Courtship is relegated to the periphery of Sense and Sensibility, but it re-assumes a very central position in Pride and Prejudice."It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife".In Jane Austen´s novels difficulties between hero and heroine are usually created, and their final union delayed, by the immaturity that one or both of them brings into their relationship. Pride and Prejudice, however, does not obviously conform to this pattern, in that both Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are extremely mature people by the time that they meet. This uncharastetic immaturity can be explained by the fact that, although each is fairly knowing in the ways of his own social circle, neither has an acurate sense of the other´s. Elizabeth Bennet is firmly located in a world of lesse gentry and bourgeoisie. Lacking any exprerience of the other´s world, each relies on stereotypes; Elizabeth accepts the common view that aristocrats are worthless snobs, and Darcy believes that anyone connected with trade must be vulgar and unworthy of respect. Darcy does indeed quickly come to see some of Elizabeth´s virtues, tries to isolate Elizabeth from her background. and express contempt for the Bennet family and the people of Meryton. By so doing, darcy provides Elizabeth with plenty of evidence to confirm her prejudices. Darcy makes many attempts to approach Elizabeth. Elizabeth rejects him. And that cannot be resolved until each has come to a better understanding of the other´s social group. He fails to recognise that the gentry-middleclass as a whole is worthy of his respect. Until she has arrived at a fair estimation of the environment which has shaped him. Darcy´s meeting with the excellent Gardiners, and Elizabeth´s introduction to Pemberley.The social and the personal are so closely bound together in the relatrionship between Elizabeth and Darcy. Jane Austen tends to suggest that the continuerd moral well-being of society depends on the ability of the gentry to ward off the disruptive influence of the middle class and the aristocracy. The materialism and vulgarity of the bourgeoise are very evidence in Pride and Prejudice. So is the snobbery of the aristocracy. But here people like Charlotte Lucas and Lady catherine de Bourgh represent deviations from the norm of their groups rather than the norm itself. Pride and Prejudice is very cleaner in its structural lines. Readily divides into three sections, each controlled by a different and thematically appropiate social ritual-dancing for the problems of courtship, the visit for the broadening of social horizons, and marriage for the resolution of conflicts. Elizabeth are kept apart by the belief that a deep social rift lies between them. Bingley and Jane illustrate how mistaken they are. His background is in trade, and he has not yet acquired the essential qualification of the gentleman. The Bennets, on the other hand, are a log-established family in possession of an estate. There is, then, much to be gained on both sides from a match between a rising man of fortune and the daughter of a rather faded gentleman.Some education is needed in order that Darcy and Elizabeth might come to recognise society as a network of interconnections broad enough to embrace Darcy´s, Bingleys and Bennets.Emotional liberation begins with Elizabeth´s. Is completed by realisation that Darcy will accept her uncle and aunt, whom she had believed would be lost to her is she married him.Lydias´s elopement. Jane austen delays her main action in this way so that Darcy´s acceptance of the Bennets might be fully tested. Far from rejecting the Bennet family, he demonstrates an active concern with their affairs by becoming involved in the search for Lydia and Wickham.At the end all conflicts and misunderstandings have been resolved, and Darcy and Elizabeth have been placed firmly at the centre of a world characterised by a sense of order and harmony. This union of aristocracy and gentry-middle class is not achieved easily; but it is possible, the two groups are united by a shared ideal of concern for others.

Copyright©David Monaghan 1980

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