Illustration of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy with neutral expressions on their faces

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

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Virtues and Values in Pride and Prejudice

Summary:

In Pride and Prejudice, virtues and values play a central role in character development and thematic exploration. Elizabeth Bennet is characterized by honesty and family loyalty, while Darcy exhibits concern for family and friends. The novel critiques upper-class values, particularly the emphasis on marriage for social status, as seen through characters like Mrs. Bennet and Charlotte Lucas. Ultimately, Austen highlights the importance of love, integrity, and personal growth over wealth and societal expectations, with Elizabeth representing the ideal of a thoughtful, independent woman.

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In Pride and Prejudice, what are each character's virtues?

In Pride and Prejudice, the principal characters are Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, and in many respects the novel chronicles the development of their romance. In other respects, it is an ensemble piece that features other Bennet family members and friends. The virtues of both main characters are largely connected to their family loyalty. Another virtue of Lizzie is her honesty; both qualities are shown in her conversation with Jane in chapter 4, and her honesty is evident when she refuses Mr. Collins. Darcy shows his concern for his family through his fondness for his younger sister; as their parents are deceased, he is also her guardian. His consideration extends to his close friend, Bingley, whom he hopes to protect from an unwise match, which is behind the influence he exerts on Bingley to leave Meryton (chapter 23).

The parents of the four...

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Bennet sisters are very concerned for their daughters’ happiness.Mrs. Bennet displays this throughout as she tries to find good husbands for all of them. Her involvement in these plans is constant, beginning with chapter 1. While Mr. Bennet is also interested in the girls’ future, as shown by his calling on Bingley in chapter 2, he is more patient and temperate. The personality of Jane, the oldest daughter, is such that she has many virtues, such as an even temperament, kindness, and modesty. These are obvious in chapter 4 and in chapter 6, during the visit with the Bingleys.

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What values are presented in Pride and Prejudice?

Austen also presents, and skewers, upper-class values that only find worth in women who are married, as this puts these women in unjust positions, which force them to choose the lesser of two evils.  Consider the way Austen portrays Mrs. Bennet, a woman who is obsessed with marrying off her daughters, so obsessed that the book opens with her certainty that her newest neighbor -- whom she has never met -- would be the perfect husband for one of them.  He could be a horrible person who engages in all manner of licentious behavior (he is not), but it matters not to her as long as he is willing to marry one of her girls.  Mrs. Bennet irritates her husband, humiliates her most sensible daughters, and generally makes herself a nuisance throughout the book: hardly a character with whom we are supposed to sympathize or agree.

Further, she pushes Elizabeth to marry that horrid Mr. Collins, simply because it would keep Longbourn in the immediate family after Mr. Bennet's death, and because she considers Jane to already be spoken for.  Elizabeth must then choose between a loveless marriage where she cannot respect her partner but which would bring her financial security, and the risk that she will become a spinster, dependent on her relations and a burden to her family.  In other words, she could become Charlotte.  Charlotte, Elizabeth's best friend, is several years older than Elizabeth and treacherously close to becoming a confirmed spinster.  However, she sees her opportunity when Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collins and Charlotte compels him to see her as a replacement for his cousin.  She makes the choice Elizabeth does not: she chooses to marry a man whom she does not love and whom she knows is ridiculous so that she can avoid the embarrassment of remaining upper-class and single.  Austen points out that this is hardly an appropriate choice for a woman and that this is an unjust way to value women's worth.

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Austen presents many values in this novel. First of all, between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, there is upward social status for Elizabeth upon her marriage. She is able to move out of her middle class background, literally, into landed gentry. However, she does not fall in love with Mr. Darcy for his money. In fact, it is his attitude, arrogance, and wealth which turn her against him when they first meet. Thus, the importance of love over money is definitely a main value in this work. Also, the shallow values of the wealthy  and their conceit is a target for Austen. In the case of Lydia, her lack of honesty in a relationship and true,  heartfelt love is what is lost at the end of the day as she destroys what is good and honest. And again, the value of marriage is illustrated through the Bennetts and their long term relationship. So, I think you could say love, as a commitment between hearts and souls, honesty, integrity, and firmness of mind are the values in this work. Elizabeth becomes an icon for the thinking woman!

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