Pride and Prejudice (Grades 9–1) York Notes

Jane Austen’s novels are famous for their depiction of social tensions for comic effect, and this extract offers an excellent example. Austen sets Mrs Bennet’s ignorance against Mr Darcy’s contempt, made even more awkward by Miss Bingley’s rudeness.

Mr Darcy is used to sophisticated London society, so here he is thoughtless when he describes the countryside as ‘very confined and unvarying’. Elizabeth meets his comments with rational argument, but her mother takes them personally. Austen uses battle language – Mrs Bennet believes she has won ‘a complete victory’ and ‘triumph’– to reflect the social conflict that Mrs Bennet makes worse. Her response reveals her lack of social awareness and courtesy in attacking ‘that gentleman’ Mr Darcy.

Miss Bingley’s blunt comments on others’ social status are similar to Mrs Bennet’s in the extract. To deal with Mr Darcy, she makes loud comments about ‘my idea of good breeding’, making it obvious that she considers Darcy someone who ‘fancy themselves very important and never open their mouths’. Austen contrasts her talking with Mr Darcy’s silence, both of which increase tension rather than relieving it. Here, Austen suggests that being able to control your behaviour is essential in order not to hurt others. So when Mrs Bennet hurtfully describes Charlotte Lucas as ‘plain’ and having to help with the housework , Mr Bingley politely replies that ‘She seems a very pleasant young woman.’ Regency society demanded the ability to carry on polite conversation, creating a pleasant surface atmosphere, whatever people’s real thoughts and feelings might be.

Miss Bingley’s blunt comments on others’ social status are similar to Mrs Bennet’s in the extract. To deal with Mr Darcy, she makes loud comments about ‘my idea of good breeding’, making it obvious that she considers Darcy someone who ‘fancy themselves very important and never open their mouths’. Austen contrasts her talking with Mr Darcy’s silence, both of which increase tension rather than relieving it. Regency society demanded the ability to carry on polite conversation, creating a pleasant surface atmosphere, whatever people’s real thoughts and feelings might be. Here, Austen suggests that being able to control your behaviour is essential in order not to hurt others. So when Mrs Bennet hurtfully describes Charlotte Lucas as ‘plain’ and having to help with the housework , Mr Bingley politely replies that ‘She seems a very pleasant young woman.’

Throughout the novel, Elizabeth struggles with the embarrassment created by the behaviour of her younger sisters and her mother, who are all loud and often speak thoughtlessly. She is afraid that their behaviour will do real damage to Jane’s chances with Mr Bingley, seeing how his sisters sneer at her family. But Austen also shows Elizabeth’s impatience with social snobbery – although she is always polite, she also makes clear her feelings. For instance, when Lady Catherine rudely questions her about her family, her replies are courteous but spirited, even defiant. When Wickham tries to act as if nothing has happened, Elizabeth doesn’t let him get away with this but gently reminds him of his actions. Here we could say that, though she doesn’t aggravate conflict, she doesn’t ignore it: she is comfortable with making people feel uncomfortable if she thinks they’ve behaved badly.

In the novel, Austen shows how difficult characters like Mrs Bennet make it for others, but she only condemns characters who deliberately create tension, like Miss Bingley. On the other hand, people like Jane and Mr Bingley, who make an effort to put others of all classes at ease, are praised. But her heroine, Elizabeth, is able to balance courtesy with ‘frankness’ in a way that makes her stand out: she has strong morals but is also kind. Mr Darcy learns courtesy from her.