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Essay / Characterization and irony in Pride and Prejudice back flap of Twayne) through its characters and themes. This essay illustrates how Jane Austen uses main character characterization and irony to depict the theme of societal frailties and vices due to imperfect humanity. Austen writes about the appearance versus reality of characters, the reluctance to believe other characters, the desire to judge others, and the tendency to take people on their first impressions. The main female protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, like many in the company, appears perfect, but is in fact flawed. Austen uses this to show that no one in society is perfect and will never achieve perfection. Elizabeth's major flaw is her ability to make "fundamental errors towards her fellow human beings" (Moler 23). Charlotte Lucas, although her best friend, is even a stranger, as Elizabeth shows no signs of knowing her feelings for Mr. Collins. She did not and could not accept the fact that her best friend was marrying Mr. Collins after the engagement was announced. Society during Austen's time, from 1775 to 1817, put a lot of pressure on women to find a decent husband and the ultimate goal was to get married (Weldon 37). Although she never married, Austen felt the stress her companions placed on her. “Women were born poor, remained poor, and lived well only because of the favor of their husbands” (Weldon 37). Elizabeth is obviously wrong about Charlotte and her need to get married, and doesn't know her and doesn't take the time to get to know her, as a best friend is bound to do. Elizabeth is responsible for...... middle of paper...... 33, pp. 28, 44, 58, 62, 64, 66, 69, 72, 76, 78, 86, 89-90, 92 and 96. Oliphant, Margaret, “Miss Austen and Miss Mitford,” Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. CVII, n° DCLIII, March 1870, pp. 270-313. Pollock, W.F., "British Novelists - Richardson, Miss Austen, Scott", Fraser's Magazine. Flight. LXI, No. CCLLI, January 1860, pp. 20-38. “A Review of “Pride and Prejudice””, Critical Review, Vol. 3, no. 3, March 1813, pp. 318-24.Robinson, Henry Crabb, Henry Crabb Robinson on books and their writers. Flight. I, Edith J. Morley ed., JM Dent & Sons Limited, 1938, p. 227. Scott, Walter, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott: The text revised from a photostat in the National Library of Scotland. Olner and Boyd, 1950, pp. 122-4. Southam, BC, (ed.), Jane Austen: The Critical Heritage. Landon, New York: Routledge and Kegan Paul - Barres & Nobel Inc.., 1968.
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