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Pride and Prejudice Themes

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Pride and Prejudice Themes
Degree of Analysis (50 Points) Steven Edward Rathgeb
Original Title and Topic (10 Points) March 21st, 2014
Variety of Sentence Starters (10 Points)
Relevant Textual Support (30 Points)
Why it is named Pride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is an award winning British Classic. The novel’s themes arguably created one of the best storylines in British Literature. With every book comes controversy; particularly in Pride and Prejudice (P&P) how important are the themes of pride and prejudice to the novel. The theme of Pride is mostly shown through the characters of Lady Catherine, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy while Prejudice is shown best through Caroline Bingley, and more importantly Elizabeth Bennet. With some of these characters changing their ways, Pride and Prejudice ends fantastically with everybody getting what they deserve and two wonderfully happy main characters, creating the ultimate story. Pride is described as a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity importance, merit, or superiority. The theme of Pride shown by Lady Catherine, although late in the story, is excessive. Lady Catherine is extremely venerable. During the Regency time period in which this book was written, women did not have the right to own property. The idea of Entailment, an arrangement where the closest male relative would inherit the property if the landowner dies was very popular in the Regency time period. The only loophole in Entailment was a long family chain with only a woman left which is Lady Catherine. As a woman that owns property she is inclined to act proper and has the right to be proud of her “accomplishment”, but not to the extent in which she explores it. An instance of her pride is when she exclaims, “Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman, But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away, till you have given me the assurance I

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