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| Sunday, 22 January 2006 |
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A/L English Literature Made Easy - Novel Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen Jane is the eldest in the 'Bennet family'. She is introduced as a beautiful, sweet tempered, kind girl. She is very considerate, harbours no malice. Jane observes others with understanding and good intentions. When Caroline Bingley tries to separate her from Mr. Bingley, she remains silent (Ch. 55).
Her relationship with Bingley is romantic love. Though she has contrasting views of others, different from that of her sister Elizabeth. She abides by her duty to her parents and remains faithful and attached to Elizabeth. Jane reacts with goodwill to certain situations such as Wickham's story by Darcy (Ch. 17). Elizabeth's remarks shows Jane's love for Bingley. "I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with you as ever." Being charming and the most beautiful girl in the family, she is liked by everyone and wins the love of Bingley. Jane is the opposite of Elizabeth. She refrains from doing things with her own initiative. She reacts with goodwill towards Wickham and very often she is right in her views. Wickham Wickham is a handsome young man who could attract the attention of any girl. He is noted for creating and falsifying stories to cheat girls. He cheats Darcy with the ulterior motive of eloping with Darcy's sister, but he actually elope with Lydia, Elizabeth's sister. Considered as an unreliable and indifferent person, Wickham could cheat girls easily. Girls get attracted to him for he "could stirrup romantic feelings." He is a selfish person. "Using Georginia for money and revenge and Lydia for pleasure." Wickham created false stories to tarnish the characters of others. (Ch. 16). He did this to Darcy's character. Being a liar and a cheat, he is able to invite the attention and Sympathy of women. Even, Elizabeth, the girl who is intelligent is tempted to believe his stories. Jane Austen's reflection of "the wrong type of marriage," is symbolised by the marriage of Wickham and Lydia. Wickham marrying Lydia for money is not Jane Austen's idea of a marriage. She believes that it is not the right approach to a successful marriage. Wickham's character reveals the wicked and vicious type of man who could never be trusted. Wickham "represents the anti-social man, self-centred and vicious." Jane Austen's "Wrong type of marriage" is symbolised by the marriage of Wickham and Lydia and their marriage fails. Wickham's qualities are just the opposite of Darcy's and he remains the villain in the story. Charlotte Lucas Charlotte Lucas is Elizabeth's friend who gets married to Collins. She is one who could keep her "emotional independence." She knows herself and keeps herself stable and self-confident. Charlotte's character shines as an aid to the development of the story for she is closer to Elizabeth by all means. Charlotte is at the bottom of Elizabeth's marriage to Darcy. She convinces Elizabeth about the importance of "wealth, family and status" which are essential facts to be considered in marriage. She is a sincere friend of Elizabeth who creates opportunities for Darcy to meet Elizabeth, thus bringing them together and paving the way for Darcy and Elizabeth to "the self-awareness that both gained". Caroline Bingley Caroline Bingley is a minor character in the story. She is introduced at the Meryton Ball. She is Bingley's younger sister. She is possessed with her "class pride and projected as quite a disagreeable character" she is jealous of Elizabeth's connection with Darcy and stands as an obstacle on their way but Elizabeth's intelligent, calm and understanding nature wins over the wrong perceptions and attitudes of Caroline Bingley. Reverend Collins The character of Collins is introduced in Ch. 13 his letter to Mr. Bennet - Jane Austen's remarks (Ch. 15) "Mr. Collins was not a sensible man and the deficiency of his nature had been but little assisted by education or society," and Elizabeth's remarks after reading Collin's letter. "He must be an oddity - There is something very pompous in his style." Though he is introduced as a suitor for Elizabeth, he fails in his endeavour to win Elizabeth's love. His intentions are selfish though there is much to be hoped from him as a clergyman. His letter to Mr. Bennet regarding Lydia eloping (Ch. 57) reflects his "Christian charity." "You ought certainly to forgive them as Christian but never to admit them in your sight or allow their names to be mentioned in your hearing," Collins wishes to be with the Bennets for a week and Lady Catherine de Bourgh's not objecting to his "occasional absence" reflects his behaviour pattern patronising Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine de Bourgh Lady Catherine de Bourgh is Darcy's aunt and Reverend Collins' patroness. "Pride and Social Prejudice" is embossed in Lady Catherine's character. She belongs to the upper class and she despises the association and mixing up with the lower class. Thus she does not approve of Elizabeth's presence as Darcy's wife at Pemberly. She tries controlling the people of the lower class and takes delight in doing so. The character of Lady Catherine helps to intensify the character of Elizabeth. She tries to persuade Elizabeth to give up Darcy and Elizabeth's ardent negative attitude to Lady Catherine's views and fancies proving that Elizabeth is a person who does not accept defeat - instead she defeats Lady Catherine and thereby defeats "Pride and Prejudice" inculcated in Lady Catherine's character. Lady Catherine failing to win Elizabeth's favour and a positive response to her demands, she indirectly paves the way for the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth; as all her reports to Darcy degrading Elizabeth receives only a negative response from Darcy. Thus Lady Catherine remains tongue tied. Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd - Specialist Teacher Englit, St. Anne's
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