Ode on a Grecian URL

If you're a little unsure what all this hebdomadal business is about, it might be worth looking over this exemplary meditation on the specific interest Austen has in investigating class difference written by Laura S. (313). There are a few specific features of this hebdomadal that I want to point to:

1. Its tone is exactly on target: Laura mixes personal address ("I have thus come to...") with more formal academic style ("As a reader of Pride and Prejudice, one might be outraged...")
2. The third paragraph integrates close reading with a wider argument (in paragraph 3)
3. The conclusion suggests the implications of this reading for the larger problems and central themes of the text

* * *

While reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, I have been increasingly intrigued with the class consciousness of the characters in the novel. One’s social standing and convention seem to be in the fore front of many, if not all, of the character’s minds. I have thus come to the following question: why has Austen chosen the conflict of class consciousness to focus on over the many other possible discords?

The main conclusion that I have come to in regard to this is that the conflict of upper middle class and lower middle class in the novel brings to light the biases that we all, as a society and human race, possess. Most people would like to think that they are unhindered by social prejudice, that they would love or help even society’s lowliest inhabitants. The reality is, though, that we all succumb to our prejudices at times. As a reader of Pride and Prejudice, one might be outraged by the blatant discrimination. One has to consider, though, if one would or does actually act any different. I think the beauty of this novel is that in its extreme social bias that might seem intolerable to the reader, it forces the reader to consider that we, as a society, are perhaps not any different. This, I think, is what makes the class consciousness conflict interesting; that is, that though we might
not like to acknowledge it, we are no different. Like the characters in the novel, we all fall prey to social bias.

In the beginning of the novel, Darcy is a prime example of social discrimination. While at the ball, Darcy says of Elizabeth, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me” (7). Because Austen structured this sentence with the emphasis on “me,” the reader is able to catch a glimpse of Darcy’s bias. Because emphasis was placed on that word, Darcy is showing the reader that he sees himself as socially higher than Elizabeth, as she is not tempting to him. That is not to say that she would be an unattractive mate for another, but certainly not for a man of his stature. Also, Darcy uses the word “tolerable.” This word choice is another way he shows his discrimination. If he thought she were on his social level, he might have said, “pretty” or “attractive.” Instead, he describes her as merely “tolerable.” Basically, Darcy thinks, in fact knows, that she is not good enough for him.

As a reader, one still might be annoyed with the social prejudice and one may think, “If it were me, I would act differently.” But would one really? It is perhaps an idealized view to believe that love is not confined to social standing and convention. Though it might seem cynical and unromantic, I think we respond and adhere to social standing because it is what we know and trust. It would be easy to say that one would be willing to break all of the standards when it comes to true love. I wonder, however, if, in practice, one would actually be willing to break the “rules” and stand out in that way. There is a reason that the characters in Pride and Prejudice adhere so closely with social convention; that is, I think, that it would be damaging in one’s social and family life not to. Social convention, it seems, is almost a necessity. For example, when Lydia and Wickham run off together, the stress created in the family and their social circle is immense. So while social standing and convention seems unromantic and perhaps irrational, any breach of it creates even larger problems than before. Would we really be willing to forego all the standards ingrained in us at the risk of those around us?

To turn now from this somewhat cynical view that I have been holding, I am still left wondering that if love is not independent of social standing and convention, is there ever any way to escape our social standing? Are we doomed forevermore with the way the world sees us and with the prejudices so deeply ingrained? Can one’s attitudes be matured or is social standing a certain occurrence? Ultimately, is our fate sealed at birth with no hope of remedy? Or is it that, in the end, love is all one really needs?