Post-structuralism is a philosophical movement that questions the objectivity or stability of the

interpretive structures of structuralism and the binary oppositions that define them. It rejects the self-
sufficiency of structuralism and explores the interrelationship between signs, language, and reality.
Some of its leading theorists are Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, and Michel Foucault¹.

Post-structuralism in Pride and Prejudice can be seen as a way of reading the novel that challenges the
conventional assumptions and expectations of the genre, the characters, and the society depicted. For
example, a post-structuralist reading might question the following aspects of the novel:

- The notion of a fixed and coherent identity for the characters, especially Elizabeth and Darcy, who
undergo significant changes and transformations throughout the story. A post-structuralist might argue
that their identities are not essential or stable, but rather constructed and deconstructed by their
interactions with others, their social contexts, and their own self-reflexivity.

- The notion of a clear and consistent meaning for the words and actions of the characters, especially in
relation to the themes of pride and prejudice. A post-structuralist might argue that the meanings of the
words and actions are not given or transparent, but rather ambiguous and contingent on the
perspectives and interpretations of the speakers, the listeners, and the readers. For example, the
famous opening sentence of the novel, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife", can be read in different ways: as a statement
of fact, as a satire of social norms, as a projection of the narrator's or the characters' desires, etc.

- The notion of a linear and logical plot that leads to a happy and harmonious resolution for the main
characters. A post-structuralist might argue that the plot is not a natural or inevitable outcome of the
events, but rather a narrative construction that depends on the choices and strategies of the author, the
narrator, and the characters. For example, the plot is influenced by the use of letters,
misunderstandings, coincidences, secrets, and revelations, which create gaps and discontinuities in the
actions, dialogues, and situations of the novel.

Some examples of gaps and discontinuities in Pride and Prejudice are:

- The gap between Elizabeth's first impression of Darcy and his later revelation of his true character and
feelings. This gap creates a tension and a suspense in the novel, as the reader wonders how Elizabeth
will overcome her prejudice and how Darcy will overcome his pride.

- The discontinuity between the social status and the moral worth of the characters. This discontinuity
challenges the assumptions and expectations of the society depicted in the novel, as well as the readers.
For example, Darcy is a wealthy and noble gentleman, but he is also arrogant and rude; Wickham is a
charming and handsome officer, but he is also a liar and a seducer; Lydia is a lively and cheerful girl, but
she is also a foolish and reckless eloper; etc.

- The gap between the narrator's voice and the characters' voices. This gap creates a contrast and a
dialogue between the narrator and the characters, as well as between the narrator and the readers. The
narrator often comments on the characters' thoughts, feelings, and actions, sometimes with irony,
sarcasm, or criticism, sometimes with sympathy, admiration, or approval. The narrator also addresses
the readers directly, inviting them to share their opinions, judgments, or emotions.

These are some of the possible ways of applying post-structuralism to Pride and Prejudice. However, a
post-structuralist would also acknowledge that there is no definitive or authoritative way of reading the
novel, and that different readers might have different interpretations and responses to the text.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 07/12/2023

(1) Post-structuralism - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-structuralism.

(2) Poststructuralism | Definition, Features, Writers, & Facts.

https://www.britannica.com/art/poststructuralism.

(3) Poststructuralism – Showing Theory to Know Theory.

https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/showingtheory/chapter/poststructuralism/.

(4) Post-Structuralism: Meaning & Examples | Vaia - StudySmarter US.

https://www.hellovaia.com/explanations/english-literature/literary-criticism-and-theory/post-
structuralism/.

(5) An Analysis of Pride and Prejudice from Structuralist Perspective.

https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ells/article/view/0/42153.

(6) Jane Austen's View on the Industrial Revolution in Pride and Prejudice ....
https://jim.teknokrat.ac.id/index.php/linguistics_and_literature/article/view/216.

(7) Analysis of the Feminism in Pride and Prejudice - Academy Publication.

https://www.academypublication.com/issues/past/tpls/vol01/12/22.pdf.

(8) A Comparison Of Structuralism And Post-Structuralism In Literary Theory ....

https://literaturetimes.com/a-comparison-of-structuralism-and-post-structuralism-in-literary-theory/.

(9) Pride and Prejudice and the art of conversation - TeachingEnglish.

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/knowing-subject/articles/
pride-and-prejudice-and-art-conversation.
(10) Pride and Prejudice on the Page and on the Screen: Literary Narrative ....
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/70a7/7c311b871bbf9259a96bc10f4df646779c10.pdf.

(11) Pride and Prejudice: Full Book Analysis | SparkNotes. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pride/plot-

analysis/.

,Post-structuralism is a philosophical movement that questions the objectivity or stability of the various
interpretive structures that are posited by structuralism and considers them to be constituted by
broader systems of power¹. One of the main features of post-structuralism is the rejection of the binary
oppositions that structure the meaning of language and culture, such as good/evil, male/female,
reason/emotion, etc. Post-structuralists argue that these oppositions are not natural or fixed, but rather
constructed and contingent, and that they serve to reinforce the dominant ideology and marginalize the
other².

To apply post-structuralism on Pride and Prejudice, one could examine how the novel challenges or
subverts the binary oppositions that are prevalent in the society of its time, such as class, gender, and
morality. For example, one could analyze how the characters of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy
defy the expectations of their social roles and reveal the contradictions and complexities of their
identities. Elizabeth is not a typical heroine of her class and gender, as she is witty, independent, and
outspoken, and does not conform to the norms of feminine modesty and decorum. She also refuses to
marry for convenience or status, and rejects the proposals of Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy, who represent
the patriarchal authority and the aristocratic privilege, respectively. Darcy, on the other hand, is not a
typical hero of his class and gender, as he is proud, reserved, and prejudiced, and does not display the
qualities of gentlemanly manners and generosity. He also struggles to overcome his pride and prejudice,
and to acknowledge his feelings for Elizabeth, who belongs to a lower and less respectable family. The
novel shows how both Elizabeth and Darcy undergo a process of self-transformation and mutual
understanding, and how they eventually overcome the barriers of class and pride that separate them.

Some dialogues and references from the text that illustrate the post-structuralist approach are:

- When Elizabeth rejects Mr. Darcy's first proposal, she challenges his sense of superiority and exposes
his flaws: "From the very beginning—from the first moment, I may almost say—of my acquaintance with
you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your
selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on
which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I
felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry." (Chapter 34)⁵

- When Darcy writes a letter to Elizabeth to explain his actions and motives, he reveals his inner conflict
and vulnerability: "You must, therefore, pardon the freedom with which I demand your attention; your
feelings, I know, will bestow it unwillingly, but I demand it of your justice. ... You will hardly blame me
for refusing to comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every repetition of it. His resentment was in
proportion to the distress of his circumstances—and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me to
others as in his reproaches to myself. After this period every appearance of acquaintance was dropped.
How he lived I know not. But last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on my notice." (Chapter
35)⁵

- When Elizabeth visits Pemberley, the estate of Darcy, she is impressed by its beauty and elegance, and
begins to change her opinion of him: "She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or
where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm
in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!"
(Chapter 43)⁵

- When Darcy proposes to Elizabeth for the second time, he expresses his love and respect for her, and
acknowledges his faults and errors: "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what
they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you
will silence me on this subject for ever. ... You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most
advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You
showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased."
(Chapter 58)⁵.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 07/12/2023

(1) . https://bing.com/search?q=post+structuralism+definition.

(2) Post-structuralism - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-structuralism.

(3) Pride and Prejudice: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes.

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pride/summary/.

(4) Poststructuralism | Definition, Features, Writers, & Facts.

https://www.britannica.com/art/poststructuralism.

(5) Post-structuralism Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/post-structuralism.

(6) Pride and Prejudice | Summary, Characters, Author, Book ... - Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pride-and-Prejudice.
(7) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Plot Summary | LitCharts. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/pride-
and-prejudice/summary.

(8) undefined. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

(9) goodreads.com. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1885.Pride_and_Prejudice.