Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a love story and the central themes of the novel can be deduced from its title. The pride that is essential in maintaining one's reputation and name and the prejudice rampant in society during the period in which the novel is set. The obstacles that are encountered and must be overcome during the course of love include anxieties about social standing, miscommunication and misunderstanding due to an emphasis on the importance of first impressions and snobbery over social connections. Many of the characters may be identified as having both pride and prejudice in their personalities, which is what makes the novel such an interesting read.