Pride And Prejudice Literary Analysis

Of all the books I’ve read throughout high school, I feel that Pride and Prejudice epitomizes politics the most. Throughout the story, there’s this class struggle that manifests itself between the lower, middle, and upper class. Members of the upper class, the Bingleys and the Darcys, are portrayed as being “snobbish” and “prideful” people, and they aren’t afraid to flaunt their wealthy status to others. The Bennets, on the other hand, are part of the middle class and are constantly reminded of their inferiority to the upper class by specific members of the upper class. For example, Catherine De Bough, who attempted to prevent Elizabeth from marrying her nephew, Mr. Darcy, so their family’s reputation wouldn’t be tarnished, or Miss Bingley, who constantly degraded Elizabeth and Jane for attracting more successful men despite their lower social status.Then there’s the people of the lower class like Wickham, whose one goal is to assimilate with the upper class by marrying a woman who exudes wealthiness. Despite this inter-class struggle, Jane and Elizabeth both end up marrying higher class men, challenging the notion that in-class marriage is the only acceptable way to find one’s significant other.
None of the Bennet girls have jobs, nor are they looking for any. All they’ve been clamoring for is to get married to someone quickly, which their mother, Mrs. Bennet, constantly reminds them to do. Elizabeth is the only one to challenge that convention, as she seems in no rush to get married and takes her time in carefully finding someone who can not only secure her financially, but suit her emotionally. Perhaps Jane Austen is criticizing the way in which 19th century England made women mere puppets in a society dominated by