Written Commentary: Chapter 45
Jane Austen鈥檚 distinctive skill in her writing is demonstrated in Pride and Prejudice. In chapter forty-five Austen demonstrates her diverse writing style, using several literary devices that give the story flavour. These devices are used to give the story a humourous background through the use of devices such as satire which is used to poke fun at the socially absorbed characters such as Miss Bingley, a vivid nature through the use of imagery which describes the Pemberly Estate, and a varied sentence structure and vocabulary through her choice of diction. Austen develops dynamic characters through characterization. These devices create a coherent and structured pattern that promotes understanding.
Chapter forty-five is an imperative turning point. This chapter marks where Mr. Darcy lets go of his pride which caused Elizabeth to reject his proposal. Darcy no longer posed an insulting nature towards Elizabeth nor was he overwhelmed with self-importance. This becomes clear when Miss Bingley insults Elizabeth, saying she has 鈥渟elf-sufficiency without fashion鈥?Mr. Darcy responds 鈥渟he is one of the handsomest women I have ever met鈥?(Pg. 229). Elizabeth began to let go of her prejudice towards Mr. Darcy because she found that Mr. Darcy an amiable man. Elizabeth heard hideous things about him from Wickham showing that a prejudice leaves room for error. Mr. Darcy鈥檚 previous proposal marked a where he let Elizabeth knew how he felt, thus Elizabeth began to admit the feelings she had.
The central device used throughout Pride and Prejudice is satire: a literary tone used to make fun of human vices, with the intent of correcting or changing the subject of attack. Satire allows Austen to poke fun at things she disapproves of. Austen satirizes Miss Bingley, a character who demonstrates her disdain for Elizabeth. Miss Bingley continues to attack Elizabeth and it becomes humourous:
For my own part, I must confess that I could never see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fin, I could never perceive anything extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether, there is self-sufficiency without fashion, which is intolerable. (Pg. 229)
Miss Bingley persistently attempts to bring out bad in Elizabeth; however, Darcy sees the opposite. Darcy sees a compassionate woman. Miss. Bingley attempts to make Elizabeth Bennett appear inferior and beneath her when all she is doing is making herself appear ostentatious and rude. Satire is used to depict Austen鈥檚 dislike of Victorian England鈥檚 social structure. Satire makes the story ironic when we see that the two lovers, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett move past this social structure to find love.
Imagery gives realism to Pride and Prejudice because it appeals to five human senses: sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste. Imagery is demonstrated in Austen鈥檚 attempt to set the scene.
On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows opening to the ground admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts which were scattered over the intermediate lawn. (Pg. 225)
Imagery is used to give the reader sense of presence. The imagery demonstrated in this sentence appeals to the sense of sight. The imagery used in this chapter to describe the Pemberly Estate is used not only to give the reader sense of reality, but to form a connection between the building and its master. As Elizabeth views how beautiful and the Pemberly Estate is Elizabeth seems to fall deeper for Mr. Darcy.
Jane Austen鈥檚 choice of diction is important in outlining structure of the chapter. Austen uses a variety of vocabulary and sentence structure. The structure allows the paragraph to flow. The length of sentences varies and creates a rhythm. Austen鈥檚 vocabulary seems to be archaic which demonstrates the time period in which it was written.
They were noticed only by a curtsy; and on their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a genteel, agreeable looking woman, whose endeavor to introduce some kind of discourse, proved to be more well-bred than either of the others; and between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from Elizabeth, the conversation was carried on. (Pg. 226)
The vocabulary choice seems archaic because in modern English words like 鈥済enteel鈥?and 鈥渁greeable鈥?aren鈥檛 often used. The vocabulary, archaic or not describes aspects that Austen tries to make us see. The choice of diction becomes of crucial importance because it gives personality to the story which influences the reader鈥檚 mind. Also, as seen from the excerpt: the two sentences are of different lengths the first is short the other is quite wordy. This sentence variation gives structure, if short sentences are used excessively then the writing becomes choppy. An excess of wordy sentences becomes distracting. The sentence length allows the reader to flow. Austen鈥檚 diction was chosen to create patterns and meaning from the sentence structure and use of vocabulary.
Austen鈥檚 method of characterization is very effective as the characters are dynamic with distinctive personalities. Mr. Darcy was developed quite a lot in chapter forty-five due to his seemingly sudden shift in character. In previous chapters Mr. Darcy had been very disagreeable towards Elizabeth by being overtly prideful and arrogant. Mr. Darcy became compassionate and caring towards Elizabeth. This shift in character demonstrates how Darcy has strong feelings towards Elizabeth Bennett. Because of Darcy鈥檚 change Elizabeth Bennett rethink鈥檚 her own prejudice towards Darcy. In this shift in characters Austen demonstrates how the two are eventually drawn to each other and are destined to fall in love. As the chapter goes on these tensions increase and it becomes clear how the characters were developed to complement each other in an overall perspective. The characters were written to be the perfect opposites because in the end both have to give up their own prejudice鈥檚 that prevent them from seeing how perfect they are for each other. This shows how Austen carefully constructed and developed these characters because of the simple fact that they complement each other and always have.
Many themes develop throughout Pride and Prejudice, however, the main theme in chapter forty-five is love and what Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett do to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from being together. In this chapter Elizabeth and Darcy move past their preconceived notions to find out that they have feelings for each other. Elizabeth realizes Darcy is not so prideful. Darcy also moves past his initial prejudice towards Elizabeth鈥檚 social class in this chapter that allows him to see many of Elizabeth鈥檚 virtues that he was blind to. However, both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth find difficulty in establishing this relationship that they desire because other鈥檚 resent it. Miss Bingley attempts to break any chance of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy through her snobbish nature and put-downs towards Elizabeth. Her disapproval is demonstrated when she says: 鈥淧ray, Miss Eliza, are not shire Militia removed from Meryton? They must be a great loss to your family鈥?This implies her and Wickham鈥檚 relationship which was brought up to harm Darcy and push him away from Elizabeth. However, as the two overcome these obstacles their relationship shows how nothing can stop people who are truly made for each other.
Throughout chapter forty-five many literary concepts are introduced to present ideas, meaning, flow, and structure. No matter what these elements do they collectively work together to make a functional and understandable piece of literature to convey the central idea that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth move closer towards finding love and happiness. Not only does it show how the two will find love, but it shows how the two move past the social structures and boundaries that prevented them from being together. Chapter forty-five works to provide the central meaning and ideas that make Pride and Prejudice such a compelling love story that shows the significance and power of love. It's very well-written. Don't worry--you have absolutely NOTHING to fear!
Trust me, within a week, your teacher will pass this back to you with comments like "Excellent point!", "Good character analysis!", and "Will you let me keep a copy of this?" sprawled all over the margins. What in the world did you say? |
