Book Review of Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, published in 1813. It is about the Bennet Family who live at their Longbourn estate, situated near the village of Meryton in England. Mrs Bennet's desire is to marry off her five daughters to secure their futures. The arrival of Mr Bingley, a wealthy bachelor who rents the neighboring Netherfield estate, gives her hope. At a ball, the family is introduced to Mr Bingley, who appears interested in Jane, the eldest Bennet daughter. Mr. Darcy, said to be twice as wealthy as Mr. Bingley, is haughty and aloof, causing a dislike of him. After accusing Elizabeth of not being “handsome enough”, and getting attracted to her, his first proposal for marriage is declined. Darcy then brings Bingley out and away from the Bennets, causing Jane to become heartbroken. After more visits, troubles, and proposals, Elizabeth is surprised by Darcy's behavior and grows fond of him, even coming to regret rejecting his proposal. Finally, after Elizabeth’s sister Lydia runs away, Darcy again proposes to her and is accepted.

Social classes are the individual levels of society that separate people according to their wealth, income, and occupation. The society today and in the past is mainly separated into three main classes, the poor, the middle, and the rich. In the book, different families are separated into each of the three classes. The Darcy, De Bourgh, and Bingley Family are rich; The Bennet, Colins, and Gardner Family are so called middle class; The Lucas and Long Family along with George Wickham are poor. Some people are even able to change their social status. Everyone in the Darcy and De Bourgh family was born rich, and they ended up rich. There are also social climbers, those who go from a lower class to a higher one. Jane & Elizabeth Bennet, Charlotte Lucas, and George Wickham climbed by marriage. The Bingley Family and Mr. Colins climbed by working hard, and finally Miss King who had inheritance. Social immobility is when one doesn’t want to change their class, where one of a high class might not want to marry someone of a lower class. Social classes are usually the standard when deciding the status of one. Although someone is first considered a lower class in the beginning, it doesn’t mean they always have to be a lower class. It's the same for someone with a high class. It doesn't mean that their social status can’t be lowered. The fastest and easiest way to climb to a higher social status is by marriage. When one marries someone of a higher class, they also get added to that. Social classes show and determine the three main levels in society, poor, middle, and rich.

Marriages can happen through many different ways and occur in multiple classes if possible. One of the most important parts in marriages is the classes. Some people have and like having social mobility or moving up classes, or making a match. In the book, a match between marriage happens when it spans only across one class, like the rich marrying the rich and the poor marrying the poor. Mr. Colins and Elizabeth Bennet would be in the same range of marriage if it had succeeded, just like Anne de Bourgh and Mr. Darcy. Social climbing is another tool of marriage. Jane and Elizabeth Bennet both make it from middle to the rich class. George Wickham would have gone from poor to rich if his marriage with Georgiana had succeeded. Charlotte Lucas climbed from poor to middle with her marriage. Some like Lady Catherine De Bourgh, wants her daughter to marry Mr. Darcy. It is also the same with the Marriage of late Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, and the marriage of Sir and Lady De Bourgh. There are also multiple ways to get married, like going to a ball, party, dinner, going on personal endeavors, and simply love. Marriages can happen not only in one class but it can span between two, or even three, if they had succeeded. Different ways of getting engaged can also have effects on it. In some events like parties or balls or dinners, people will get to know each other and be able to get engaged, usually talk and get to know each other before sharing their love. Although marriages can be very perplexing, there are still many ways to get engaged. Marriages are sometimes confusing events that can happen and start in many different methods and can span many areas in society.

The role of females and how they are expected to behave and get treated often differ through different time periods, but there will always be expectations. In some periods, lots, and almost all females had to rely on someone else, mainly males. In the book, which takes place during the Victorian Era, which is from the 1800s to 1900. Back then, like described in the story, many women didn’t have jobs, which meant that they didn’t have any income. Because of that, they had to rely on males. Before the marriage, they will most likely depend on males in the family like siblings or father. After they get married, women will depend on the husband. They can easily be abandoned too. There is a risk of Georgiana eloping with Wickham since he only wants her money. Lydia can also elope with Wickham since she might be abandoned without the help of Mr. Darcy. There are also certain stereotypes for females. Most commonly, they are expected to be versatile, skillful, elegant, good looking, good temper, and have a good social status. Although females often rely on males, they still have great impacts on the society. Most of it also relates to the topic of marriage. Some of the important aspects of life for females usually circle around marriage, like how they rely on male. First they have to rely on their father or a sibling, and after their marriage, females usually rely on their husband. Abandonment is also a key point, especially when a female is taken and elopes with the male, especially when they need support and help from them. The roles of females can be conflicting, usually about marriage, even when they aren’t specifically talking about it.

Social classes, marriage, and the role of females are all detailed and essential aspects of Jane Austen’s famed novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’. Social classes at the time of the novel are divided into three main parts, the rich, middle, and poor. One can also change their social status, like the social climbers, those who go to a higher class, and those who don’t change their social status and stay the same. Marriage can also be related to social classes. There can be a match, where one marries someone of their own class; Social climbers, who go to a higher class by marriage; Social immobility, where one doesn't change their class in marriage. Methods to get married can also differ. One can get engaged with balls, parties, or dinners. They can also try their personal endeavor, or simply love. The roles of females can be more than just the stereotypes of being polite and elegant and having a good social status. A lot of times, they have to rely on males. Despite that, they can also get abandoned by them, which might leave them helpless sometimes.