ABOUT THE NOVEL "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE" AND ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

About the novel:

'Its is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in a want of a wife.'  This famous opening sentence defines the plot of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Mrs. Bennet has only one aim in her life-to see her daughters married. Her husband Mr. Bennet, a gentleman, and the elder daughters, the beautiful and meek Jane and the lively and intelligent Elizabeth  don't much like her efforts at match making. With the arrival of several young men the town of Meryton is roused into a flutter of activities-balls, dances and visits.

                   Mr.Bingley , a good looking and gentlemanly young man comes to Nether field, in the company of his two sisters and his friend Darcy. Even though Darcy has a strong personality, handsome features and a huge income, he is bad mannered and suffers from the sin of pride. Elizabeth eventually makes up her mind that she would never like Mr.Darcy. Her sin is prejudice.

                    Bingley becomes attached to Jane.But Darcy persuades him not to marry Jane, as he think Mrs.Bennet to be coarse and unrefined. Even though Darcy declares his love to Elizabeth, she rejects him outright. Later Darcy comes to help Elizabeth at a crucial period and she begins to love him. The story ends with the much awaited union of Elizabeth and Darcy, and Jane and Bingley too.

RELATIONS BETWEEN CHARACTERS IN JANE AUSTEN'S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

About the author:

Portrait of  JANE AUSTEN, drawn by her
 sister Cassandra (c.1810)

Jane  Austen was born in Hampshire, England on 16th December 1775 in a well to do family as the seventh child. She left school after three years of study to complete education at home.Though she never travelled beyond her locality, she had many opportunities to study the habits of the middle class, the gentry and the aristocracy of the early 19th century England. She gay and witty, a keen observer of people , a brilliant conversationalist and an accomplished dancer. Before she had reached the age of 17, she had written many sketches , short stories and tales. She began her first novel, LADY SUSAN in 1974.In 1976 she wrote FIRST IMPRESSIONS which she later developed in ti PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Her  major novels apart from Pride and prejudice are sense and sensibility, north anger Abbey,Persuasion, Mansfield Park and Emma.Though her novels were published anonymously, the fact of her authorship had become known by 1814. She has many admirers by that time, including sir Walter Scott. Early in 1816, Jane Austen's health began to fail, but her spirit remained strong and her mental powers intact. In may 1817 she became seriously ill. The end came on July 18th,1817.