Pride and Prejudice Group

Question:

puppylover
puppylover
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Why does Austen call Elizabeth by her first name and Mr. Darcy by his last name throughout the novel? What is the effect of this naming?

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Posted by puppylover on Sunday August 16, 2009 at 6:35 PM and tagged with first, last, naming, pride and prejudice.

Answers:

  1. accessteacher
    accessteacher Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In Austen's time it was a convention that men would be addressed as Mr.. Women, if they were unmarried, would be addressed as Miss followed by their last name if they were the first daughter. Other sisters would be addressed as Miss followed by their first name.

    This is perhaps symbolic of the kind of world that Pride and Prejudice is set in. The position of women was much lower compared to that of men, as the novel makes it clear. There were very few options open to women, and marriage was perhaps the only way out of being an "old maid" and staying with your parents. Thus naming in the novel can show the lack of status of women at that time and reinforce the theme of marriage and how it was viewed then.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/pride-and-prejudice/
    http://www.enotes.com/pride-and-prejudice/themes

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    Posted by accessteacher on Wednesday August 19, 2009 at 12:12 PM