Daniela Curbelo Socas

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 1
1. What is the meaning of the opening sentences? How would you describe the tone
of the narrator in these sentences?

In this sentences Jane Austen reveals two major themes of the novel: marriage and
social class, in which people are defined. This first sentences talks particularly about
how standardized was that marriage and money were connected.

This opening sentences make also reference to how, in this case, Mr Bingley feelings
are not taken into account by the surrounding families, even considering him an object
they can own.

About the tone of the narrator in this first sentences, is kind of critical, also this tone
leads us into thinking what the situation of marriage was at that time.

X 2. How would you describe the reactions of Mrs Bennet and of Mr Bennet to the
arrival of Mr Bingley in the neighbourhood? Who do you think the narrator sides
on this occasion? Give reasons for your answer, quoting the text.

I think the reactions to the Bingley’s arrival is different.

Mrs Bennet looks quite interested in who is her new neighbour, as she is desperately
waiting for someone to marry one of her daughters, the appearance of Mr Bingley give
her this chance, she hopes that this young man will be a suitor for her daughters and she
is hopeful for that reason.
On the other hand, Mr Bennet hardly shows any enthusiasm, and even he refuses to
comply with his wife's wish to pay him a visit. He does not see the same advantages as
his wife.

From my viewpoint the narrator is on side of Mr Bennet, we see it several times in the
text. She is quite upset and insists on the point, in a way that she may be disliked.
[“Do not you want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.]
[She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper.
When she was disconnected, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to
get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news]

3. Do you think Mr Bennet is fond of his wife? Find evidence in the text to support
your answer.

It is difficult to tell from a single chapter whether Mr. Bennet is in love with his wife,
taking into account how marriage worked at that time. However, I do believe that Mr
Bennet is not fond of his wife, we can see a kind of boredom and passitivity towards his
wife in this chapter.

[“You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will
be still better; for, as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the
best of the party.”] In this sentence and from my viewpoint we notice that he is speaking
sarcastically about the character of his wife and daughters, which meaning could be how
tired he is of his wife’s character.
[“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.” ] Also, in this sentence we
see his passivity and how he doesn’t want to engage in a conversation with his wife,
which show us his little interest in the relationship and in his wife’s day.

4. How would you define Mrs Bennet’s attitude to her daughters? And marriage?

Mrs Bennet shows an active attitude towards her daughters. Her main concern is that
her daughters will succeed in getting married, and in this chapter we find a controlling
Mrs Bennet on that aspect, as she is the one who is organising that meeting with the new
wealthy neighbour, who she wants to marry to one of her daughters, and for that reason,
she is excessive strict about her daughter’s manners.

In my opinion, the character who gives most importance to marriage is Mrs Bennet, she
herself said that all the obligations of a woman’s behaviour, strong education and
impeccable manners, were focused on getting a good marriage. Inside the marriage, she
gave special importance to the man’s wealth and his social class.

5. What kind of narration is this? How does it differ from that of?

Regarding to the narration of this novel, in this chapter the narrator uses an external
plane to narrate the situation, typical of the omniscient narrator. But sometimes, in other
chapters of the novel the narrator places himself in the perspective of a character to give
an opinion with which he feels identified.

a. Defoe: If we see his novels, we can quickly highlight that his novels are written
mostly in first person, with scrupulous realism. He continually interchanges descriptions
of external events with his inner images and thoughts.
His novels are characterized for having the same features, such as passion for the exotic,
supernatural elements and nature. His most famous novel is Robinson Crusoe.

b. Richardson: His novels were full of erotism and practical advice for young people.
His narrative is characterized because he used the epistolary novel in his compositions,
which means that among the characters there are no dialogues or narratives, but letters.
With this narrative model we are able to see different points of view without an
omniscient narrator. His most famous novel is Pamela.

6. Do you think attitudes to marriage have changed since Austen’s times? If so, in
what ways?

From my viewpoint I think marriage have luckily changed since Jane Austen’s times.
Already from the first paragraph of this chapter we see what was the belief in those
times when a woman needed to marry a wealthy man so that she could live, as well as to
maintain or even elevate her social status. This attitude is reflected on Mr and Mrs
Bennet, Mrs Bennet doesn’t work, her only task is to marry off her 5 daughters, while
Mr Bennet does not give her much importance.
This is unimaginable in our western culture today, marriage now is not essential, much
less a sign to society of our status. Nowadays, that matters is love unrelated to material.