How Does Jane Austen Use Satire In Pride And Prejudice

Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, depicts pride and prejudice and their consequences when she proposes a society where people are judged on their social standing rather than merit. The people and events in the novel are used to depict the prejudicial, ignorant, and proud nature of society, which can be seen as inhibitors to personal happiness. The use of satire is prevalent in the novel. Austen satirizes the high class by expressing how societal standards can degrade a character’s identity. The novel questions the nature of social hierarchy that prevents people from seeing the best in others which can result in misunderstanding and breakdown of social relationships. Austen focuses greatly on the class system and in many ways, the novel
Collins comedic proposal to Elizabeth. In his proposal, he names many reasons for marrying Elizabeth, none of which carry any signs of “true love.” Among his reasons, the last statement is the most shocking one because he clearly states that he wants to marry since his patroness, Lady Catherine “advised him to” (81). Mr. Collins feels that his richness makes him an appropriate match for Elizabeth. He goes on to tell Elizabeth that he knows that she doesn't have any money and that no “ungenerous reproach shall ever pass [his] lips” (82). She believes that marrying a man like Mr. Collins who is “conceited, pompous, narrow-minded and silly” in order to feel safe in the future degrades would degrade her self-respect and dignity. When Elizabeth rejects him, he tells her that no other man would want her because of her poor status and social standing, which shows his pomposity and arrogance. In this time period, if a man had a good fortune, a woman was expected to be happy with him. Mr. Collins is used as a comic relief to challenge the societal “norms” by addressing the issue of marriage as shown in his proposal to