Theme of Prejudice

One way in which prejudice is shown in the novel is through first impressions

1.1 Meryton ball, Mr Darcy calls Lizzy 'tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me' - shows his prejudice and also makes her prejudiced towards him. Lizzy tells her family and friends this and this contributes to the society's dislike of him

1.2 Also in this chapter we get the first impression of Mr Darcy, who at first 'drew the attention of the room with his fine countenance, noble mein and the report whihc was in circulation of his having ten thousand a year' but then 'his manner gave a disgust' 'he was discovered to be proud, above his company and above being pleased'

2. Meeting Wickham: 'he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance and very plasing address' - this makes everyone like Wickham. Note: Wickham also manipulates Lizzy and uses her prejudice against Mr Darcy to his advantage

3. Bingley's sisters - dislike Jane because they believe she is not good enough for their brother: 'with such a father and mother and such low connections, I am afraid there is not chance of it' (marrying well)

CONTEXT - In the late 18th centry, class determined how you were viewed by others, and reputation impacted others (as we see with Lydia's elopement) It would have been unusual and improper to marry someone who was of a very different class socially

LADY CATHERINE - 'likes to keep the distinction of rank preserved' (she sees herself as superior and enjoys having that made clear)

MR DARCY - 'his sense of her inferiority - of its being a degradation' (when proposing he makes it clear that he finds the match not ideal due to the difference in class - this offends Lizzy)

BINGLEYS SISTERS - 'were in the habit of spending more than they ought and associating with people of rank, and were therefore entitled in every respect to think well of themselves'

MARRIAGE - 'with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it' (Mrs Hurst on the Bennet girls' situation) also: 'it must materially lessen their chances of marrying men of any consideration in the world' (Mr Darcy, same chapter)

CONTEXT - at the time of Austen's writing, women were expected to marry well and they would not work. Education for men and women was different.

EXPECTATIONS - Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy discuss what makes 'an accomplished lady' - 'a woman must have thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, the modern laguages,' and 'a certain something'

MARRIAGE - Charlotte Collins (ne Lucas) says that marriage is 'the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune'

REPUTATION - when Lydia elopes, her scandal relfects on the honour of the other girls. Mr Collins says in his letter 'this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others'

LIZZY - when Lizzy walks alone in the mud to Netherfield, it shocks people and would have shocked the readers of Regency England - Miss Bingley calls her 'wild'

LADY CATHERINE - says that 'young women should always be properly guarded and attended' - this is because if they are unsupervised, rumours and gossip may ensue which could ruin status

MOTHERS - eg Mrs Bennet - 'it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife' - Mothers want to marry their daughters well, and when Lizzy announces her engagement at the end, Mrs Bennet concentrates on the money: 'how rich and how great you will be!'

LIZZY - her perspective on Mr Darcy -coincidentally- changes at Pemberly - 'Of this, she thought, I might have been mistress!' (when she realises the extent of Darcy's wealth)

MR DARCY - everyone immediately had a good impression of him because of his money. 'the report which was in general circulation within five minutes of his entrance of his having ten thousand a year'

MR BENNET - their situation with entailment and money means that 'Mr Bennet had often wished (...) he had laid by an annual sum, for the better provision of his children'

WICKHAM - Mr Bennet says 'the man's a fool is he takes Lydia for a farthing less than ten thousand pounds'; he also had gambling debts in Meryton etc. And he had previously switched his interests to Miss King, who had recently inherited money