Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion Summary
In both of Austen’s ‘romantic comedies’; ‘Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion’ Jane Austen delicately provides an insight into life and social habits at the time; exploring the themes of love, class and money and in doing so creating a realistic and meaningful account; combining what is often comic irony, with steadfast morals.
Both novels ardently focus on pressing social concerns of the time, with Austen portraying through each story; the section in society in which she is most familiar with. Yet Austen creates for readers an understanding that does not dwell specifically on politics or what can be described as ‘majorly’ influential factors of the time, e.g. – the ongoing war. By bypassing such explicit attempts at explaining the situation in Britain at the time, and by refusing to use a major incident and extraordinary characters as a catalyst for the action occurring in her novels; Austen portrays a more modest, personal and accessible account. By centralising her story around small groups or social circles; she meticulously examines different parts of society; through authorial viewpoints. Austen’s morals or ideals; represented mainly through the characters of Elizabeth Bennett and Anne Elliot, are therefore much easier to comprehend or evaluate because, in such a small scale, the story becomes universal and identifiable to readers.
It can be acknowledged that the basis of ‘Pride and Prejudice’s story reflects on the prejudices and ill-judgements made by members of the public; regardless of their social disposition, in a somewhat light hearted fashion, whilst ‘Persuasion’ focuses more darkly and intensely on the consequence of such ignorant opinions and judgements cast without conclusive reason. Similarities between the two books in relation to plot, character and theme are evident. Both novels analyse a range of hurtful truths, common beliefs and stereotypes that are universal, with ‘Persuasion’, perhaps more seriously, detailing the consequences of
Both novels ardently focus on pressing social concerns of the time, with Austen portraying through each story; the section in society in which she is most familiar with. Yet Austen creates for readers an understanding that does not dwell specifically on politics or what can be described as ‘majorly’ influential factors of the time, e.g. – the ongoing war. By bypassing such explicit attempts at explaining the situation in Britain at the time, and by refusing to use a major incident and extraordinary characters as a catalyst for the action occurring in her novels; Austen portrays a more modest, personal and accessible account. By centralising her story around small groups or social circles; she meticulously examines different parts of society; through authorial viewpoints. Austen’s morals or ideals; represented mainly through the characters of Elizabeth Bennett and Anne Elliot, are therefore much easier to comprehend or evaluate because, in such a small scale, the story becomes universal and identifiable to readers.
It can be acknowledged that the basis of ‘Pride and Prejudice’s story reflects on the prejudices and ill-judgements made by members of the public; regardless of their social disposition, in a somewhat light hearted fashion, whilst ‘Persuasion’ focuses more darkly and intensely on the consequence of such ignorant opinions and judgements cast without conclusive reason. Similarities between the two books in relation to plot, character and theme are evident. Both novels analyse a range of hurtful truths, common beliefs and stereotypes that are universal, with ‘Persuasion’, perhaps more seriously, detailing the consequences of