Flattery in Pride and Prejudice Essay - 1386 Words

Flattery in Pride and Prejudice Since its composition in 1797, Jane Austins Pride and Prejudice has enjoyed two centuries of literary esteem not because of its witty dialogue or its tantalizing plot, but because of its universal themes that allow modern readers to identify with early Victorian life. Although the novel focuses on the etiquette of courtship, related social rituals are also prevalent throughout the story. William Collins, a rector in Pride and Prejudice, uses excessive flattery to persuade people to look upon him favorably. He even lavishly praises himself to enhance his self-esteem. While the sycophants peculiar behavior is comical at first†¦show more content†¦Of the three distinct directions Collins aims his flattery, the most complex to explicate is arguably that praise he directs toward himself. In a letter to the Bennet family, he writes I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable...[and you will not] reject the offered olive branch (67). In this intro duction to Collins, he asserts his benevolence as nothing short of remarkable and immediately springs from that notion to presume it bears influence over others. His self-assuring antics appear in an argument later when he remarks ...I consider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide on what is right than a young lady like yourself (106-107). Collins self-directed flattery empowers him with decisive confidence that allows him to win logical disputes by default, no doubt bolstering his self-image and augmenting his probability for affluence. On numerous occasions, Collins asserts the importance of his appointment as rector in the community, implying that he thinks highly of the rigid demeanor required to fulfill the duties of his imminent position.Show MoreRelatedMrs. Wickham : A Moral Outward Appearance1635 Words   |  7 Pagesthe amiable and pleasing† (Bloom 17). In addition to fooling Regency society, Wickham is even able to fool Austen’s intelligent protagonist, Elizabeth. Wickham realizes her abhorrence for Mr. Darcy at the Netherfield Ball, and is able to use that prejudice to exact his appearance of morality. By telling Elizabeth the fake horrors Darcy inflicted upon him, Elizabeth takes pity and trusts Wickham, a huge mistake she is yet to discover. Additionally, Mr. Wickham’s good, appealing manners serve as a comfortRead MoreJane Austen s The 19th Century Society1447 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluences in Elizabeth’s life, Austen emphasizes Elizabeth’s maturation more so on her experiences rather than her own familial background. This is another layer upon the existing social pressures that Elizabeth had to deal with. Elizabeth takes strong pride in her ability to make judgements of character of the people that she meets. In making her judgements, she holds onto it stronger than her adamancy in making those claims. Chapter 11 highlights one of the most critical points of the book of where ElizabethRead MoreAnalysis Of Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen862 Words   |  4 PagesPride and Prejudice: Analysis Jane Austen’s â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† novel is a humorous portrayal of the social atmosphere and it’s principally concerned with courtship rituals of the English culture of the early 19th century. The beloved love stories between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy brings awareness to the obstacles that they must overcome of the social hierarchy within themselves as well as the outside world. The initial meeting of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet is set in a public ball. TheRead More Analysis of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay1389 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Pride and prejudice is a novel set in the late 17th Century and was written by author Jane Austen. The novel is based upon the theme of marriage and social settings of the 17th century. The novel is set in an era where women where 2nd class citizens and were inferior to men. This is ever so prevalent in the novel. In the time of which the novel is set women were not meant to meddle in men’s affairs theses included involving in politics, participatingRead MorePride and Prejudice1236 Words   |  5 PagesThe path to marriage initiates in the very first paragraph of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This courtship novel begins with the premise that â€Å"a single man in possession of a fortune must be in want of a wife† (pg. 5) Throughout the competition for the single men, characters are naturally divided by the norms of their social standing. However, the use of social conventions and civility further divides them. The characters in need of the most moral reform remain unchanged, leaving a path forRead MoreJane Austens Presentation of Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice1043 Words   |  5 PagesJane Austens Presentation of Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen presents Mr Collins as a character with many different traits. Mr Collins is a man who is very aware of his social status, likes to impress people, is extremely proud and has an inflated ego to name but a few. The first time we get a mention of Mr Collins, is in chapter thirteen, where we learn that Mr Bennet has in fact never met the man who will inherit the house upon Mr Bennets deathRead MoreThe Lack of Social Mobility in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice2139 Words   |  9 PagesPride and Prejudice, a novel written by Jane Austen during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century is often thought of as simply a love story and although on the surface this is true, it is in fact much more than that. Austen focuses greatly on the class system and lack of social mobility allowed in England during this period (the Napoleonic Wars, 1797-1815) and the pride and prejudice that these social divides reveal, as well as the personal pride and prejudice shown by individual charactersRead More Jane Austins Pride and Prejudice Essay1965 Words   |  8 PagesJane Austins Pride and Prejudice Attitudes to love and marriage in the nineteenth century was very different from the comparatively liberal approach of today, and strict codes of etiquette were applied to Courtship for all but the lower classes of society. At the time of Pride and Prejudice, womens role was firmly in the home and the young ladies portrayed in this middle and upper class, occupied themselves with singing, playing the piano, sewing and other such accomplishments thatRead MorePride And Prejudice Essay1308 Words   |  6 PagesElizabeth’s resolve to think independent of social class that places Austen’s stance purely in line with the individual above the ranks of society as a whole. Elizabeth is not without experiencing the discomfort of social roles within the world of Pride and Prejudice. She feels very intently the social discomfort that is brought on when individuals act outside established social norms. Perhaps, this is a consequence of her social upbringing, for she certainly has a number of self-evaluated cringe-inducingRead MoreAustens Use of Environment in Pride and Prejudice2510 Words   |  11 PagesJane Austens use of Environment in Pride and Prejudice In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen places characters in environments that reveal important details about the characters. It would have been easy to communicate Elizabeths prejudice or Darcys pride using the voice of a narrator, but Austen chooses a more subtle and interesting method of enlightening her readers. Whether using physical surroundings or social contexts, Austen repeatedly coordinates both time and place together to create situations