Pride And Prejudice Horacian Satire
Stephan Meyer
Pride and Prejudice
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one ot other of their daughters” (Austen, Pride and Prejudice 1).
These first sentences of Austen’s novel immediately establish a central motif of the work—marriageability—and equally demonstrates Austen’s use of irony. The novel is considered an Horacian satire, a direct form of satire which pokes fun at humble foibles with a witty, even indulgent tone. Austen described her work metaphorically as miniature …show more content…
"the business of Mrs. Bennet's life is to get her daughters married." (Volume 1, Chapter 1) Her main objective in life at the time the novel unfolds is to find wealthy husbands for her five daughters. She is portrayed as frivolous, excitable and narrow-minded; her manners are seen as lacking in refinement and gentility and embarrassing by her eldest daughters. Her favourite daughter is the youngest, Lydia.
2. "Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all." (Volume 2, Chapter 4) As the conversation between Elizabeth and her aunt go on, I found it funny how they spoke of the qualities of men and what should/ should not be acceptable for marriage. Elizabeth makes the statement out of sheer sarcasm. LOL
3. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. (Volume 1, Chapter 6) I found this to be one of the funniest scenes in the entire novel. As Ms Bingley goes on yapping to Mr Darcy, she is completely unaware of the fact that she is ignoring him. Darcy shows a deep understandiung of the statement that Ms Bennet made of wihing him joy. He knows how air-headed and fool-hearted that women of that society can
Pride and Prejudice
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one ot other of their daughters” (Austen, Pride and Prejudice 1).
These first sentences of Austen’s novel immediately establish a central motif of the work—marriageability—and equally demonstrates Austen’s use of irony. The novel is considered an Horacian satire, a direct form of satire which pokes fun at humble foibles with a witty, even indulgent tone. Austen described her work metaphorically as miniature …show more content…
"the business of Mrs. Bennet's life is to get her daughters married." (Volume 1, Chapter 1) Her main objective in life at the time the novel unfolds is to find wealthy husbands for her five daughters. She is portrayed as frivolous, excitable and narrow-minded; her manners are seen as lacking in refinement and gentility and embarrassing by her eldest daughters. Her favourite daughter is the youngest, Lydia.
2. "Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all." (Volume 2, Chapter 4) As the conversation between Elizabeth and her aunt go on, I found it funny how they spoke of the qualities of men and what should/ should not be acceptable for marriage. Elizabeth makes the statement out of sheer sarcasm. LOL
3. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. (Volume 1, Chapter 6) I found this to be one of the funniest scenes in the entire novel. As Ms Bingley goes on yapping to Mr Darcy, she is completely unaware of the fact that she is ignoring him. Darcy shows a deep understandiung of the statement that Ms Bennet made of wihing him joy. He knows how air-headed and fool-hearted that women of that society can