Taking a look at a passage in
the first six chapters of Pride and Prejudice: what does Austen seem to be
saying about pride? Is it a negative or a positive attribute? Or is it neither?
Throughout Pride and Prejudice Austen uses the
attribute of pride as both a positive and negative trait. Austen explores the
manifestation of pride in the character of Mr. Darcy. In the time of Austen it
took dedication, luck, and family name to achieve wealth and status. Often this
dedication requires a strict demeanor. The achievement of Darcy is a positive
attribute of his pride that is seen by the “understanding [that] Darcy [i]s the
superior” to Bingley (Pride and Prejudice
18). While his cleverness and looks are appealing “his manners, though well
bred, [a]re not inviting” (Pride and
Prejudice 18). The combination of his superiority combined with his
coldness created a duality of character within Darcy’s pride. In Austen’s time
in the entirety of society, and particularly in upper class circles, manners
were extremely important. At a dance like the one presented in the early
chapters of Pride and Prejudice women
were to be courted and asked to dance by wealthy, attractive, kind men. Darcy’s
dislike of dancing led him to be considered as “a most disagreeable, horrid
man, not at all worth pleasing” (Pride
and Prejudice 15). Dances are meant for courting, for being approached and
wanted, Darcy’s pride makes him an outsider to these events. While his pride
led him to be someone to be courted, it also inhibited him from participating
to a full extent. The duality of pride is important throughout the book; the
positive and negative attributes are what make Darcy a dynamic character.
Austen uses pride as a benefit and a deduction from the harmony of society.
