pride and prejudice :: essays research papers

1) Title: Pride and Prejudice Author’s name: Jane Austen Copyrightdate: 1813 Number of pages:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   480 pages 2) The title Pride and Prejudice refers to the way in which Elizabeth and Darcy first view each other. It is a novel in which the characters learn about themselves and change the first impressions they have formed about each other and the world around them. It is about conquering obstacles and achieving romantic happiness, Darcy being too proud, and being prejudiced about where Elizabeth comes from and Elizabeth thinks Darcy is arrogant and self-centred. Both are forced to come to grips with their own mistakes on their views about each other and finally finding the ability to view the other through unprejudiced eyes. Pride is a feeling of satisfaction that you have because you or people close to you have done something good or possess something good and prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things. 3) The change is caused when Elizabeth receives a letter from Darcy explaining his actions and attempts to answer Elizabeth’s attacks on his behaviour. He also gives his side of the story of Wickham, and his side on why he kept his best friend from making a mistake on marring Elizabeth’s sister Jane and he apologises for this, Darcy also tells her that his cousin will confirm his story. Elizabeth is then forced by Darcy`s letter to rethink her views on Darcy that she misjudged him and that her own pride and vanity were the cause of most misunderstandings. She also now begins to see her family in a different way and accepts their faults. She learns more about herself. 4) †My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? â€Å"Mr Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. – You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you†. And taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to sir William, â€Å"indeed, Sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. -I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner â€Å". Mr Darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honour of her hand; but in vain. Elizabeth was determined: nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.