought good of everyone. Austen tells us in a telling method that Elizabeth begins to express her judgements of Mr Bingley’s sisters; “Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment of everybody, hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them” she knew that it was hard to believe that such upper class ladies will like them. They act was put on because of their “brothers admiration” towards Jane. However, Elizabeth knew that the love that occurred between her sister and Mr Bingley was genuine as “he did admire her” the use of italics emphasizes Elizabeth’s point of view towards them, there is also the use of focalization as point of view is being narrated. Also Miss Bingley tells us in chapter 6 that she found Mrs. Bennet “intolerable” and the “younger sisters not worth speaking to”, Jane Austen in this quote tells the readers that they defiantly will not get along in the upcoming chapters because of the sisters snobbish superiority. Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Hurst are quite the opposite of their brother as Austen conveys the pair as snobbish and pompous; however they are portrayed as normal in Austen’s time. She is showing rich and arrogant side of society.
Through the characterisation of these women and use of irony, Austen has influenced the reader's opinions on the characters attitude about marriage and that of their generation. Austen has presented the reader how couples in those only married each other if they were from rich and upper social classes, it was one of the most important things in Austen’s time. No one married for love. Jane Austen shows us society’s views on marriages through Charlottes and Elizabeth’s dialogue in this chapter. Women thought that it was their responsibility to show affection and try to find her self a rich and handsome husband form upper-class, example of this type of women in Pride and Prejudice is Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte Lucas's views on marriage conform to those of contemporary society. She believed that “if a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she might lose opportunity of fixing him” she thought that Jane was concealing her affection too much and it was her responsibility to show affection towards him more then she is doing now or else she might lose the opportunity of “fixing him” as she also adds “In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels.” However Elizabeth replies to Charlotte with a humorous irony presented as she say that Mr. Bingley “must be a simpleton indeed not to discover” her admiration, nevertheless Elizabeth is also missing out on Mr. Darcy’s Admiration towards her later on in this chapter. Austen shows us that Charlotte’s views on marriages were completely different to Elizabeth’s; she adds “when she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses” Charlotte views on marriages were exactly the same as other ladies in the society except Elizabeth, she believed that once a man is secured and they are married, she can then decide if she want to fall in love or not. If a women wasn’t beautiful or rich, she had to have practical approach towards men. Jane Austen in this novel has used different expressions to present love and marriage.
Charlottes views on marriage were based on wealth as she also told Jane to secure Mr. Bingley even thought they only met a few times whereas Elizabeth she felt that no one should marry unless they are in love with each other and ready to commit yourselves to them, “it’s a good idea if you want nothing more than to be well married but it doesn’t guarantee happiness”, she knew Charlotte was right however she also knew marriages based on wealth doesn’t always include happiness. Charlotte wishes Jane good luck and says that she has a “good chance of happiness” and “happiness in marriage is entirely matter of chance” this dialogue of charlotte tells the reader that happiness in marriage is given if you are lucky which can only occur in some marriages as she brings in realistic approach. Charlotte’s opinion is of a typical regency women’s, she believes that a woman should marry for money and status, not just for love. Also furthermore in this paragraph there is also use of archaic language that Austen uses such as “felicity” and “vexation”. “You make me laugh, Charlotte but it is not sound. You no it is not sound” This quote that Elizabeth uses is ironic as it makes perfectly clear that Elizabeth thinks that it would be impossible for anyone marry someone for any reason other than love. Austen has used dramatic irony to show the readers that this did happen in society and how ladies used this technique to find husbands.
Further on there is a major plot development in this chapter as Mr. Darcy’s feeling for Elizabeth changes he starts thinks that Elizabeth is pretty but would not show his real feelings to her as it is quoted “Mr Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty” to show that he doesn’t interact with people he doesn’t like as his first impression, this shows the readers his pride might get in the way of love and that was why he could not admit to her beauty. “He looked at her only to criticise.” This also shows the readers how much pride he had. However he starts to tell his friends that she isn’t so pretty, however in the inside something unusual has happened to him and he likes the “beautiful expression of her dark eyes.” Mr Darcy regrets what he has said about Lizzy in the past chapter. But now her ‘dark eyes” has attracted him towards her. He is embarrassed and ‘mortified’ by what he has said. The eyes represent Elizabeth’s charm and intellect which Mr. Darcy is impressed by. However he still acts critical and analytical because he has observed the “failure of perfect symmetry in her form.”
Mr. Darcy is attracted to Elizabeth but he does not share his feelings with anyone as it would let his pride down. At Sir William Lucus’s party, he starts to over hear Elizabeth and Charlottes Conversation. However when they find out that he has overheard their conversation, Elizabeth becomes angry and says “he has a very satirical eye”. Later on when he approaches near them, Elizabeth says “did you not think Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now” this shows that Elizabeth is angry and has prejudice towards him, Mr. Darcy’s reply one of the most inspiring quote in this novel as he says “With great energy; - but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic” it shows prejudice against women in society. Elizabeth reacts only to the second option, accusing him of being un-pleasant “You are severe on us.” Her aggression swells when Charlotte changes the subject for Mr. Darcy, teases her in turn about the performance that is about to take place. Elizabeth calls upon Charlottes good manners in a humorous way by calling her “strange” denying her own “vanity” of taking a “musical turn”. She tells Me. Darcy that “Keep your breath to cool your porridge, and I shall keep mine to swell my song” in this dialogue between her and Mr. Darcy, she is expressing her feelings to show him she does not want to talk to him. Austen has used the showing method to tell the readers that Elizabeth has prejudice towards him also making her look bad and Mr. Darcy innocent.
Also in this chapter, Austen shows us different side of the Bennet sister who is Mary; she is described as the “plain one” and “worked hard for knowledge” in the previous chapter. She proves a contrast from her sisters. However, in chapter 6 she is described as bore, filled with inflated arrogance, readers are told that she has “a pedantic air and conceited manner”. When there is a dialogue between Mr. Darcy and Sir William, sir William introduces Elizabeth to dance with Mr. Darcy however she refuses saying that she has no intention of dancing, Austen shows us that Elizabeth has took her revenge of refuses to dance with him too adding a bit of embarrassment for Mr. Darcy as how can some one refuse to dance with a man who has large fortune and good looks.
Elizabeth also say that “Mr Darcy is all politeness”, saying it in a very sarcastic tone while deviously attempting to get back at Darcy at this ball. Austen is showing us that both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are fond of each other but one is too proud and the other one is too prejudiced. Moreover, the dialogue that takes place between Mr Darcy and Caroline Bingley, he admits his affection for Elizabeth when he says, “the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow” and when Miss Bingley asked who his affections where for he replied, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet!.” Miss Bingley seems shocked at this; Austen also uses repetition and exclamation mark to emphasize Miss Bingley’s shock as Mr Darcy would not even have a second look toward women of lower social classes. Mr. Darcy has yet only shown his affection for Elizabeth to Miss. Bingley and Charlotte. Austen introduces the readers to miss Bingley’s jealousy towards Elizabeth and the use of sarcastic tone toward Mr. Darcy when she says “pay when am I to wish you joy” we are told that Miss. Bingley is not happy by this as she fancied Mr. Darcy herself. Mr. Darcy replies and says that he knew she’d be sarcastic towards his feelings for Elizabeth as he knew that’s what ladies would do if they were jealous. Austen also shows us Mr. Darcy use of sarcasm too as he says “I knew you would be wishing me joy”. However, when miss. Bingley realises that Mr. Darcy is serious she says to him “you will have a charming mother-in-law” to put him off marrying Elizabeth as she is jealous. Miss Bingley laughs at the fact that Mr Darcy could hold a place in his heart for Elizabeth Bennet, whose family are such low class, particularly the silly behaviour of Mrs Bennet.
Austen in this chapter has introduced us to Mr. Darcy affection growing towards Elizabeth as well of Elizabeth use of focalisation. We see that Elizabeth refuses to dance with Mr. Darcy because she has prejudice towards him while he still has pride even though he likes her. The opening of this chapter has introduced us to Bingley’s sister talking about the Bennet’s and how they find Mrs. Bennet intolerable. In addition, through Charlotte Lucas and Elizabeth Bennet conversation regarding marriage we see that Charlotte’s view on marriage her different to Elizabeth, she believes that “happiness in marriage is matter of chance whereas Elizabeth thinks no one should marry anyone other then for love.