- How does Elizabeth Bennet's character challenge societal expectations

and norms in "Pride and Prejudice"?

As a woman in the late XVIII and early XIX century, one's participation in society was often
limited by the patriarchal hierarchy, with women being subordinate to men. Elizabeth has a
disruptive personality, although she typically participate to social norms, such as attending
the ball, but imposes her will, for example, by refusing Mr. Collins proposal and expressing
her ideas, in contrast to what were socially established or acceptable at the time, even more
emphasized by the female characters who were conditioned to think in an expected way, like
Jane, Charlotte, Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bingley and others.

- In what ways does the theme of class and social status play a significant
role in the novel?

The theme of social class is present throughout the entire narrative, starting from the first
chapter where the neighborhood comments on Mr. Bingley's income before anything else.
This sets the tone for the rest of the novel, as many of the conflicts in 'Pride and Prejudice' are
related to status. The female characters from the lower aristocracy have their social status as a
limitation in their relationships with their wealthy suitors, and also have to deal with family
pressure, both from the wealthy family, who want to maintain ties with people of their own
class, and from the less wealthy, who are threatened with losing the house if the patriarch dies
for lack of male heirs, which also opens up discussions on other issues, such as the lack of
independence of women at the time.

- How does Mr. Darcy's initial pride and arrogance impact the development
of the plot and his relationship with Elizabeth?

In "Pride and Prejudice" the story is mostly told from Elizabeth's point of view. Therefore,
the narrative is not impartial and the reader is led to believe that Mr. Darcy is the "villain" of
the story. Instead of Elizabeth considering the possibility that he is a shy person, it is taken
for granted that what he shows is absolute contempt, generated by pride. This is Austen's
manipulation through narrative. Jane Austen keeps the reader in the dark so that she can
achieve the main dramatic effect of the story, which is the surprise of Mr. Darcy's first
proposal.

- What role do marriage and societal expectations play in the lives of the
characters in the novel?

There are two conceptions of marriage that can be identified in the novel: the aristocratic
view, which saw marriage as an alliance between families and financial security; while the
"modern" view sees marriage as an individual's right to choose. For the aristocrats, marriage
was an "agreement" between families. The wealthier ones were interested in further
increasing their income and property, while the less wealthier were looking to rise up socially.
From a financial point of view, it was seen as salvation for families who didn't have a large
income. The visions of marriage represented by Charlotte and Elizabeth are versions of what
was established at the beginning of the story, while Charlotte is interested in a "comfortable
home", Elizabeth wants a union where the couple have equality and their intellect is
respected.

- How does Jane Austen use irony and satire to comment on the social
norms and values of her time in "Pride and Prejudice"?

The use of irony and satire in this text is mainly present in the secondary characters. This
subtext serves as a form of criticism, as these characters are often exaggerated and
caricatured, accentuating the qualities and virtues of the protagonists by contrasting them
with the numerous and obvious faults of the secondary characters, in order to emphasize
these attitudes to the detriment of the often despicable behavior.

- Discuss the significance of the title "Pride and Prejudice" and how it
reflects the central themes of the novel.

The title refers to the emotions that permeate the entire narrative, especially, but not only, in
the main characters, Elizabeth and Darcy, both of whom show these emotions at different
times during the plot, such as Elizabeth's judgment based on Mr. Darcy's appearance and Mr.
Darcy's pride, perhaps intensified by Elizabeth's prejudice. Based on these weaknesses,
Austen develops her characters in the novel to portray their development and growth.

- Explore the relationship dynamics between the Bennet sisters and how
they contribute to the overall narrative.

One of the most common interpretations of the Bennet sisters is that Austen is criticizing
what she found at the time with each sister's personality. Jane represents the idealized woman,
perfect for marriage because she is beautiful and sweet, loved and cherished by everyone.
Jane was somewhat alienated and innocent, not realizing the evil or indifference of others in
society. The character can be seen as a characterization of the angelic figure, strongly held as
the feminine ideal. Katherine and Lydia represent alienated women who have been raised and
conditioned not to care or use their intellect for anything. Mary, on the other hand, is very
similar to Elizabeth, who was very educated and loved books and music. The great difference
between Elizabeth and Mary, however, is that Elizabeth participates in and recognizes the
rules of society, while Mary, isolated in a world of her own, remains indifferent to them.

- How does the novel depict the constraints and limitations placed on
women in early 19th century society?
In "Pride and Prejudice", Jane Austen makes visible the difficulties of social mobility, the
prejudices that class relations of the time, and the rush of women to marry because of social
expectations. By depicting scenes from everyday life in 18th-century England, is perceptible
that her characters, despite their often comic tone, represent ordinary people, since creating
foolish characters with inappropriate behavior was a way of criticizing society. The structure
of Austen's novel satirizes the everyday conventions of her time, emphasizing how male
domination underestimates female power. Also pointing out the ridiculousness of social
demands and the inconsistency of laws about women's rights.

- Analyze the character development of Elizabeth Bennet throughout the

novel and the factors that contribute to her growth.

Elizabeth has a strong personality and well-defined convictions. She often characterizes
herself as a proud person, as the title suggests. Elizabeth's mistaken conclusions about Mr.
Darcy and Mr. Wickham led to shame and embarrassment. This perception of her behavior as
bad, along with her gratitude towards Mr. Darcy and contempt for Mr. Wickham after
discovering the truth, contributed to her personal growth and evolution.

- Discuss the role of humor and wit in "Pride and Prejudice" and how it
adds to the overall charm of the narrative.

The narrative style of 'Pride and Prejudice' contributes to its status as a classic. The use of
humor makes the story enjoyable, even two centuries after its publication. This is one of
many reasons why the book continues to be read and retold across generations.