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Chen 1 Sunny Chen Ms. Wilson AP English Literature and Composition 16 February, 2014 AP Open Question Essay #1: Pride and Prejud

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Chen 1 Sunny Chen Ms. Wilson AP English Literature and Composition 16 February, 2014 AP Open Question Essay #1: Pride and Prejud Chen 1 Sunny Chen Ms. Wilson AP English Literature and Composition 16 February, 2014 AP Open Question Essay #1: Pride and Prejudice 1976. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to his or her society. In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose. Authors often explore the restrictions of society during their time and the effects they have on their protagonists. Often this requires the characters to go against the rules of society, such as the case of Elizabeth Bennet, the heroine of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Her story is set in the Regency era, a time where appearances—dress, etiquette, relationships, money —meant everything in life, especially for women. Through Elizabeth’s actions, relationships, and interactions with other characters, Austen projects her voice and opinions against such social restrictions. However, she does not argue for the complete breakdown of standard regulations, but rather for a balance between individual and society. Elizabeth exhibits a mental strength that differentiates her from the other women in the story; her revolutionary characteristics are her indirect opposition against society. Despite such opposition, Austen approves of her decisions through her ultimate finding of happiness at the end of the story, implying that her actions are justified against society’s wrongs against women. Chen 2 Elizabeth’s individual strength is primarily shown through her differences with her family. Jane is beautiful and sensible, but not as intelligent. She is also often “honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others”, as Elizabeth remarks when Jane talks with her about her attraction towards Mr. Bingley, stating that she “never [sees] a fault in anybody” and “All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes” (14). Jane therefore represents naivety, a trait that leads her to be too trusting, too willing, which Elizabeth refuses to bow down to. Mary is plain and hardworking, having a “pedantic air and conceited manner” (23). This shows the pressures and expectations of society weighting her down, similar to Elizabeth’s father, who would rather spend time in his study than with the company of others. Both Kitty and Lydia are flighty and unrestrained, the shallowness of typical women during the time, also seen in Mrs. Bennet, who is preoccupied with marrying off her daughters for family appearances. Elizabeth on the other hand, is witty, sarcastic, and flexible of mind, seen through her speech; for example, she remarks to Mr. Darcy, “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women” (35). Her character differences reflect her free thinking and independence as she is unwilling to go along with general flow of society and its respective rules. While Elizabeth’s character is an indirect stance against society, her actions towards Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine is a direct rebellion against society’s values. As the Bennets have no sons, Mr. Collins is the first to receive their estate when Mr. Bennet dies; this already shows the restrictions placed upon women. They are unable to inherit property and are reliant on their husbands to provide for them. By accepting his proposal, Elizabeth would have also succumbed to society’s restrictions. However, she refuses, stating that, he “could not make [her] happy”, showing how she prioritizes her happiness over a secure marriage (93). In her society, marriage was almost always for wealth, where women would sacrifice their happiness for a proper Chen 3 appearance in society. Elizabeth’s refusal symbolizes her opposition to such ideals; her desire for love in marriage represents Austen’s belief that society’s idea of marriage is wrong and that women should be able to strive for what they want. When Lady Catherine confronts Elizabeth about her relationship and plausible marriage to Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth defends herself and refuses to decline any offer from Mr. Darcy. She states, “I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable” (297). As Lady Catherine is against her marrying Mr. Darcy because of their differences in class, Elizabeth’s refusal to oblige with her wishes represents Austen’s belief that class divisions should not come between happy relationships. These ideas of love and happiness support Austen’s approval of Elizabeth’s actions in that while they go against society’s expectations of marriage, they are justified for her strength as a woman. Despite Elizabeth’s strengths and hardened beliefs, she is not without faults as well. This is seen through her relationship with Mr. Darcy, whereby they both have flaws that result from society’s expectations. She is overly quick to judge others, seen from her retaliation at Mr. Darcy’s first proposal, where she condemns “[his] arrogance, [his] conceit, and [his] selfish disdain of the feelings of others” from which she decided upon “from the first moment” she met him (164). Likewise, Mr. Darcy does possess a strong pride, which Elizabeth accurately points out, that stems from his high social class. Her prejudice and his pride—which comprises the title of the book—are only able to be overcome with their growing love, seen when Mr. Darcy says, “’By you I was properly humbled” (308). This subsequently represents their overcoming of society. On the other hand, the book concludes with Elizabeth’s marriage to Mr. Darcy, who is of a higher class. While this could be interpreted as her relinquishing to society’s values, their relationship is, ultimately, a representation of a balance between individual and society. Elizabeth is able to find love and happiness yet still adhere to the guidelines of social expectations on Chen 4 marriage as she married a respectable person. She has also not lost her wit and personality, as it was the “liveliness of [her] mind” that drew Mr. Darcy to her in the first place (317). Austen therefore suggests that a female’s inner strength is the true solution to striving for equality and rights while still being accepted by society. Society is often the margin between what is right and what is wrong. In Pride and Prejudice, society is actually one side of the conflict, with the other being the headstrong Elizabeth. Through her protagonist, Austen argues that the social values that mark her time period are not justified for women, that such expectations become restrictions for free thinking and female empowerment. She hopes for a balance—love, happiness, individuality to create flexible confines of society, which is exactly what Elizabeth finds at the end of her story. .
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