1 1 jane austen's pride and prejudice - usd
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JANE AUSTEN’S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: A REFLECTION OFBRITISH SOCIETY AS THE RESULT OF INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
IN THE LATE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirementsfor the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
NI KETUT HERNI PRABAWATHI
Student Number : 034214135
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMMEDEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERSSANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA2008
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This thesis is dedicated toIda Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa
My beloved parentsMy beloved sisters and brother
My wings
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH
UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama : Ni Ketut Herni Prabawathi
Nomor Mahasiswa : 03421413
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberian kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: A Reflection of British Society as the
Result of Industrial Revolution in the Late of Eighteenth Century.
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan
data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau
media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya
maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 13 Februari 2008
Yang menyatakan
Ni Ketut Herni Prabawathi
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In finishing this thesis, the writer should pass many processes and sherealizes that they could not be passed if there were no help from others. How gladshe is when this thesis was finished and she expresses her gratitude to all peoplethat directly or indirectly have given a hand her study during her study in collegefor four and a half year in finishing her undergraduate thesis. She would like tothank:
1. The owner of this life, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. She thanks Him for Hismagnificent works and endless miracles in her life. She deeply believes thatHe makes everything wonderful for her in a perfect time because He neverleaves her alone.
2. Her advisor, Dra. Enny Anggraini, M. A., for guidance and valuable advicesto her. She thanks her for patiently read, reread and suggest many ideas duringthe writing process of this thesis.
3. Her co-advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum, for giving her somesuggestion in this thesis.
4. Adventina Putranti, S.S., M.Hum., for lending her The Oxford Companionto Philosophy.
5. Her great family: her beloved parents (I Ketut Bangli and Ni Ketut Sayang),Sisters (Ni Kadek Veni Iriani, S.E., and Ni Made Yunny Kurniawathi,S.T.), and brother (I Ketut Agus Widhi Yoga Nugraha), for their many yearsof love, support and prays. They truly are angels.
6. The heart of Bali, for these magic words “When there's no one else lookinside yourself just trust the voice within then you'll find the strength”.
7. I made Ari Mahendra Dwi Putrawan, S.T., for his wings are always aroundher. She believes that she needs him every time because without his wings,she feels so small. God must have spent a little more time on him as a greatpresent for her.
8. Wahyu Adi Putra Ginting, for all supports and kindness that always comesin time and for coloring her life. He is ‘such’ a beautiful disaster.
9. Her cousin, I Ketut Pica, for being the best cousin in the world.10. Diva-team, Moli, Michelle, Mbak Ocha and Ninik, for all supports and
laughter. They are beautiful, that is for sure!11. The twins, Mei and Dik Ari, and Mbak Nina, for the simply love, care, and
wonderful moments. She thanks them for giving her the tears of joy for all ofthe pleasure.
12. Her friends in the 2003 English Letters especially Sastra MungilCommunity. She thanks to Nani and Leni (they are the best), Inop, Maya,Ike, Sondang, Dewi, Afrill, Agnes, Intan, Cisil, Cita, Clara, Ony, Abit,Tio, Demus, Muji, Daud, Mando, Dean, Yacko, and Bigar.
Ni Ketut Herni Prabawathi
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PageTitle page.............................................................................................................iApproval page ....................................................................................................iiAcceptance page............................................................................................... iiiDedication page………………………………………………………………….ivLembar Pernyataan Persetujuan Publikasi Karya Ilmiah UntukKepentingan Akademis ………………………………………………………….vAcknowledgements ...........................................................................................viTable of Contents .............................................................................................viiAbstract ............................................................................................................. ixAbstrak ................................................................................................................x
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................1A. Background of the Study............................................................1B. Problem Formulation .................................................................4C. Objectives of the Study ..............................................................5D. Definition of Terms....................................................................5
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW......................................................6A. Review of Related Studies .........................................................6B. Review of Related Theories .....................................................10
1. Theory on Character and Characterization..........................102. Theory of Setting ...............................................................123. The Relation between Literature and Society......................134. British Society in the late Eighteenth Century ....................14
C. Theoretical Framework ............................................................21
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY................................................................23A. Object of the Study ..................................................................23B. Approach of the Study .............................................................25C. Method of the Study.................................................................26
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS.............................................................................28A. The Analysis on the Society in Pride and Prejudice ................28
1. The Analysis on the Society through Setting ........................292. The Analysis on the Society through Characters...................31
B. The Reflection of British Society As the Result of IndustrialRevolution in the Late eighteenth Century……………….….. 421. The Existence of Class distinction .....................................422. The Rise of Materialism ....................................................503. The Rise of Individualism ..................................................58
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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION .......................................................................67
BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................73APPENDIX: Summary of Pride and Prejudice……………………………… 75
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ABSTRACT
Ni Ketut Herni Prabawathi (2007). Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: AReflection of British Society As the Result of Industrial Revolution in theLate eighteenth Century. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty ofLetters, Sanata Dharma University.
In this thesis, the writer is going to analyze the society that is reflected inJane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as a result of Industrial Revolution in the lateeighteenth century. There are two objectives presented in the novel, namely (1) todescribe the society of Pride and Prejudice and (2) to figure out in what ways thenovel depicts British society as the result of Industrial Revolution in the lateeighteenth century. The writer conducts a library research and utilizes theSociocultural- historical approach to know further about the society and its historyas the background of the story. After conducting the analysis, it is found that, as the answer for the firstproblem formulation. The description of Pemberley house as one of the setting ofplaces in Pride and Prejudice shows how the luxury becomes an important aspectfor the upper class people. Meanwhile, the description of the society throughcharacters is indicated by the existence of upper class and middle class society.Upper class, as depicted in the novel, tend to be arrogant, hypocrite, and full ofpride (Caroline Bingley and Lady Chaterine de Bourgh). However, there are alsothe upper class people characterized in the novel who commit positive acts inmaintaining their social class (Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley). Meanwhile, it isfound that there are two types of middle class people depicted in the novel: thosewho feel satisfied with their condition since they regard that they should haveequal position in society (Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Bennet) and those who feelunsatisfied with their condition and tend to permit many ways to make theirposition equal with the upper class people (Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet, CharlotteLucas, and Mr. Wickham). Fulfilling the second objective of the study, the writer finds that theexistence of class distinction, the rise of materialism, and the rise of individualismare the effects of industrial revolution towards the British society reflected in thenovel. The existence of class distinction is reflected in the attitudes and actions ofthe upper class people in showing their superiority to keep their existence as highclass people. In addition to that, the attitudes of middle class people in trying to beequal in every values of life to the upper class as the result of class struggle canalso be considered as an indicator of the existence of class distinction. As theresult of economic condition in Industrialization, The rise of materialism isreflected through the condition of the society and the characters in viewingmarriage as business contract or finding a wealthy husband or wife as a way tosecure their finance. The rise of individualism is reflected in Elizaberh Bennet’sperspectives on marriage, education, and position for women in the society.
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ABSTRAK
Ni Ketut Herni Prabawathi (2007). Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: AReflection of British Society As the Result of Industrial Revolution in the Lateeighteenth Century. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra,Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa masyarakat yang digambarkandalam novel Pride and Prejudice karya Jane Austen sebagai dampak dari revolusiindustri pada akhir abad ke delapan belas. Ada dua objektif dalam skripsi ini,yaitu (1) untuk memaparkan kehidupan masyarakat dalam novel dan (2) untukmemahami bagaimana novel tersebut menggambarkan kehidupan masyarakatInggris sebagai dampak dari revolusi industri pada akhir abad ke delapan belas.Penulis menggunakan studi pustaka dan pendekatan sociocultural-historical gunamemberi gambaran mengenai sejarah yang melatar belakangi cerita.
Setelah melakukan analisis, sebagai jawaban dari permasalahan pertama,diketahui bahwa masyarakat digambarkan melalui seting dan tokoh-tokoh yangada dalam cerita. Gambaran rumah Pemberley sebagai salah satu seting tempat dinovel yang menunjukkan bagaimana kemewahan menjadi aspek terpenting bagimasyarakat kelas atas. Sementara itu, masyarakat melalui tokoh-tokoh ditandaidengan adanya pembagian masyarakat kelas atas dan menengah. Kelas atas,seperti yang digambarkan dalam novel, cenderung arogan, munafik, dan penuhkeangkuhan (Caroline Bingley and Lady Chaterine de Bourgh). Terdapat jugakelas atas yang digolongkan sebagai orang-orang dengan perilaku positif dalammenyikapi kelas mereka (Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley). Sementara itu, terdapat duagolongan menengah yang digambarkan dalam novel: orang-orang yang puasdengan kondisi mereka karena menganggap kelas menengah mempunyaikedudukan yang sama di masyarakat (Elizabeth Bennet dan Jane Bennet) danorang-orang yang tidak puas dengan kondisi mereka dan cenderung menghalalkansegala cara untuk menyetarakan kedudukan dengan kelas atas (Mr. Collins, Mrs.Bennet, Charlotte Lucas, and Mr. Wickham).
Dalam menyelesaikan objektif kedua, penulis menemukan bahwaeksistensi perbedaan kelas, peningkatan materialisme, dan peningkatanindividualisme adalah dampak dari revolusi industri terhadap masyarakat Inggrisyang tercermin dalam novel. Eksistensi pebedaan kelas direfleksikan dalamperilaku kelas atas dengan menunjukkan kekuasaan mereka sebagai bentukmempertahankan eksistensi. Di samping itu, perilaku kelas menengah yangmencoba sejajar di setiap aspek kehidupan menjadi sebuah indikatordari eksistensiperbedaan kelas. Sebagai dampak ekonomi dari era industri, Peningkatanmaterialisme direfleksikan melalui tokoh-tokoh dalam memandang pernikahansebagai kontrak bisnis atau pencarian suami atau istri yang kaya sebagai jalanuntuk menjamin keuangan mereka. Peningkatan individualisme direfleksikandalam pemikiran-pemikiran Elizabeth dalam menyikapi pernikahan, pendidikan,dan status sosial.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Novel is one of modern literary genres (Rohrberger and Woods, 1971:
19). By reading a novel, readers can get many things. Readers can get many
pleasures, experiences, knowledge, and many values of human life. Reading a
novel, readers can understand what is told and described by the author of the
novel. In a novel, readers can find some aspects which are similar to those of a
real life. They are, for example, society, people/characters, and their problems.
Human beings are destined to live in a society, which is the same as a character in
a novel. A character in a novel must also live in a society.
Wellek and Warren in The Theory of Literature say that literature is the
representation of life, or in other words, literature represents life. Life has a large
measurement which covers a social reality (1956: 94). In other words, everyone is
able to produce, or create, a work of literature depending on both temporal and
spatial location where she or he lives. A dramatist, like a poet or a novelist, is
creating his own language of his work, the work whose basis is from his own
experiences. Furthermore, the language will express the life if it is stated in the
performance’s term. Any kinds of changes in the society will also influence the
artistic sense of art.
Austen’s Pride and Prejudice clearly shows the way of life on the society
in the late eighteenth century. Seeing the time in which Jane Austen wrote the
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novel, it is doubtless that the way Austen created the society in the novel wa
considerably influenced by the condition of the society at that time. The late of the
eighteenth century, according to Arnstein in Britain Yesterday and Today; 1830 to
the Present, was the time in which England faced the Industrial revolution.
Arnstein said that Industrial revolution was in contrast with the previous age, the
Victorian era; years of prosperity of agriculture and social harmony between
classes. The social life such as: the necessity for a high degree of Individualism at
home, free trade abroad, and progress in human affairs were accepted uncritical
by the society. Many Britons, but never all, lived in balancing between a pleasing
sense of self-confidence and complacency (1984: 71).
On the other hand Arnstein adds, industrialization had come to be accepted
as a way of life and the predominance of an urban civilization assured, it was
becoming clear that the economic revolution would bring not social confusion and
bloodshed, nor even an easily discernible ‘triumph of the middle classes’, but
instead a far more gradual and peaceful readjustment of social groups and a
widespread survival of habits, occupations, and in institutions from earlier
centuries (1984: 72).
From a brief explanation about the condition of England in the late
eighteenth century above, it can be seen that Industrial revolution influences the
society. The change of the society in terms of attitudes, ideas or perceptions, and
even morality, tends to become some prominent effects. Society, as Jane Austen
shares in this novel, is the society that holds an important rule in every aspect such
as, hypocrisy, social class, and marriage, as the answers of unstable condition at
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that time. Pride and Prejudice is a reflection of British society in the late
eighteenth century that Austen explores with romantic atmosphere. Social life is
undoubtedly illustrated in this novel by each personal character.
In Society in the Novel, Langland states that the famous opening of Pride
and Prejudice, for instance, establishes a description of a society immediately: ‘It
is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good
fortune must be in want of a wife” (1984: 26). The irony here is that society needs
to perpetuate its structure through marriages among those of a certain class, and
an individual needs to realize himself in that same institution that assures society’s
continuance.
Moreover, in her book she mentions the aspects of society criticized in
Austen’s novels:
Social events – parties, balls, assemblies, dinners, enable us to measureindividual moral natures and growth as when Darcy applauds Elizabeth’sAnd Jane’s behavior at the Netherfield Ball, recognizing that ‘to haveconducted yourselves as to avoid any share of the like censure (which hasfallen on parents and sisters), is praise no less generally bestowed on youand your eldest sister, than it is honorable to the sense and disposition ofboth (1984: 28)
From the quotation above we can say that through social events: parties, balls,
assemblies, dinner, give us opportunities to measure individual moral nature in
which individual merit is revealed, explore, and evaluated. Darcy recognized that
the way Elizabeth and Jane conduct themselves in good ways can avoid any
censures which has fallen on parents and sisters because of their bad behaviors.
The temporal background of Austen’s novel is the late eighteenth century
that indicates a particular period of era where people are trying to have a good
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status or financial security, for instance through marriage, to maintain their hard
life because of the tension condition of Industrialization that influence their class,
financial, and social life . Pride and Prejudice is a pursuit of human welfare to
face the industrialization period that change some social aspects in the society.
Pursuit constructs a concept of thinking such as to start keeping in their mind that
land gives its owner social status, but its financial value lays less in farm products
than in the coal or iron that might be found beneath. It brought people at that
period of time to a kind of depressive circumstance and forced them to do
anything for their financially good life. They even committed embarrassing things
to reach their aims.
Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is an appropriate work to analyze. By using
the historical background in the late eighteenth century as a guide, the writer tries
to explore the condition of society in England in the late eighteenth century. In
what ways the society is reflected in the novel, is a question which the writer tries
to answer related to the problems in her thesis.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the background the writer formulates two questions as problems
to answer in the analysis, these two questions are;
1. How is the society in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice described?
2. In what way is the British society in the late eighteenth century reflected in
the novel?
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C. Objectives of the Study
The research mainly aims to answer the two problems stated in the
problem formulation above. In brief, this thesis aims and understands further
about the society in the novel through setting and characters that occurred in the
British society’s life in Pride and Prejudice.
The second point is to know in what ways the condition of British society
is reflected in the novel using the historical background of England in the late
eighteenth century.
D. Definition of Terms
1. Society
According to Elizabeth Langland in Society in the Novel, society in the
novel is an imitation of an outside world (1984: 5). Respectively, the concept of
society in a novel also shares the same quality with the real people. Society in a
novel is a construction of life in a piece of literary work, which of course,
represents the real life
2. Industrial Revolution
According to Arnstein in Britain Yesterday and Today; 1830 to the
Present, Industrial revolution is the development of Britain into industrial
societies in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (1984: 73). Britain becomes a
great country with a capital city of two and a half million inhabitants with huge
factory towns and gave significant effects toward the social life of British people.
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Jane Austen was born on 19 December 1775. Before she had reached
seventeen, she had written many sketches, short comedies, and tales. Around the
year of 1796 she began her first novel; Lady Susan. Shortly afterwards, she started
Sense and Sensibility, entitled in its version Elinor and Marianne. In 1796 she
finished First Impressions which she later developed into Pride and Prejudice
followed by Northanger Abbey (Susan), Persuasion, The Watsons, and Emma.
First Impressions, which later was developed into Pride and Prejudice is
usually considered to be Austen's most popular novel. The novel, published in
1813, is Jane Austen's earliest work, and in some senses is also one of her most
mature works. The original version of the novel was probably written in the form
of an exchange of letters. This novel creates Elizabeth Bennet as the heroine, who
makes the work perfect. She provokes women to show their existence in society
and to prove that all characters are the same in the universe (Society in the Novel,
1984: 10)
Sanders in his book entitled The Short Oxford History of English
Literature, states that the upper-middle-class world of Pride and Prejudice is seen
as being secured in its value, its privileges, and its pride. It is a society which
defines itself very precisely in terms of land, money, and class (1984: 369). Pride
and Prejudice has its own character as a novel which is influenced by the
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condition when Jane Austen wrote the novel. Undoubtedly, many values in the
society such as land, class, and money, occur to create an excellent work.
Sanders also writes that Pride and Prejudice is first impressions, illusions,
and subjuctive opinions or prejudices that give way to detachment, balance,
reasonableness and, more painfully, to humiliating reassesment. More cleverness,
wit, or spontaneity, though admirable in themselves, are never allowed to triumph
without being linked to some steadier moral assurance (1984: 370). Jane Austen’s
book attempts to illustrate, to interpret, and to understand life more fully. Jane
Austen’s writing contains an element of disagreement when she presents a society
with the situation around them that is full of admiration for land, money, and class
without considering it to the steadier moral assurance.
Pride and Prejudice is not only a great novel to read but also an interesting
work to be analyzed. Here, the writer reviews four deep analyses about Jane
Austen’s Pride and Prejudice done by students of English Letters Department and
students of English Department of Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta. They
analyzed elements in the novel such as theme, biographical background,
feminism, and motivation of marriage. They were approved and successfully
defended.
Studying about theme through the plot and the character of Pride and
Prejudice, Sriyatun, in her thesis The Study of Theme Developed from Plot and
Character in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, states that the plot of this novel
is the chronology of the events, which have been related closely to the main
character. As the primary character, Elizabeth dominates all happenings from the
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beginning to the end of the work. She is the key of the forming of the central idea.
The theme itself is “a middle class young woman with good principal
personalities succeeds in arising her self-respect and reducing the discrimination
performed by the highest class” (2000:58).
In addition to Elizabeth Bennet character, Sriyatun says that Elizabeth has
made her own life meaningful with her strengths and weaknesses. She has
intelligence and her way in viewing of something is a little bit different from other
girls of her age. When she is certain that what she does is right, with confidence,
she will be encouraged to keep on doing it.
Giving opinion about ‘Marriage’ as one of the central topic, Chatarina Sri
Lestari, in her thesis The Influence of Jane Austen’s View toward Motivations of
Marriage in England in the Late Eighteenth Century upon Elizabeth Bennet in
Pride and Prejudice, says that both financial and social motivations are the main
motivation of marriage existing in the society of the novel. This makes marriage
misleadingly becomes a woman’s chief aim. However, the motivation of marriage
in which marriage should be best based on the mutual feeling, understanding and
respect, influences Elizabeth Bennet (2001: 57).
In Dwi Utami’s An Analysis of Austen’s Biographical Background in
Writing Pride and Prejudice, it is stated that the character of Elizabeth Bennet in
Pride and Prejudice has similarities to the character of Jane Austen. Jane Austen
is a middle class woman. Though not precisely the same, Jane Austen really uses
some fragments in her own life that share to the content of the novel (2000: 53).
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Discussing about the practices of feminism which appear in the novel,
Nurmala Citra Dewi, in her thesis The Practices of Feminism as Seen Through
Elizabeth Bennet, the Main Character of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, says
that Elizabeth can prove that she can resist the connections which society seems to
be prescribing for her and make a new connection of her own. One is not made in
response to society’s controlling power but freely to make her own decision
according to the dictates of their judgment, reason, and emotions (2003: 58-59).
By seeing those deep analyses about Pride and Prejudice, the writer finds
that some of existing comments seem to talk about the influences of Jane Austen
toward the main character, Elizabeth Bennet: how some elements in Jane Austen’s
life occur in the character of Elizabeth. Other theses focus on the development of
the main character as the central discussion of their thesis and the setting as a
supporting element in analyzing the characters without restricting what kind of
setting that the writer dealt with. Meanwhile, the writer in this thesis intends to
discuss more about the condition of British society that is reflected in the novel
related to the historical background of the late eighteenth century in England. In
the novel, the writer will explore the society that faced Industrial revolution which
economically and socially gave many influences to their life. Jane Austen is
taking social problems which happen as the effects of the Industrialization
reflected in Pride and Prejudice.
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B. Review of Related Theories
To support the study, that would deal with the topic of Jane Austen’s Pride
and Prejudice: a reflection of British society in the late eighteenth century, the
writer would like to use some necessary theories as follows.
1. Theory on Character and Characterization
A person in a dramatic or narrative work who naturally possesses moral,
dispositional, and emotional qualities that all are reflected in the dialogue and the
action among the person is a definition of character according to Abrams in A
Glossary of Literary Terms (1993:20). It is obvious that the character’s
appearance in a literary work can extremely help the readers understand what is
really going on in the literary work, as well as what qualities lie behind their
representation.
In understanding the characters, the readers should know what the
character says, what the character does, what other characters say about the
character, and what the other characters do. These elements are very important to
analyze the characters (Barnet, 1988: 712). This theory can be utilized since the
basic characteristics of the character can give us clues to understand the character
and it also determines the further actions of the characters in the story.
According to Stanton, the term “character” can be the actors in the story
and the characteristics of the characters. Also, the actors have the relationships
with the characteristics they have (1965: 17). It can be assumed that the people
appearing in a story with their behaviors and thoughts are the characters. They are
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related to each other and they have the main character to be the focus while the
plot and conflicts come, arise, and are solved.
Discussing more about character is as important as discussing the
characterization. Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature state that
characterization is the creation of playwright’s imagination about character as real
human being, so that they exist for the audience or reader as lifelike (1986: 81). In
creating a character, the author usually uses real human, completed with his
behavior and attitudes as a mirror to form and characterize the character. The
readers will imagine the characters as well as they think about the real human.
Characterization refers to the representation of person in narrative of
dramatic works (Baldick,1991: 34), while Perrine mentions that character in a
story can be presented through direct presentation and indirect presentation (1974:
68-69). In direct presentation, the author simply tells the readers about the
characters of the story. He tells the qualities of the characters in exposition and
analysis, or in the other hand, he has someone else in the story who tells us what
they are like. In indirect presentation, the personality of the characters can be
more convincing, as it is shown by speaking and action he or she teaches (1974:
68-69). It means that there are many ways to represent a person in the story. It can
be direct presentation and or indirect presentation that guide the reader to know
the person deeply. Exposition, analysis, and the use of other characters telling
about the imaginary person are known as direct presentation, while indirect
presentation can be seen from the actions and statements of the characters
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Holman and Harmon also state that character and characterization are
related and cannot be separated from each other. The author always reveals the
characters of imaginary person in the story, and then it is called characterization.
In other words, characterization can be defined as the creation of imaginary
person so that they exist for the reader as if the people in real life (1986: 81). It
means that, in the novel, the characters’ actions and interaction, albeit fictional,
can actually be the same as what happens in real life.
2. Theory of Setting
In a literary work such as novel, setting is very important. Guth, in his
book The Literary Heritage says that setting is the time and place of the events of
a story. Often the setting helps shape the characters and events. Village or city,
north or south, poor or wealthy neighborhood, mountain country or coast—all
these help decide how people live (1981: 729). It means that the setting of a story
may create an event in which the characters are involved. They help decide what
people will be like and what is the most important thing in their lives.
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature, describe setting as the
physical, sometimes the spiritual background against which the action of a
narrative (novel, drama, short story, poem) takes place (1986: 465). Holman and
Harmon give some elements to make up the setting. They are:
a. The actual geographical location, its topography, scenery, and such physical
arrangement as the location of the windows and doors in a room.
b. The occupation and daily manner of living of the characters.
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c. The time/period in which the action take place, for example epoch in
history/season of the year.
a. The general environment of the characters for examples religious, mental,
social and emotion conditions through which the people in the narrative move
(1986: 467).
According to De Laar, the action of a novel or a plot must take place
somewhere and sometimes even shape it. The characters in the novel do things
like people in the real world. De Laar also mentions the setting as scene, which
has functions in the novel. (1963: 172). Furthermore, he says that, like the
characters of the novel, scene must be drawn somehow from real life. Setting has
or important function in identifying the type of a novel because through setting
the author can create events and characters in the novel. In writing a novel, the
character’s behaviors and attitudes are related to the setting. An author may decide
kind of characters he or she wants to be created based on the place and time he
used as the setting.
3. The Relation between Literature and Society
Dobriner in his book Social Structures and Systems; A Sociological Overview,
states that society is similar to community in which a survival system and the
totality of relationships which it subsumes can theoretically go on forever.
However, society is more inclusive than community in that functional
interdependence (1966: 255).
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According to Wellek and Warren, Literature has a social function, or ‘use’,
which cannot be purely individual. Thus a large majority of the questions raised
by literary studies are, at least ultimately or by implication, social question;
questions of tradition and convention, norms and genres, symbols and myths
(1956: 94).
Wellek and Warren add that the actual relation between literature and society
is divided into three divisions of problems questioning about how far literature is
actually determined by or dependent on social condition, on social changes and
development. Those three divisions are social life of the author, the social content
of the work itself and their influence on the literary work of the society (1956:
95). It means that the relation between literature and society can be clarified by
the explanation of social life of the author, social content that occurs in a literary
work and also effects that are caused by literary work of the society.
Since every writer is a member of society, he can be studied as a social being.
The writer has been a citizen, has pronounced on questions of social and political
importance, and has taken part in the issues of his or her time.
4. British Society in the Late Eighteenth Century
A change in the society also influences the literature. The late eighteenth
century is marked by engine discoveries in which the society’s life concerns about
land, money and class as the result of Industrial Revolution happened in Britain.
Then, to relate the society with literature is not too difficult because both of them
have struck contemporaries as outward and visible sign of the spirit of age
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(Rogers, 1987: 327). The society, which is influential in the authors work,
becomes one part of the work itself. The novel, Pride and Prejudice, can also be
said as a mirror of British society in the late eighteenth century.
Then, related to Pride and Prejudice, the world is like a reflection of
changing society in Jane Austen’s era. The late eighteenth century was the time
when British society faced a new condition in their life that was contradictory to
the previous condition. The condition is described as the time when Victorian
period, the time when agriculture played an important role in the British society,
was replaced by Industrialization, a manufacturing system. This changing
influenced the society to adjust their life for survival and it created many changes
in terms of attitudes, behaviors, and the goals of life. The condition and the
changes that occurred in the society in England in the late eighteenth century will
be explained clearly sub-chapter.
a. Industrial Society
After Europe left the Romanticism Era, Revolution Era began in 1849
which was also described as a period of the Classical Age or Mid Victorian in the
nineteenth century, the phase of middle class domination, comfortable bourgeois
virtues, industrialism and free trade, political stability with an undercurrent of
working class distress. Victoria is the personification of the bourgeois virtues that
reigned only in Great Britain, but can lead Great Britain into the industrial age
(1966: 257)
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According to Bowyer and Brooks, Industrialization is a changing in a
system of manufacture with the system of machine in factories congregated in
newly industrial cities (1954: 13). Properties became transformed from a symbol
of rank to an instrument of power growing steadily in strengths and effectiveness
as the result of Industrial Revolution, Britain becomes ‘the workshop of the
world’. In 1855 onward, a market and increasing excess of imports over the
world’s carrying trade were rising and Britain capital was earning greater
dividends by financing developments overseas, especially in South America,
China, Africa, Canada and Australia, and also Europe because Britain developed
in the engineer of railway system. Supplying and exporting machinery and
materials Britain also helped other countries equip their industry and transport.
Ralf Dahrendorf in his book Class and Class Conflict in Industrial Society,
states that there are consequences of industrialization, both positive effects and
negative effects. Before industrialization, British society’s life was presented in
term of wealth and poverty, domination and subjection, property and
propertylessness, high and low prestige. Thus it might appear as if all the
industrial revolution affected was to replace old social strata by new ones;
landowner and nobility by capitalist, laborers and small peasants by proletarians
(1959: 4-5)
There are some changes of the condition in the British society as the result
of Industrial Revolution:
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a. The Existence of Class Distinction
In many circumstances, class distinction existed strongly. The extreme
difference between wealth and poverty, comfort and squalor were clear. Buckler,
Hill, and McKay state that the living conditions among social classes in Britain
were very different (1981: 1066). According to Moore, there was a huge gap
between the rich and the poor. The invention of the steam engine and the
machines for manufacturing gave way to many distinctions (1963: 5). In the
emerging industrial society, the traditional idea of class diversity which was
concerned with birth, manners and learning, was weakened by the divisions of
society on the basis of income and occupation. Therefore, the social classes based
on the income and occupation arose gigantically: the upper class, middle class,
and working class.
i. The Upper Class
The Upper class was the richest class that had the influence upon the
economic, politic, military and intellectual policies. The Upper family lived in
luxury and idleness. A prosperous English family or the Upper class people, spent
more than $ 10,000 a year (1966: 102). It spent their income on ten servants: a
man servant, a cook, a kitchen maid, two housemaid, a serving maid, a governess,
a gardener, a coachman, and a stable boy. They enjoyed music and theatre in
luxurious hall every weekend and spending on food was great because the dinner
party was this class’s favored social occasion.
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ii. The Middle Class
The Middle class composed mainly of the most successful business family
from banking, industry, and large commerce. The large number of servants was a
very important indicator of wealth and standing for the middle. The sign of real
wealth in a middle class household was a male servant. Food was the largest item
of the households budget. They usually would settle the dinner party once a
month. Food and servants absorbed about a half of the income. Education was
another growing expense as middle class parents tried to provide their children
with ever-more-crucial advanced education (1966: 114)
iii. The Working Class
Many members of the working class were people whose livelihood
depended on physical labor, who did not employ domestic servants as the upper
and middle class who had levels of livings and education. They were usually
recent migrants who came from rural areas to the city. Domestic service was hard
work at low pay with limited personal independence. For the full-time general
maid in a lower-middle-class family, there was an unending routine by baby
sitting, shopping, cooking and cleaning. (1966: 125)
b. The Rise of Materialism
According to Honderich in The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, he
states that materialism is the attitudes of someone that is connected with the
bodily pleasures, or the possession of material goods, or else with such things as
money, thought of as a means to such pleasures and goods (1995: 531). A
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materialistic person pursues desires and passions which must be identical with
something material contains money and material possessions.
Since Industrial Revolution occurred, the economic life changed
constantly and rapidly. Economy grew faster than ever before, but economic
progress and the prosperity merely could be felt by the upper and middle class
who were landowners and employers. On the contrary, it constituted the year of
suffering and deprivation to the poor, or working class, who lived under pitiful
condition and under the power of the elite class.
Wilbert E. Moore in his book Social Change states that for economic
organization, Industrialization entailed a reduction in the proportion in agriculture.
The application of modern methods to agriculture reduced the direct labor demand
for production but increased unskilled workers in developing industrial societies.
This condition rose minimum and average per-capita income for unskilled
workers (1963: 99).
Since human laborers lost their job and income, their life was even more
depressing. Only had the upper and middle classes benefited material wealth. It
means that the sense of prosperity was not shared by all the people. The upper
class wanted to gain money in order to be richer. By having a lot of money, the
upper class will be more respected by other people, particularly people who were
lower than their social status. Meanwhile the lower or working class merely
wanted to gain money in order to improve and support their financial life, so they
could live in a proper way.
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This economical factor forced people to find ways for the sake of financial
security. Marriage can be a choice for both men and women in England to obtain
that financial security during this era. They based their choice on the most
profitable one. It was also supported by paternalism system in the society. Any
property that a woman possessed before her marriage automatically became her
husband’s. This raised a phenomenon that a man married a woman only for the
sake of the woman’s money, and a woman marries a man who has large fortunes
for her financial security.
c. The Rise of Individualism
According to Honderich in The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, he
states that Individualism is a view that gives primary moral value to individual
human being. In the other words, concerning that the person has respect toward
his own independence as the individual human being (1995: 404). The person
tends to behave in his own way which holds independently of his relation to his
physical and social environment rather than imitating them.
Industrial revolution created changes in economy, politic, and the other
aspects of human life. One of the aspects was the changing position of women in
society. The idea of second-class people for woman gradually eroded. For
example, marriage by arrangement gradually disappeared and it was changed by
the freedom to choose a mate. The social position of women may actually be
stronger. As the family in the condition of technology development, they need to
be an economically productive unit. They found the possibilities of female
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employment and some greater freedom of movement, and these possibilities
created independent women with their own authorities. Besides their
responsibilities to take care of their children, they also could produce a family
income (1963: 103). Women realized that they had to emancipate from the myth
of inferiority and to realize their abilities and skills to the fullest. They realized
that they practically had equal opportunities with men to develop their capacities
C. Theoretical Framework
Literature can be a mirror of life because it reflects many aspects of life.
From literature, we do not only read a fiction but also learn so many values of life
such as: friendship, freedom, the right to life, and the morality, which could be
applied in our daily life.
Meanwhile, the essence of literary analysis is the process of gathering data
from a piece of literary work and analysis. In the process of the analysis, since the
discussion is done scientifically, therefore, some theories might be needed. This
research needs theories of character and characterization, and setting, because the
society can be analyzed through the character and setting. By applying those
theories and reviews about British society in the late eighteenth century, they can
be used as a framework to help us see and understand in what ways British society
in the late eighteenth century is reflected in Pride and Prejudice. The theories that
are explained in this chapter work would help the analysis in the next chapter in
order to make the analysis acceptable.
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The study of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, using the society as the
main focus of analysis is able to cover certain aspects of life. There are several
different perspectives to view this novel; a few of them might be from aspect
history, social criticism, or human morality. The writer has chosen certain aspects
in discussed in her research and expose the certain approach, and decide what
theories and approach to be used.
In answering the problem formulations, the writer also bases the analysis
on the theories of character and characterization and setting, the writer wants to
analyze kind of society that occurs in the novel, which will be the answer of first
problem formulation. Supported by the reviews of British society in the late
eighteenth century, the writer wants to analyze the society that is reflected in the
novel among British society as the result of Industrialization. The description of
how changes in a specific condition; agriculture to industry, gives big effects to
British society’s attitudes, behaviors, and the way to maintain their life will be the
answer of the second problem formulation. In the end, the result of the analysis is
helpful to prove the fact that Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is actually
depicting a reflection of British society as the result Industrialization in the late
eighteenth century.
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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The literary work that is going to be analyzed in this study is Jane
Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the fifth edition. This novel was written in 1776
with the original title First Impression and the copy studied in the research was
published by J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Her success in writing Sense and
Sensibility in 1811 was continued by the real publication of Pride and Prejudice
which consists of 351 pages, divided into 61 chapters and recognized as Jane
Austen’s greatest achievement.
Pride and Prejudice is set primarily in the country of Hertfordshire, about
50 miles outside of London. The novel is started with a conversation at
Longbourn, the place where a middle class family, the Bennets, lives in a form of
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their five daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and
Lydia. Mrs. Bennet, whose obsession is to find husbands for her daughters, sees
the arrival of Mr. Bingley, an upper class man or ‘a single man of large fortune’,
as a potential suitor for her daughters.
The arrival of Mr. Bingley is accompanied by his two sisters; Caroline and
Mrs. Hurst, and his best friend; Mr. Darcy. Class distinction in this novel is shown
by The Bennets’ first acquaintance with Mr. Bingley and his companions at the
Meryton Ball. The attitudes and behaviors of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley’s sisters
represent the arrogance of high class people.
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The class distinction is continually included in every part of life in this
story. Although love plays a big role in relations between Jane and Mr. Bingley
and also between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy but the distinction of their class
becomes a big problem. Jane and Mr. Bingley love each other since the first time
they meet and their love runs smooth. However, the difference of their social class
creates a problem in their relation that the two Mr. Bingley’s sisters want their
brother to marry Mr. Darcy’s sister in order to unite the fortunes of the two
families. On the other hand, the relation between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth is
realized after many quarrels. The big problem comes when Darcy’s aunt, Lady
Chaterine talks to Elizabeth that it is impossible to have a marriage between
different classes, and accuses her that she just wants to get Mr. Darcy’s fortune.
In this story, the history background, the condition of British people
because of Industrial Revolution in the late eighteenth century, influences the
condition of the characters. The depression of poverty and the obsession to get a
financial security of the lower class that creates materialism are represented by
Charlotte Lucas’ decision to get married with Mr. Collins by ignoring the sense of
love only for the sake of financial security, Wickham, an officer in the regiment,
in order to get large fortune and high social status, although in bad ways, he tries
to get attentions from the ladies with large inheritances, and Mrs. Bennet’s
obsession in finding wealthy husbands for all of her daughters.
Elizabeth Bennet, as the main character in this story, shows her
independence in solving problems. The way she rejects Mr. Collins and Mr.
Darcy’s proposal of marriage and her defense in showing that the distinction of
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class is not an obstacle for her to share her ideas and thought, leads her to be an
individualistic women. Then, happy and romantic atmospheres close this story.
Jane married with Mr. Bingley, Wickham married with Lydia after provided equal
share of wealth, Elizabeth married Mr. Darcy after Mr. Darcy realizes that it is
wrong to act so arrogant and to place so much emphasis on class differences,
while Elizabeth realizes it is wrong to judge Mr. Darcy prematurely and to allow
her mind for bad judgment about him. Mr. Bennet is very happy that his three
daughters have married so happily. Mrs. Bennets is glad that her daughters have
married so prosperously.
B. The Approach
In analyzing Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the writer applies
sociocultural-historical approach. The point of sociocultural-history approach is to
perceive a literary work from its relation with social history of a certain time and
place. In Reading and Writing about Literature, Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H.
Woods state that “the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the
civilization that produces it”. They define civilization as the attitudes and action of
a specific group of people and point out that literature takes this attitudes and
actions as its subject matter. They feel that it is necessary to investigate the social
milieu in which it necessarily reflects.
The sociocultural-historical approach is applicable to be used in analyzing
works because some novels will lose their value if the readers do not understand
the historical background of the novels. So, to analyze the society that is reflected
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in Pride and Prejudice, one must have a good understanding about the society in
the late eighteenth century in England.
C. Method of the Study
Concerning of the method used in this study was the steps that the writer
took in doing the analysis so the writer was able to obtain the solution for the
problems formulated. The writer used library research to conduct the activity of
collecting data related to the object and the topic of the study. Pride and Prejudice
was the primary data, while the secondary data were taken from some books
which could be utilized to support this study or which were related to the
problems that the writer analyzed.
There were certain steps used in analyzing this novel. The first step was to
understand the object of the study. It was necessary for the writer to read the story
as a whole in order to comprehend it and to get the ideas presented in Pride and
Prejudice. The writer tried to find agreements, deep examinations, or comments
about this novel, found some books about social change, history of England in the
late eighteenth century especially Victorian period and Industrialization era, and
some other sources. The writer also read some books on the theories of character
and characterization, setting, and also about the relation between literature and
society which all of them assisted the work’s analysis.
Related to the attempt to look for the answer to the problem formulated in
the first chapter, the next step was starting to write the analysis on the novel. The
writer conducted the analysis by connecting the condition of the society through
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actions of the characters and incidents taken from the novel with all the discussion
on the condition of England and its society in the late eighteenth century and the
theory of literature. The analysis was based on the sociocultural-historical
approach to gain a better picture of social condition at that period in relation to the
social issue arose in the story. The writer focused the analysis especially on the
changing society that was reflected in the novel. These steps were prepared to
answer the problems of this study. In analyzing the problems of this study,
incidents and dialogues from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice would be used as
proofs or evidence.
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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This part contains the analysis, which is divided into two parts of
discussion. The first discussion, the analysis on the society of Pride and
Prejudice, includes the analysis on the setting and characters. The writer tries to
observe the society in the novel, which can be revealed by characters’ actions and
speeches, the author’s comments, comments from the other characters, and the
setting. The second one is the analysis of the society as the result of
Industrialization in England in the late eighteenth century that is reflected in Pride
and Prejudice.
A. The Analysis on the Society in Pride and Prejudice
Abrams in Glossary of Literary Terms defines setting of dramatic work as
the general place, historical time, and social circumstances in which its action
occurs (1981:175). It means that setting consists not only the setting time and
place, but also the social circumstances where the story occurs. Then, Abrams’s
definition, “a character is the person in a dramatic or narrative work who naturally
possesses moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that all reflected and the
action among the person”, is a good comprehension to help analyze characters in
Pride and Prejudice as the society. What kinds of society and what qualities lay
behind their representation can be seen from the appearance of setting and
characters in the novel.
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1. Analysis on the Society through Setting of Place
The name of places in the novel where the actions occur are Longbourn,
Netherfield, Meryton, Hertfordshire, London, Brighton, Hunsford, Rosings,
Derbyshire, and Pemberley.
In Pride and Prejudice, the author describes Rosings, Lady Chaterine’s
house, and Pemberley, Mr. Darcy’s house, in details as the aristocrats’ places to
live that becomes one of the admirations in showing the social class and wealth.
The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. Theyfellowed her into the dining-parlour. It was a large, well-proportionedroom, handsomely fitted up. Every disposition of the ground was good;and she looked on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on itsbanks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, withdelight. The rooms were lofty and handsome, and their furniture suitableto the fortune of their proprietor. (p.224)
The Pemberley Park is very large with great variety of ground. There is
also a beautiful wood which stretches over the wide extent. The house is large and
beautiful. The dining room is large, well-proportioned, and handsomely fitted up.
The beautiful scenery outside, the woody hills, the stream, the trees growing along
the banks, the winding valley can be seen from every windows of this room. The
rooms in the house are lofty and handsome. Their furniture is elegant and does not
have fearsomeness.
Another place that indicates the luxury of the upper class building is Lady
Chaterine de Bourgh’s house at Rosings. Although the description of the house is
less details than Darcy’s house but it is obvious that Rosings house is full of
luxurious properties which is similar to the Pemberley house.
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Every park has its own beauty and its prospects. From the entrance hall,there were the fine proportion and finished ornaments. The dining roomwas exceedingly handsome, and there were all servants, and all the articleof plates was perfect. (p154).
The description of Rosings house and Pemberley house as the setting of
places in Pride and Prejudice show how the luxury becomes an important aspect
for the upper class people. They show their wealth through the very beautiful
large park that fit with the stone building and the properties in the house;
furniture, miniatures, and portraits.
Meanwhile, the middle class people’s house is described as a functional
building. The Bennets’ house indicates as one of the middle class’ house. The
house has a small park and several rooms such as the dining room, drawing room
and kitchen but without luxurious ornaments or furniture to make it beautiful.
…Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around, and he was so much struckwith the size and furniture of the house that only may compare with thehouskeeper’s room of Lady Chaterine’s house. (p.78)
“ You have a very small park here,” returned Lady Chaterine after a shortsilence.“It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my lady, I dare say; but I assureyou it is much larger than Sir William Lucas’s.”“This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, insummer; the windows are full west.” (p.319)
In Pride and Prejudice, the rank that occurred between the upper class and
middle class people is not only showed by the building in which the upper class
people feel superior in the case of wealth. However, another setting of place
which has a big role in showing the rank in the novel is ball. There are several
chapters showing the ball as the setting of place for characters to interact each
others. Social interactions in the balls in Meryton describe how the upper class
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people differentiate themselves from the middle class people by making such a
limitation in conversations and interactions. It can be seen from the social events:
making morning visits, dinners, attending balls with the same circle of people
(p.31-32).
2. Analysis on the Society through Characters
The meaning of class as rank or order of persons according to Gary Day in
Class, is a simple description considering that the distinction of class that
occurring in Pride and Prejudice’s society can affect many aspects of life. Society
in the novel is restricted by a rank that is called social status or class in which the
distinction of class is able to maintain the life of the society and indirectly creates
life rules among classes. Upper class and middle class people are those who are
described as the society in this novel and every class has characters to represent
them.
a. The Upper-Class Society
In Pride and Prejudice, the upper class society can be categorized in two
types. First, the upper class people who tend to be arrogant, hypocritical, and full
of pride. They seem very polite and have elegant appearances but actually are full
of pretensions. This type can be seen from the characters of Caroline Bingley and
Lady Chaterine de Bourgh.
Caroline is one of Mr. Bingley’s sisters. She is arrogant and selfish. She
tries to get Mr. Darcy’s affections although in bad ways. For example, she
pretends to be a friend of Elizabeth but often mocks her manner implicitly It can
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be seen from her comment about Elizabeth’s appearance in order to convince Mr.
Darcy that she is not a woman to be admired.
She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellentwalker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really lookedalmost wild. Her hair so untidy, so blowsy. I hope you saw her petticoat,six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which hadbeen let down to hide it, not doing its office. (p.43)
Her manner is very unpleasant. In order to maintain her family’s social
class and wealth, she tries to prevent the marriage of Jane and Mr. Bingley
without considering her brother’s feeling. By her polite and good manners in front
of the people, no one will think that she has such a bad manner inside.
Lady Chaterine is Mr. Darcy’s aunt. She is a proud woman. She feels
superior to others and wants to control others’ life. She wants Elizabeth to throw
her love away from Mr. Darcy because she wants Mr. Darcy to marry her
daughter. The reason is the differences of social class. She underestimates
Elizabeth Bennet by considering that her social class and education are lower than
Mr. Darcy. This presumption can be seen in the quotation below:
“…A report of a most alarming nature, reached me two days ago. I wastold, that not only your sister was on the point of being mostadvantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would,in all likehood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew,Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood; though Iwould not injured him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, Iinstantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make mysentiments known to you” (p320)
“Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have thepresumption to aspire, can never take place. No never. Mr. Darcy isengaged to my daughter.” (p321)
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The second type of upper class society in Pride and Prejudice is people
who have contrastive characteristic compared with the first type. They represent
the upper class people with positive acts in maintaining their social class. They try
to break the rules of class and regard that every human is equal in universe. Social
status is not a limitation for them to interact and communicate with middle class
people. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are the characters who represent this second
type.
At first, Mr. Darcy is immediately disliked by everyone when he appears
at the Meryton ball because his manner is so tedious. In this ball he dances only
with his friends. His being good-looking: tall, fine, handsome, and noble with ten
thousand pounds a year cannot change the society’s judgment about him. Mrs.
Bennet is the one who dislike Mr. Darcy’s behavior very much because of his
humiliation towards one of her daughters, Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy says that ‘he is
tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me’ (p. 59). His condescending
towards Elizabeth, his action towards Mr. Wickham, and his influence to Mr.
Bingley against Jane strengthen that Mr. Darcy is haughty, reserved, fastidious,
and giving offence to others.
Nevertheless, actually, Mr. Darcy is not an arrogant person who only cares
about his pride. To be a master of Pamberley, he is a wise generous landlord and
he has good relationship with his friend, Mr. Bingley. He is also a charitable man
by using his money to help Mr. Wickham and Lydia. He accepts Elizabeth’s
family and makes good judgment and right action to Lydia’s elopement with Mr.
Wickham. He arranges their marriage. He represents an ideal man: rich, clever,
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handsome, dutiful, charitable, rational, and mature with strong affection especially
to Elizabeth and his only sister, Georgiana. He is an affectionate brother to
Georgiana as Mrs. Reynolds says about him.
“He is the best landlord, and the best master,” said she, “that ever lived.Not like the wild men now-a-days, who think of nothing but themselves.There is not one of his tenants or servants but what will give him a goodname.” (p.227).
“And this is always the way with him,” she added. ”Whatever his sisterany pleasure, is sure to be done in a moment. There is nothing he wouldnot do for her.” (p.228).
Mr. Darcy is intelligent and clear-sighted. His conversations with
Elizabeth certainly show his thought and intelligence. Elizabeth confesses Mr.
Darcy’s good temper, as shown by this quotation:
She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man, who, indisposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding andtemper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. Itwas an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her easeand liveliness, and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of theworld, she must have received benefit of greater importance. (p.283)
Mr. Bingley is Mr. Darcy’s close friend. “Mr. Bingley was good looking
and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners
(p.21). A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year (p.21)”. From
this quotation can be concluded Mr. Bingley’s character; he is good-tempered,
handsome, rich, and charming.
His motivation of marriage is based on love and affection. He is not
concerned with class differences. It can be seen from his relationship with Jane
that Jane’s poor family connections are not a serious problem to his attachment to
her. His instability of personality makes him easily influenced by his friend’s
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advice. Mr. Bingley is an easily influenced man. He takes his friend’s advice
blindly, which sometimes leads him to a condition which is contradictory to what
he really wants. For example, he leaves Jane only because Darcy advises him to
abandon his love for certain reasons. Mr. Bingley takes the advice and follows it
without reasons. Mr. Bingley takes the advice and follows it without checking the
truth, although because of that he, himself, suffers. Finally, he is realized to be
more rational and realize that he really loves Jane. It can be seen from the
quotation as follows:
“…to be rationally founded because they had for basis the excellentunderstanding, and super-excellent disposition Jane, and a generalsimilarity of feeling and taste her and himself.” (p.165).
b. The Middle-Class Society
Considering that there are two classes acting as the society in Pride and
Prejudice, besides the upper class’ life, the existence of middle class characters
also has an important role in the story. Their life is different if compared with the
luxurious life of the upper class people; simple houses, properties, and furniture.
They lack of wealth, connections, and education. This condition influences
manners, behavior, and way of thinking of the middle class people. Some of them
feel satisfied with their condition because they regard that the middle class have
equal position in respect, education, and ability. Moreover, they prove it through
their good manners and mind. It can be seen from the characters of Elizabeth
Bennet and Jane Bennet.
Elizabeth is the second daughter of the Bennets. She is the happy heroine,
the center of the story. She has a warm relationship with her father, Mr Bennet
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and her elder sister, Jane Bennet. She has a great affection for Jane. It can be seen
from her decision to take care of Jane although she should walk for miles to reach
Netherfield just because her mother does not want to lend her a carriage.
Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though thecarriage was not to be had; and as she was no horse-woman, walking washer only alternative. She declared her revolution. (p.40)
Elizabeth Bennet also cares about all her family. She is quick to express
her feeling toward her father when she has an opinion about the family’s problem.
The way she tells her father that Lydia’s bad behavior would bring negative effect
not only for Lydia but also for the Bennets family, shows her effort to keep her
family’s pride in public.
“…excuse me for I must speak plainly. If you, my dear father, will nottake the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits, and of teaching her thather present pursuits are not to be the business of her life, she will soon bebeyond the reach of amendment. Her character will be fixed, and she will,at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever made herself and herfamily ridiculous… (p.214)
Elizabeth or Lizzy, is the favorite daughter of her father. Mr. Bennet sees
that Elizabeth has many positive values on her personality which is different from
her sisters’. His real affection to Lizzy is apparent in his comments to her over her
fright about her two younger sisters, Lydia and Kitty who behave wrongly. He
says that “…..they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has
something more of quickness than her sisters” (p. 52). Mr. Bennet’s great
affection toward Elizabeth is also visible when Elizabeth decides to marry Darcy.
Mr. Bennet seems to have an objection to Elizabeth’s decision, but finally he
permits her to marry Darcy because Elizabeth assures him that Darcy has a good
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personality and that they love each other. He suggests Elizabeth to think her
decision over. He believes that her favorite daughter’s personality can bring her
into happiness. He appreciates his daughter’s decision on her way of life.
“Mr. Darcy, you see, is the man! Now Lizzy, I think I have surprised you.Could he, or the Lucases, have pitched on any man, within the circle of ouracquaintance, whose name would have given the lie more effectually towhat they related? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any woman but to see ablemish, and who probably never looked at you in his life! It isadmirable!” (p. 328-329).
Jane Bennet is Elizabeth’s elder sister. She is beautiful, kind, and sweet-
tempered. She is an affectionate friend to Elizabeth who is always ready to help
Elizabeth solve her problem. Her affection to Mr. Bingley is not based on Mr.
Bingley’s social status or wealth. It is pure because of love. She is dutiful
daughter and has a great attention to all of her family, especially during Lydia’s
elopement.
Imagine our surprise…I am very, very sorry. So imprudent a match onboth sides!... Our poor mother is sadly grieved. My father bears it better.How thankful am I, that we never left them know what has said againtshim; we must forget it ourselves (p.248)
Jane has a strong different character from her sister, Elizabeth. She always
assumes that other people are as good-natured as she is. She refuses to judge
anyone badly and always making excuses for people when Elizabeth brings their
faults to her attention. It can be seen from Elizabeth speech for Jane after
discussion about the character of Caroline Bingley and also from Jane’s letter to
Elizabeth which talks about Miss Bingley. Although she has known Miss
Bingley’s real character, she still forgives her and she thinks that Miss. Bingley
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must have a certain reason for treating her badly. The quotations presented below
emphasize this issue.
“Oh ! you are a great deal too apt you know, to like people in general. Younever see a fault in any body. All the world are good and agreeable in youreyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life.” (p.25).
“……But I know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable ofwillfully deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this case is, that sheis deceived herself.” (p.119)
However, some of middle class people feel unsatisfied with their condition
and tend to make their position equal with the upper class people in many ways.
They create connections with the upper class people to gain the benefits of class
and property. Moreover, in order to receive those benefits, they are toady for
themselves to the upper class people without feeling any embarrassment. The
character of Mr. Collins represents the society that strongly believes in the value
of high social status creates good society’s judgment. He is also a pompous and
conceited person. His formal behavior is based on his desire to be respected in the
society by showing that he has a lot of money and a high class figure, so the
people around him want to hear and think well of him. It can be seen from the
way he talks about himself in public implies his pompous character.
“…Pardon me for neglecting to profit by your advice, which on everyother subject shall be my constant guide, though in the case before us Iconsider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide onwhat is right than a young lady like yourself “ (p.99).
Another interesting social issue is that, as depicted in the novel, there is a
kind of tradition amid the society that a gentleman must make a visit to
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newcomers of his ranks in a neighborhood. This tradition is one way for middle
class people to reach higher status. It can be a great moment for a mother to
introduce her daughters and if there is a lucky, the man with large fortune may
marry her daughter and brings advantages for the woman’s family. It can be seen
from the character of Mrs. Bennet.
Mrs. Bennet, the wife of Mr. Bennet, is a matchmaking mother whose
expectation to have her five daughters get married to wealthy men. It can be seen
from her reaction when the arrival of Mr. Bingley, ‘a single man of large fortune’
to Netherfield Park.
“ Oh ! single, my dear, to be sure ! A single man of large fortune; four orfive thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls !” (p.15)
Her wish makes her behave wrongly. Her temper is so annoying; she is very
spoiled and always tries to attract other’s attention; she wants others to have pity
on her. She is a silly, self-centered woman, and lacks of emotional maturity. It can
be seen from her attitudes in accepting Lydia’s disgraceful elopement.
“My dear, dear Lydia! This is delightful indeed! She will be married! Ishall she her again! She will be married at sixteen! My good, kindbrother! I knew how it would be I know he would manage everything.How I long to see her! And to see dear Wickham too! But the clothes, thewedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly.My dear, dear Lydia! How merry we shall be together when me meet”(p.278).
In this novel, the society views marriage as a business contract,
strengthening families’ wealth and status, providing heirs, and giving women
financial security. Financially and socially, marriage is a woman’s chief aim.
Financially, because of women’s dependent position, marriage will give them
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financial security. Socially, marriage may lift up a woman’s status in the society.
When she gets married and starts a family, she takes place in the society. For men,
this led to the ‘fortune-hunter’ phenomenon: men marry women because of
women’s money. It can be seen from Charlotte Lucas character and Mr.
Wickham.
Charlotte, Elizabeth’s good friend, is a sensible and an intelligent woman.
Marriage is her aim in life. However, it is uncertain in giving happiness. She does
not care about love and affection or her future happiness in marrying Mr. Collins,
whom she knows as neither sensible nor agreeable. She simply thinks that
marriage will make her financially secured, so by marrying Mr. Collins, it is a
good luck for a twenty-seven “well-educated young woman of small fortune”.
Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had gained her point, andhad time to consider of it. Her reflections were in general satisfactory(p.121)
Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage hadalways been her object; it was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of givinghappiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. Thispreservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven,without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it (p.122)
Mr. Wickham is a handsome, charming man who knows how to please
people, especially women. He is also gentle and has a captivating manner which
makes people trust him. It can be seen from his manner towards Elizabeth that
makes Elizabeth believe that he is a great man and falls in love with him.
“ …..but he is the most agreeable man I ever saw. Since we see everydaythat where there is affection, but I will not in a hurry to believe myself his
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first object. When I am in company with him, I will not be wishing. Inshort, I will do my best”. (p.139)
However, he uses his charm to achieve what he wants: a great deal of
money. It can be seen from his behavior in making relationship with women.
First, with Elizabeth, then with Miss King, then with Lydia, and if not prevented
by Mr. Darcy, he will leave Lydia to find a richer girl, to marry. This is not
because he does not love them, which makes him leave them, but it is because he
wants to find a greater deal of money. His motivation of marriage is only based on
his desire of being rich and to be respected by his society.
Pride and Prejudice represents the social-convention in the society as the
effect of paternal system in society. The social-convention meant is about
inheritance law that a family with no son will give the estate and land to a man of
the husband’s relative when the husband dies. The Bennets family’s condition is
the representation of the social-convention, by which the law forces Mr. Bennet to
leave his property to such a pompous and ridiculous man, Mr. Collins, instead of
his own daughters because he does not have a son. It can be seen from the
quotation below:
“…It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn youall out of this house as soon as he pleases” (p. 66).
“…that your estate should be entailed away fro your own children, thecruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favourof a man whom nobody cared anything about and nothing can clear Mr.Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn” (p. 66).
This injustice of English inheritance laws brings the difficulties for
women. Mr. Bennet’s daughters do not like the fact that they will not able to
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inherit their father’s estate but they are forced to accept the conventional
inheritance law. Mrs. Bennets’s attitude in trying hard to marry off her five
daughters to wealthy men is because their marriage prospect is considerably lower
with their small inheritance. They need to marry well in order to secure their
livelihood.
B. The Reflection of British Society as the Result of Industrialization Era in
the late eighteenth Century.
Changes in societies are inevitable in people’s journey of life. Many
factors can influence the changing that happens in a society. In the late eighteenth
century, Britain was faced onto industrial revolution. This event influenced every
part of people’s life and the result is some changes of the condition in the British
society. The changes are the existence of class distinction, the rise of materialism,
and the rise of individualism. The writer would analyze those three changes
reflected in Pride and Prejudice by dividing the analysis into three parts of
discussion.
1. The Existence of Class Distinction
According to Gary Day in his book Class, he states that the history of all
hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle and it is sometimes
possible to interpret rival critical accounts of a work or an era as part of that
struggle (1956: 37). The issues of class distinction could not be separated from
British people. In the history of England, social class in the society always
occurred in every aspect of life of British people. Many centuries in England
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brought social class in the society as a symbol of the existence of rank in the
society.
Before the industrial revolution gave many significant changes in every
aspect of life of the English people, England experienced prosperous years of
agriculture and the class in the society has its own rules that seemed hard to be
changed. The upper class people can be described as a landowner, with a coat of
arms denoting pedigree of lineage, who possessed the quality of courage, chivalry,
generosity, hospitality and sense of duty. The middle class people were satisfied
to be a second class people and the lower class could not be better than the second
class. Land, money and the most important thing, birth were the basic aspects to
decide a class in the society.
In the late eighteenth century, the industrial revolution had changed the old
peaceful Britain into a big capitalist and industrious country. It caused extensive
changes in British commercial and industrial organization and affected profoundly
the lives of all classes. Through the novel of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen,
we can see that Industrial Revolution gave significant effects toward the
distinction of class in the society. The changes divided British society into classes
and separated them apart. Obviously, there were upper and middle classes in
Britain that we can see from the novel.
The revolution made products available, which provided comforts and
conveniences to those who could afford them. The upper class consists of those
who were born in a prosperous state of wealth.
Pemberley House was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well onrising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills. The dining room
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was well-proportioned room, handsomely fitted up. The other rooms, theseobjects were taking different positions; but from every window there werebeauties to be seen. The rooms were lofty and handsome, and theirfurniture suitable to the fortune of their propriertor” (p.224)
The quotation above comes from chapter 43 when Elizabeth Bennet and
her uncle and aunt visited Pemberley house. Pemberley house is one of the
examples of upper class’ building in the novel. The description of the house is
done in sophisticatedly descriptive details. The Pemberley house can be
considered as a symbol of wealth that only the upper class people could have such
a luxurious place. The upper class society in the novel is shown by very fine
clothes, great houses, and good education.
Ausabel says that the industrial revolution had brought England into
prosperity and made England as the leading nation in the world (1996: 398). By
the prosperity of their life, the upper class people were easy to show their
superiority to the rest of class society. In the novel, the arrival of Lady Chaterine
de Bourgh in Bennet’s house and her conversation with Elizabeth Bennet that she
mocked Bennet’s park “You have a very small park here, this must be a most
inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in summer; the windows are full west”
(p. 319), showed how the upper class people tended to show their wealth by
comparing the property they had with the property that the lower class people had.
Caroline Bingley’s statement, representing the distinction of class, was
shown by the attitudes which characters of different social status felt toward
another. Caroline Bingley did not feel suitable in a party that held by the middle
class people.
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“You are considering how unsupportable it would be to pass manyevenings in this manner-in such society; and indeed I am quite of youropinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; thenothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people!” (p.35)
Social interactions at the ball provided a picture of the formalities in
Eighteenth century. Pride and Prejudice contains many actions at the ball party in
which the importance of rank and wealth played in social relation. It also could be
seen from Darcy’s statement about the middle class people’s behaviors at the ball
party seems to humiliate the social relation between the upper class and the
middle class.
“…-and it has the advantages also of being in vogue amongst the lesspolished societies of the world. – Every savage can dance.” (p.34)
“It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it. I hadonce some thoughts of fixing in town myself-for I am fond of superiorsociety.” (p.34).
The prosperity is not only an effect of Industrial revolution.
Industrialization era was also accustomed to depression, war, austerity, and fear of
another war and another depression. Whether they belonged to the upper class,
middle or lower class, they thought themselves as living in a time of troubles
(Ausubel, 1955: 28-36). It can be said that the Victorian era was essentially a
period of peace and prosperity for England but the Industrial revolution
transformed the agrarian economy of England into industrial economy. Industrial
advancement created social unrest and economic distress among the masses. This
condition forced the upper class people to survive in keeping their superiority.
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The view of history as class struggle was regarded as motored by the
competition of social class. Caroline Bingley’s actions represented an extreme and
inhuman attitude of the upper class people in defending their existence for the
sake of class struggle.
“…But the case is this. We are not rich enough, or grand enough for them;and she is the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from thenotion that when there has been one intermarriage, she may have lesstrouble in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity,and I dare say it would succed…” (p.118)
The quotation above is Elizabeth Bennet’s conclusion about Caroline Bingley’s
letters. The suggestion in her letters that Bingley may marry Darcy’s sister makes
it clear that Caroline Bingley considers Jane too ‘low’ to marry her brother.
‘…They may wish many things besides his happiness; they may wish hisincrease of wealth and consequence; they may wish him to marry a girlwho has all the importance of money, great connections, and pride” (p.133)
Elizabeth’s statement above shows the basic purpose of Caroline Bingley not to
allow her brother marries Jane Bennet. It leads the characteristic of eighteenth
century society. The effect of class struggle made the society ignored happiness
and put money, great connections, and pride as the important goals in life.
The defensive attitude of the upper class people in keeping their
connection and wealth for the sake of class struggle in Industrialization era is not
only reflected in Caroline Bingley’s action towards Jane Bennet. Pride and
Prejudice also represents Lady Chaterine de Bourgh as an upper- class woman
who tries to avoid the social relation between the upper- class and the middle-
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class. It can be seen when Lady Chaterine takes a part in the love relation between
Darcy and Elizabeth and, mocks Elizabeth social status.
“Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have thepresumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy isengaged to my daughter. Now what you have to say?” (p321)
“Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, MissBennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, ifyou willfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured,slighted, and despised, by every one connected with him. Your alliancewill be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”(p.322)
Arnstein says that land gives one position, and prevents one from keeping
it up. Land gave its owner social status, but its financial values lay less in farm
products than in the coal or iron that might be found beneath it (1988:75). It
means that the condition in industrialization may influence the status of a class
this is because of a new merchant class people, dominated by the middle class
people whose wealth and power were growing, were able to force the upper class
people to limit their influences on the society.
Pride and Prejudice shows how the middle class people maintain their life
in many ways in order to get better social status in society and wealth. This
condition is reflected in some conditions and characters in the novel. The
condition of Collins, a middle class man, by which his connection to Lady
Catherine guarantees him a lofty place in society, makes his social status rises in
the society. He is really proud of his condition
A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourghwhen the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt forher high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with avery good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his
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rights as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride andobsequiousness, self-importance and humility (p.74)
Industrial revolution raised many aspects of life in England. One of them
was education. In Victorian era, luck of birth and wealthy were used by society to
determine class but the development of Industrialization made education and skill
become the power in social life (Arnstein, 1988: 46). This condition brought the
power for middle class people to exist their life. Elizabeth Bennet, as one of the
major characters shows a type of middle class woman that has good values in
education. By her good knowledge, she proves her superiority on the basic of her
virtues or talents.
“No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up athome without a governess! Then, who taught you? Who attended to you?Without a governess you must have been neglected.”“ Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such as wished to
learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, andhad all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle,certainly might” (p. 157)
The conversation between Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Elizabeth
Bennet above is a sort of class battle that happened between the classes. Lady
Catherine humiliates Elizabeth’s social- class by criticizing her family’s life
without governess. It can be one point for the upper class to be conveyed that no
governess means no education and no education means uneducated creature.
Thus, the upper class is still superior. Nevertheless, Elizabeth proves that by
having a governess is not the only way to get knowledge. Knowledge could be
learned from many sources such as books. Moreover, governess does not
guarantee to make someone more educated than a person who learns by herself.
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The improvement of middle class people to be equal with upper class
people is also shown by Elizabeth’s attitude toward Lady Catherine when Lady
Catherine mentions her low connections, family, and fortune which are not equal
with her nephew, Darcy.
“In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting thatsphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we areequal” (p.323)
The existence of class distinction in the late eighteenth century in Pride
and Prejudice is reflected through setting and characters; Lady Chaterine de
Bourgh, Caroline Bingley, Darcy, and Elizabeth Bennet. In the novel, Pemberley
house reflects the luxurious place belongs to the upper class society. The
description of that house in details provides comforts and conveniences as a
symbol of the upper class’ superiority in case of properties. The attitudes and
actions of Lady Chaterine de Bourgh, Caroline Bingley, and Darcy using the
distinction of class status to maintain their superiority reflects the pride of upper
class society. The class struggle as the effect of Industrial revolution is reflected
by the actions of Darcy in keeping Bingley (the upper class man) away from an
imprudent marriage with Jane Bennet (the middle class woman), Caroline
Bingley’s action in trying hard to match her brother and Miss Darcy in order to
keep the high connections among the upper class people and their fortune, and
Lady Chaterine de Bourgh’s action in trying to avoid the social relation between
the upper class and the middle class, in case of the relation between Darcy and
Elizabeth Bennet. The class struggle of middle class people is reflected by Collins
and Elizabeth Bennet. Collins’ snobbery of his association with Lady Chaterine
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rose respects from the society. Last is the attitude of Elizabeth Bennet in proving
that the middle class people and the upper class people have the equal values in
life.
2. The Rise of Materialism
According to Arnstein in his book Britain Yesterday and Today, before
Industrialization, agriculture played a highly significant role. Much of the land
was divided into large estates owned by wealthy aristocrats and country squires
who rented the land on long or short lease to tenant farmers. More than half the
land was divide into farms of two hundred acres or more, considerably larger than
the average French or German farm. Agriculture chemistry was still in its infancy
and many people regarded farming as the road to easy riches (1988: 20)
The introduction of Industrialization had provoked widespread riots when
the machines had eased the farmer’s toil. A steam-operated tractor was proven to
be an impractical luxury for most farmers. The effects were the increase of
unskilled workers in developing industrial society and the reduction of the average
income for unskilled workers, land was only one form of property and not
necessarily the most important (Arnstein, 1988: 76)
The rise of Materialism became one point of the changes in
Industrialization era. The rising cost and the rising standard of living led people to
work harder than before. Moore states that a social system depends on its
existence on the maintenance of order, and how society maintain the order
influences the way in which social function is fulfilled (1963: 77). The survival
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was needed in order to reach the goal, ‘degree of fulfillment’, because in the
expansion of industry, money was assuming a more important part in society life.
It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of agood fortune, must be in want of wife (p. 15).
The quotation above is the first sentence of Pride and Prejudice and stands
as one of the most famous first lines in literature and emphasizes the condition of
the England society in the late eighteenth century that the need for young men in
possession of a good fortune is to find a woman. Then economically, a woman
should marry for the sake of economic survival.
In Industrial revolution, the upper class wanted to gain money in order to
be richer. By having a lot of money the upper class will be more respected by
other people, particularly people who were lower than their social status. On the
other hand, the lower class wanted to gain money in order to improve and support
their financial life (Arnstein, 1988: 157). This condition influenced the society’s
view toward the motivation of marriage. Marriages for most of the characters give
a social value for their economy. Their view of motivation of marriage was mostly
based on the economical factors.
The condition above was also supported by the paternal system in the
society. Women had no right of inheriting the wealth of their parents. Any
property that a woman possesses before her marriage automatically became her
husband’s (Arnstein, 1988: 82). In Pride and Prejudice, the condition of Bennets
family and the coming of Collins, reflecting the paternal system in society,
increased Materialism gigantically.
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Mr. Bennet’s property consisted almost entirely in an estate of twothousand a year, which unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed indefault of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother’s fortune,though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency ofhis. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and had left her fourthousand pounds (p.36).
The quotation above describes the condition of Bennets based on the
paternal system in England. Mr. Bennet could not inherit his property to his
daughters because of the law forces him to leave his property to such a ridiculous
man, Collins, instead of his own daughters just because he do not have a son.
Mrs. Bennet, from the beginning of the novel shows that she has an
obsession to marry off her daughters. She sees Bingley’s arrival as an opportunity
for one of her daughters to get the most profitable husband. Purely economically,
this marriage will secure their economic life. Her statement below is clear in
drawing the meaning of ‘It is truth universally acknowledged that a single man in
possession of a good fortune must be in want of wife’. Because Mr. Bingley is a
single man of large fortune or a wealthy one, it means that he must be in want of a
wife.
“Oh! Single my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four orfive thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!’ (p.15)
The idea of materialism could be seen in Mrs. Bennet’s way to secure her
finance by forcing her daughters to marry wealthy men although without love.
Mrs. Bennet’s anger about the decision that is made by Elizabeth on refusing Mr.
Collin’s proposal shows that people at that time did not concern about happiness
of marriage. They were more concerned about how to support their financial life.
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“..But I tell you what, Miss Lizzy, if you take it into your head to go onrefusing every offer of marriage in this way, you will never get a husbandat all-and I am sure I do not know who is to maintain you when your fatheris dead” (p.113).
The depression of the rising cost the rising standard of living, and also the
condition of paternal system motivates the society to maintain their life for
survival and reach the goal ‘degree of fulfillment’.
“I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home;and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life,I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as mostpeople can boast on entering the marriage state”(p.124)
The quotation above comes from Charlotte Lucas. Marriage, according to
her, is based on economics rather than love or appearance. It proves again that it
was a common practice during eighteenth century for women to marry a husband
to gain financial security. By submitting herself to this type of marriage, Charlotte
should face a consequence that she should have to suffer in tormenting silence.
When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably beashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned hereye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but ingeneral Charlotte wisely did not hear. (p.149)
The society in the novel considers this condition as a common life, and as
something that should be accepted, especially for women. It can be seen from
Jane’s understanding about Charlotte’s decision on marrying Mr. Collins that the
marriage would be very useful for economic life of Charlotte and her family.
“Remember that she is one of a large family; that as to fortune, it is a mosteligible match; and be ready to believe, for every body’s sake, that shemay feel something like regard and esteem for our cousin.” (p.137)
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The development of industrial society which was influenced by economy
made the comparison of rich and poor more obvious. The extravagant life-style in
a condition of conspicuous consumption raised the standard of living in the
society (Arsntein, 1984: 381). Both men and women were affected by this
condition. Women maintain their life by marrying wealthy men in order to secure
their financial condition. In the other hand, men were led to the ‘fortune-hunter’
phenomenon: men who marry women only for the sake of their money.
Mr. Wickham, who is considered as a man with small fortune, reflects the
phenomenon of a fortune-hunter in Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Wickham’s action in
shifting his affections from Elizabeth to the suddenly wealthy Miss King, who has
just inherited a large fortune, creates Elizabeth’s judgment that Mr. Wickham is
mercenary.
“…Now he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds. He paidher not the smallest attention, till her grandfather’s death made her mitressof this fortune. He shall be mercenary, and she shall be foolish.” (p. 147)
The materialism of Mr. Wickham’s character is also reflected in his action
of chasing Miss Darcy’s money. Mr. Wickham attempts to elope with Mr.
Darcy’s sister in order to obtain her fortune. It is more likely to see him as a
simple fortune-hunter. It can be seen from Mr. Darcy’s letters to Elizabeth that
explains the truth about Wickham.
…Mr. Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune,which is thirty thousand pound… (p. 189)
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The journey of Mr. Wickham as a materialistic man still continues and
affects Bennets family. In the end of the story, Mr. Wickham’s elopement with
Lydia gives a serious problem to Bennets family. Mr. Wickham would marry
Lydia if the Bennets would guarantee him an income. Here, the economic
depression in the late eighteenth century and the role of Mr. Wickham as a
fortune-hunter give an understanding that lower class men as well as women, need
to survive in any kind of ways to maintain their financially proper life. It ca be
proved from the letters coming from Mrs. Bennet’ sister, who arranges Lydia’s
marriage with Mr. Wickham.
….by settlement, her equal share of the five thousand pounds, securedamong your children after the decease of yourself and my sister; and,moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, during your life,one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditions, which, consideringevery thing. (p. 274)
This condition also is the difficulty faced by women in English society of
the period. The practice of entailment and the necessity of marriage for women
were to avoid public scorn. Lydia’s elopement gives the idea that living with a
man out of marriage ruins a girl and the girl’s family. Lydia’s action to elope with
Mr. Wickham, according to Elizabeth, is not only may disgrace Lydia’s life but
also all of her family.
“…You know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money; noconnections, nothing that can tempt him to she is lost forever.” (p. 251)
“They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter,will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others”. (p. 237)
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Arnstein stated that anyone, it appeared, who choose to dress like a
gentleman was treated like polite society. Middle class, even lower class imitated
the fashions, manners, and opinions of polite society (1984: 388). It means that
British society was in the condition of rising consumption for clothes and other
property to be regarded as polite society. The phenomenon of fortune-hunter for
the lower class man in the late eighteenth century was as one point of the rise of
materialism. It occurred in the life of lower class men. In the other hand, the
condition in which every one competed to gain money and secure their finance,
made the upper class men believed that woman would pretend to fall in love with
them in order to get the man’s money. It proves that there is a survival to reach
the goal of fulfillment or survival to keep the good life.
In Pride and Prejudice, the society agrees that money is the most
important thing. They are not many in rank of life who can afford to marry
without some attention to money (p.173). Darcy’s view on Jane’s love toward Mr.
Bingley is a prejudice that though her manners are cheerful and amiable but her
heart is not easily touched. Mr. Darcy creates his own prejudice that Jane tempts
Mr. Bingley just for the sake of Mr. Bingley’s money.
“Her look and manners were open, cheerful and engaging as ever, butwithout any symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced fromthe evening’s scrutiny, that though she received his attention withpleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment.” (p.185)
As the person who will inherit Bennets’ property, Mr. Collin’s optimism
in success to marry one of Mr. Bennet’s daughters is also a kind of prejudice of
women’s materialism, that woman should accept the proposal of a wealthy man.
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Having now a good house and very sufficient income, he intended tomarry; and in seeking a reconciliation for inheriting their father’s estate;and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, andexcessively generous and disinterested on choosing one of the daughters ashis wife. (p. 74)
The quotation above shows Mr. Collin’s ability in marrying one of Mr.
Bennet’s daughters because he has a strong reason. By marrying one of them, he
can give fortune for Bennets family, and women would not decline such kind of
generosity.
The rise of materialism in the late eighteenth century as the result of
Industrialization in Pride and Prejudice is reflected through the condition of the
society and the characters; Mrs. Bennet, Charlotte Lucas, Mr. Wickham, Mr.
Darcy, and Mr. Collins. In the novel, the condition of the England society in the
late eighteenth century that the need for young women is to find a husband in
possession of a good fortune, is reflected in the famous line of Pride and
Prejudice “It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of
a good fortune, must be in want of wife”. The motivation of marriage in Pride and
Prejudice, that marriage for most of the characters, is to give a social value for
their economy. So, the view of motivation of marriage is mostly based on the
economical factor. This motivation as the effect of economic depression, and the
rising cost and standard of living is reflected in some characters. Mrs. Bennet’s
way to secure her finance by forcing her daughters to marry wealthy men although
without love, and Charlotte Lucas viewing marriage as the way to secure her
financial problem. It easy to see that marriage for Mrs. Bennet and Charlotte
Lucas is based on economics rather than love or appearance.
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The paternal system as the result of inheritance law in England that
supports the rise of materialism is reflected in Bennets’ family condition. Mr.
Bennet could not inherit his property to his daughters because according to the
law, women had no right of inheriting the wealth of their parents. The appearance
of Mr. Wickham as a fortune-hunter reflects a lower class man as well as a
woman need to survive in any kind of ways to maintain their proper life. Last, Mr.
Darcy and Mr. Collins’ actions reflect the men’s prejudice toward women in
marrying men that they are not many in rank of life who can afford to marry
without some attention to money.
3. The Rise of Individualism
Victorian women are supposed to be good mothers, domestic paragons,
and when they have enough money, benevolent contributors to society. They are
supposed to be demure and well spoken, beautiful yet seldom seen and less
frequently heard. They are not allowed to work outside the home or to support
themselves (Dahrendorf, 1959: 54). It means that they only have to do the
‘domestic’ job, such as arranging flowers, washing the clothes etc. They also
should be calm, cool, prim, and quiet which is to say that they have to act like a
“queen”.
Economic development in industrialization undermined signifiers of status
thereby giving a further boots to the evolution of the idea of the ‘individual’, a
process whose origins can be traced back at least to the late medieval period
(Dahrendorf, 1959: 54). Changing period led the rise of individualism in England.
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The process of individualism itself occurred as self-improvement of women
toward modernization and it gives effects to the attitudes or behaviors of the
society as a system in which they need to adapt the condition at that time with
their life.
The story of Pride and Prejudice, as a reflection of the British society in
case of the rise of individualism puts the condition of women in the late
eighteenth century as the society condition in the novel. The point of
individualism itself is explicitly reflected in Elizabeth Bennet’s actions from the
beginning until the end of the story.
In Pride and Prejudice, there are few opportunities through which women
could be self-sufficient without the aid of a man. Marriage is in many ways more
a financial transaction and social alliance rather than a matter of love. However,
the conversation between Elizabeth and Charlotte on viewing marriage gives
different understanding that not all women are involved in marriage for the sake
of financial security.
“… But though Bingley and Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for manyhours together; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, itis impossible that every moment should be employed in conversingtogether. Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour in whichshe can command his attention. When she is secure of him, there will beleisure for falling in love as much as she chooses.”
Your plan is a good one, where nothing is in question but the desire ofbeing well married; and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or anyhusband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane’s feeling; sheis not acting by design. She has known him only a fortnight. This is notquite enough to make her understand his character” (p31)
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According to Charlotte, Jane needs more than affection in getting Mr.
Bingley’s love. Their meeting, which only at ball for several times, would not be
enough for Jane to command Mr. Bingley’s attention. She needs to secure him by
marrying him soon. However, according to Ellizabeth, the feeling of a couple is a
big value than the marriage itself. Not only because the man is rich so it would be
a good marriage but what they feel toward each other is the more important thing.
Elizabeth’s opinion reflects an idea of marriage that is based on the individual
feeling, not following the judgment of the society. She states that she and Jane
believe that marriage should be based on love and not as the social transaction.
The society’s view about the motivation of marriage that should be based
only on materialism is broken by Elizabeth’s action in declining Mr. Collins and
Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposals. She does not base her choice of lovers on the
financial security they will give her, and she has the strength to reject them. It can
be seen as follows:
“Indeed, Mr. Collins, all praise of me will be unnecessary. You must giveme leave to judge for myself, and pay me the compliment of believingwhat I say. I wish you very happy and very rich, and by refusing yourhand, do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise. In making methe offer, you must have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings with regardto my family, and may take possession of Longbourn estate whenever itfalls, without any self-reproach. This matter may be considered, therefore,as finally settled.” (p. 108)
Elizabeth declines Mr. Collins’s proposal in which the proposal itself is
delivered in such a way that it seems more appropriate for a business deal than for
a declaration of love. Moreover, the important thing in Elizabeth’s comment
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toward Mr. collins is that she does not care how rich Mr. Collins is and the fortune
that she will deliver if she marries the man who will inherit her family’s estate.
“You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of yourdeclaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared me the concernwhich I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a moregentleman-like manner.” (p. 181)
Elizabeth declines Mr. Darcy’s proposal as the effect of Mr. Darcy’s
behavior in the society, that he acts far from a gentleman. Elizabeth’s declination
on Mr. Darcy’s proposal seemed to be a strange decision considering Mr. Darcy is
a man of very large fortune and the paternal system in England brings women to
weak position in the society. The presence of a wealthy man from the upper class
can be a great chance for a woman from the middle class. Nevertheless,
Elizabeth’s declination on both Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy reflects the woman’s
ability to be self-sufficient without the aid of a man.
In the late eighteenth century, in any highly structured society, it was a
matter of some moment just who may be ‘connected’ to whom and works strongly
to prevent others. Elizabeth can proof that two people can resist the connections
which society seems to be prescribing for her (Mrs. Bennet wishes to thrust
Elizabeth at Mr. Collins), and make a new connection of their own. Elizabeth
Bennet’s attitudes, manners, and her role in the society are the practices of
individualism which appear in the novel. It can be seen from the conversation
between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy;
“Implacable resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosenyour fault well. I really cannot laugh at it. You are safe from me.”
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“There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil,a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.”
“And your defect is a propensity to hate every body.”
“And yours,” he replied with a smile, “is willfully to misunderstand them.”(p. 63)
Elizabeth’s argument against Mr. Darcy’s judgment about how to evaluate
a person reflects Elizabeth’s firmness about her opinion. Elizabeth speaks openly
about her feeling and opinion. She holds her principles. The most important thing
is that she struggles for her freedom to be herself, to develop herself, and to live
her own lives. It is not surprising that a person who has achieved a certain amount
of mental independence will wish to exercise as much free personal control over
her own life as is possible and that is what makes her try very hard to have her
freedom.
“Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant femaleintending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth fromher heart.” (p. 109)
According to Langland in her book Society in the Novel, Austen locates
complete fulfillment for the characters within society, but she has sown seeds of
change and anticipates later novelists’ exploration on a society’s inimical effect on
individuals (1984: 43). It means that the character needs to reaffirm the
importance of individual responsibility and judgment in fulfilling society’s proper
role. In Pride and Prejudice, the condition of the society is a battleground on
which characters struggle to define themselves. It can be seen from:
“And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated intoeverything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy tomarry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise.
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Make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached tome, would my refusing to accept his hand, make him wish to bestow it onhis cousin? Allow me to say, supported this extraordinary application,have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widelymistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by suchpersuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of yourinterference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right toconcern yourself in mine.” (p. 324)
Elizabeth Bennet realizes that she has to emancipate from the myth of
inferiority and to realize her abilities and skills to the fullest. She clearly tells to
Lady Chaterine that her existence is strong and never allows herself to be
intimidated. She gives a strong opinion about the meaning of marriage. The
arrangement of Mr. Darcy’s marrying Lady Chaterine’s daughter, which is not
based on love but purely because of connections, family and fortunes, according
to Elizabeth is an ill-judged application and she never allows herself to support
this extraordinary application. Elizabeth’s argument reflects her ability’s to define
herself and her superiority based on her own principle.
The rise of individualism cannot be separated from the rise of middle class
people. As the Industrial revolution grew wider, the middle class people were able
to substitute the position of the upper class as the leader of the society. By holding
the political power in the society, the middle class people were able to extend their
influences over every aspects of life of the England people. (Abcarian and Klotz,
1978: 1127)
As the powerful class in the society, the middle class people were strongly
influenced by the figure of Queen Victoria. She is puritan; as such sets the pattern
for external conformity, strenuous energy, sobriety, hard worker, and joyless self-
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denial of worldly pleasure (Beckoff, 1972: 52). Just as the Queen, the middle class
people began to imitate and adopt the values and ideas held by Queen Victoria.
By creating Elizabeth Bennet as the heroine, Austen formulates her
character as a woman who shows her existence in society and to prove that all
characters are the same in the universe. It is reflected from Elizabeth’s abilities to
answer every question asked by Lady Chaterine, which implicitly humiliate her
class status. In Rosings, she does not let Lady Chaterine tyrannise her as “the
mere satellites of money and rank, she thought she could witness without
trepidation” (p.154). The Lucases and Collinses are submissive to Lady Chaterine,
with Maria being frightened almost out of her sense. Moreover, it is probable that
society as a whole behave likewise. Though, Elizabeth suspects she is the first
creature who has once “dared to trifle with such dignified impertinence”. It can be
seen from:
Lady Chaterine seemed quite astonished at nor receiving a direct answer;and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever daredto trifle with so much dignified impertinence. (p. 158)
She is again presented as a rebel against ideas of class distinction when
Lady Chaterine pays a visit to her to ensure that she does not marry Mr. Darcy,
and Elizabeth refuses to accept the idea that Pemberley will be “polluted” by her
presence. It reflects that these will be qualities of women who want to set
estimation from society. Women should not disguise their capacities and abilities
in the front of people. It is seen as follows:
“If you believed it impossible to be true,” said Elizabeth, coloring withastonishment and disdain, “I wonder you took trouble of coming so far.What could your ladyship propose by it?”
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“At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.”“Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family,” said Elizabeth,coolly, “will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report is inexistence.” (p. 320-321)
“In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting thatsphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we areequal.” (p. 323)
The middle class people, in their attempts to create an ordered society
established a rigid standards and high moral tone. They considered their codes of
behaviors and morality as the only effective tools to control the behaviors of the
people in the society. They tried to protect the society by establishing rules and
expected people to obey it. They wanted to prevent any mistakes or misconducts
made by the people in the society.
Elizabeth’s strength and intelligence are qualities to make her respectable
and admirable to any man or women, but the fact that she possesses a softer,
feminine side makes her genuinely attractive in the eyes of the reader, and creates
better appreciate for her in other qualities. It can be seen from:
Miss Bingley saw, or suspected enough to be jealous; and her greatanxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane, received some assistancefrom her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth. She often tried to provokeDarcy into disliking her guest, by talking of their supposed marriage, andplanning his happiness in such an alliance. (p. 58)
Miss Bingley feels threatened by Elizabeth and knows that she cannot
compete with Elizabeth on the basis of her virtues or talents. Then she tries to
observe Elizabeth’s low connection to maintain her superiority to provoke Mr.
Darcy’s mind to dislike Elizabeth. Nevertheless, Elizabeth’s originality and
independence of spirit are the qualities that Mr. Darcy truly desires in a woman.
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Elizabeth attracts him more than he liked and Miss Bingley’s advances are
rejected.
To Mr. Darcy, it was welcome intelligence Elizabeth had been atNetherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked and Miss.Bingley was uncivil to her, and more teasing than usual to himself. (p. 64)
The rise of individualism in the late eighteenth century as the result of
Industrialization in Pride and Prejudice is reflected through the major character,
Elizabeth Bennet. The conversation between Elizabeth and Charlotte on viewing
marriage reflects different understanding that not all women involved in marriage
for the sake of financial security. Yet, there are also women who believe that
marriage should be based on love and not as the social transaction. Elizabeth’s
action in declining Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposals reflects the
society’s view about the motivation of marriage that should not be based only on
material. Elizabeth’s argument against Mr. Darcy’s judgment about how to
evaluate a person and her strong opinion to Lady Chaterine about the meaning of
marriage, reflect Elizabeth’s firmness about her opinion and her ability’s to define
herself and her superiority based on her own principle. Elizabeth’s abilities to
answer every question asking by Lady Chaterine that implicitly humiliate her
class status reflects a strong character remains women to show their existence in
society and to prove that all characters are the same in the universe. Her strength
and intelligence are qualities to make her respectable and admirable to any man or
women.
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CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
This study talks about Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, dealing with the
society in England as the result of Industrialization in the late eighteenth century.
Pride and Prejudice is a pursuit of human welfare to face the industry period that
change some social aspects in the society. In the first chapter, the writer describes
the background of the study and the problems that will be analyze. First, the writer
tries to analyze the society in the novel through setting and character. Then the
writer tries to find out the reflection of British society as the result of
Industrialization era in the late eighteenth century the novel.
In analyzing this literary work, the writer uses the library research. The
approach that the writer uses is the sociocultural-historical approach. The theories
used in this thesis are discussed in chapter II. Those theories help the writer in
analyzing this work. The object of the study which is Pride and Prejudice, the
approach and method of study were included in chapter II.
From the analysis, the writer concludes that the society in the novel is
described through setting and characters. First, the name of places in the novel
where the actions occur are Longbourn, Netherfield, Meryton, Hertfordshire,
London, Brighton, Hunsford, Rosings, Derbyshire, and Pemberley. The
description of Pemberley house as one of the setting of places in Pride and
Prejudice shows how the luxury becomes an important aspect for the upper class
people. They show their wealth through the very beautiful large park that fit with
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the stone building and the properties in the house; furniture, miniatures, and
portraits. Social interaction in the balls in Meryton describes how the upper class
people differentiate themselves from the middle class people by making such a
limitation in conversations and interactions.
The second one is the analysis on the society through characters. The
upper class society can be categorized in two types. First, the upper class people
who tend to be arrogant, hypocrite, and full of pride. They seem very polite and
have elegant appearances but actually are full of pretensions. This type can be
seen from the characters of Caroline Bingley and Lady Chaterine de Bourgh. The
second type of upper class society in Pride and Prejudice is people who have
contrastive characteristic compared with the first type. They are stood to represent
the upper class people with positive acts in maintaining their social class. Mr.
Darcy and Mr. Bingley are the characters who represent this second type.
The middle class society is the class which their life is different if
compared with the luxurious life of the upper class people and they lack of wealth,
connections, and education. This condition influences manners, behavior, and way
of thinking of the middle class people. Some of them feel satisfied with their
condition because they regard that the middle class have equal position in respect,
education, and ability. Moreover, they prove it through their good manners and
mind. It can be seen from the characters of Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Bennet.
However, some of middle class people feel unsatisfied with their condition and
tend to make their position equal with the upper class people in many ways. They
create connections with the upper class people to gain the benefits of class and
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property. It cab be seen from the characters of Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet, Charlotte
Lucas, and Mr. Wickham.
In Pride and Prejudice, there is a social-convention in the society in the
novel. The social-convention meant is about inheritance law that a family with no
son will give the estate and land to a man of the husband’s relative when the
husband dies. The Bennets family’s condition is the representation of the social-
convention, by which the law forces Mr. Bennet to leave his property to such a
pompous and ridiculous man, Mr. Collins, instead of his own daughters because
he do not have a son.
Dealing with British society in the late eighteenth century reflected in the
novel, the writer divided this analysis into three sub-chapter: the existence of class
distinction, the rise of materialism, and the rise of individualism. First is the
existence of class distinction. Through the novel of Pride and Prejudice by Jane
Austen, we can see that Industrial Revolution gave significant effects toward the
distinction of class in the society. The changes divided British society into classes
and separated them apart. The existence of class distinction in British society as
the result of Industrialization in Pride and Prejudice is reflected through setting
and characters; Lady Chaterine de Bourgh, Caroline Bingley, Darcy, and
Elizabeth Bennet. In the novel, Pemberley house reflects the luxurious place
belongs to the upper class society. The description of that house in details
provides comforts and conveniences as a symbol of the upper class’ superiority in
case of properties. The attitudes and actions of Lady Chaterine de Bourgh,
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Caroline Bingley, and Darcy using the distinction of class status to maintain their
superiority reflects the pride of upper class society.
The class struggle as the effect of Industrial revolution is reflected by the
actions of Darcy in keeping Bingley (the upper class man) away from an
imprudent marriage with Jane Bennet (the middle class woman), Caroline
Bingley’s action in trying hard to match her brother and Miss Darcy in order to
keep the high connections among the upper class people and their fortune, and
Lady Chaterine de Bourgh’s action in trying to avoid the social relation between
the upper class and the middle class, in case of the relation between Darcy and
Elizabeth Bennet. The class struggle of middle class people is reflected by Collins
and Elizabeth Bennet. Collins’ snobbery of his association with Lady Chaterine
rose respects from the society. Last is the attitude of Elizabeth Bennet to prove
that the middle class people and the upper class people have the equal values in
life.
The second one is the rise of materialism. The rise of materialism in
British society as the result of Industrialization in Pride and Prejudice is reflected
through the condition of the society and the characters; Mrs. Bennet, Charlotte
Lucas, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Collins. In the novel, the condition of
the England society in the late eighteenth century that the need for young women
is to find a husband in possession of a good fortune, is reflected in the famous line
of Pride and Prejudice “It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
possession of a good fortune, must be in want of wife”. The motivation of
marriage in Pride and Prejudice, that marriage for most of the characters, is to
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give a social value for their economy. So, the view of motivation of marriage is
mostly based on the economical factor. This motivation as the effect of economic
depression, and the rising cost and standard of living is reflected in some
characters. Mrs. Bennet’s way to secure her finance by forcing her daughters to
marry a wealthy men although without love, and Charlotte Lucas viewing
marriage as the way to secure her financial problem. It easy to see that marriage
for Mrs. Bennet and Charlotte Lucas is based on economics rather than love or
appearance.
The paternal system in England that supports the rise of materialism is
reflected in Bennets’ family condition. Mr. Bennet could not inherit his property
to his daughters because according to the law, women had no right of inheriting
the wealth of their parents. The appearance of Mr. Wickham as a fortune-hunter
reflects a lower class man as well as a woman need to survive in any kind of ways
to maintain their proper life. Last, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins’ actions reflect the
men’s prejudice toward women in marrying men that they are not many in rank of
life who can afford to marry without some attention to money.
The last one is the rise of individualism. The rise of individualism in
British society as the result of Industrialization in Pride and Prejudice is reflected
through the major character, Elizabeth Bennet. The conversation between
Elizabeth and Charlotte on viewing marriage reflects different understanding that
not all women involved in marriage for the sake of financial security. Yet, there
are also women who believe that marriage should be based on love and not as the
social transaction. Elizabeth’s action in declining Mr. Collins and Mr. Dracy’s
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marriage proposals reflects the society’s view about the motivation of marriage
that should not be based only on materialism. Elizabeth’s argument against Mr.
Darcy’s judgment about how to evaluate a person and her strong opinion to Lady
Chaterine about the meaning of marriage, reflect Elizabeth’s firmness about her
opinion and her ability’s to define herself and her superiority based on her own
principle. Elizabeth’s abilities to answer every question asking by Lady Chaterine
that implicitly humiliate her class status reflects a strong character remains women
to show their existence in society and to prove that all characters are the same in
the universe. Her strength and intelligence are qualities to make her respectable
and admirable to any man or women.
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APPENDIX
The Summary of Pride and Prejudice
The novel opens with the famous line, "It is a truth universally
acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want
of a wife.". The arrival of such a single man "of large fortune" in the
neighbourhood greatly excites Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Bingley, a wealthy man, leased
the Netherfield estate where he plans to temporarily settle with his two sisters,
Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, and his sister's husband, Mr. Hurst. Soon after
moving in, Mr. Bingley, his sisters, and his close friend Darcy, attend a ball in the
village of Meryton. At first, Mr. Darcy is admired for his fine figure and income
of £10,000 a year and becomes the subject of attention than Mr. Bingley.
However, he is soon regarded contemptuously as the villagers become disgusted
with his pride. This is brought home to the Bennet family when Elizabeth Bennet
overhears Mr. Darcy decline Mr. Bingley's suggestion that he dance with her
because she is not handsome enough to tempt him. Mr. Bingley, on the other
hand, proves highly agreeable, dancing with many of the eligible ladies in
attendance and showing his admiration for Jane Bennet. Seeing this highly
advantageous match, Mrs. Bennet attempts to push Jane and Mr. Bingley together
at every opportunity.
Shortly after the ball, Mr. Collins, a cousin who will inherit the Bennet
estate because of an entail, visits the family. Mr. Collins, a clergyman whose idea
of a pleasant evening is reading to his female cousins, delights in telling of his
great patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, in every opportunity. Following Lady
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Catherine's suggestion that he should marry, Mr. Collins has decided to make
amends for his role in the Bennets' future by marrying one of his cousins. Mr.
Collins proposes to Elizabeth but she refuses him. Although Mrs. Bennet tries to
promote the marriage, Elizabeth, supported by her father, will not have him.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth is introduced to Mr. Wickham, a pleasing, amiable officer
in the regiment. Mr. Wickham informs her that he had known Mr. Darcy his entire
life, but was dealt a serious wrong after the death of Mr. Darcy's father. After the
tale is told, Elizabeth begins to create a strong prejudice against Mr. Darcy.
After Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collins, he marries her best friend, Charlotte
Lucas, and Elizabeth is invited to visit their house at Rosings. While she is staying
with them, Mr. Darcy visits his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh at Rosings. Here
the relation between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is closer. Elizabeth's charms
eventually entrance Mr. Darcy, leading him to finally declare his love for her and
his desire to marry her. Surprised and insulted by Mr. Darcy's method of
proposing, as well as having recently learnt that Mr. Darcy convinced Mr. Bingley
to forget his relation with Jane and still contemptuous of Mr. Darcy's supposed
wrongs against Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth refuses him in bad way, saying that he is
"the last man in the world whom [she] could ever be prevailed on to marry." The
next day, Mr. Darcy intercepts Elizabeth on her morning walk and gives her a
letter before taking his leave. In the letter, Mr. Darcy justifies his actions
regarding his interference in Mr. Bingley and Jane's relationship, and reveals his
history concerning Mr. Wickham and Mr. Wickham's true nature. The letter
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shows a new light on Mr. Darcy's personality for Elizabeth and she begins to
reconsider her opinion of him, particularly in the case of Mr. Wickham.
Later, while on holiday with her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners, Elizabeth is
persuaded to visit nearby Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's estate, but only goes because
she is told he is away. She is therefore mortified when she meets him
unexpectedly while on a tour of the grounds; however, his polite and friendly
manner towards her aunt and uncle begins to persuade Elizabeth that underneath
his pride lies a true and generous nature. Her revised opinion of Mr. Darcy is
supported through meeting his younger sister Georgiana, a gentle-natured and shy
girl.
Just as her relationship with Mr. Darcy starts to thaw, Elizabeth is
horrified by news that, in her absence, her headstrong younger sister Lydia has
attracted Mr. Wickham's attentions and eloped with him. When the family
investigates, they learn that Mr. Wickham resigned his commission to evade
gambling debts. When told of this by Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy takes it upon himself
to find Mr. Wickham and bribe him into marrying Lydia, but keeps this secret
from Elizabeth and her family. Elizabeth accidentally learns of Mr. Darcy's
involvement from Lydia's careless remarks, later confirmed by Mrs. Gardiner.
This final act completes a reversal in Elizabeth's sentiments, and she begins to
regret having turned down Mr. Darcy's earlier proposal of marriage.
Lady Catherine discovers Mr. Darcy's feelings for Elizabeth, threatening
her long ambition for him to marry her own daughter. She pays Elizabeth an
unannounced visit and tries to intimidate her into refusing such an engagement.
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Unfortunately, Catherine's visit serves to consolidate Elizabeth's intentions.
Furthermore, Lady Catherine visits Mr. Darcy later, and relates the entire
conversation to him, leading Mr. Darcy to the conviction that if he proposes to
Elizabeth again, she may accept him. After ensuring that Mr. Bingley and Jane
Bennet's relationship is rekindled, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth become engaged. The
book ends with two marriages: Jane and Bingley's, as well as Darcy and
Elizabeth's. Both couples live happily ever after.
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