Pride and Prejudice 1-5

“Pride and Prejudice” appears to be an apt way to describe the traditional mindset of the people of the Victorian English countryside.  Many of the characters in the novel feel a sense of entitlement based on their birth and on other aspects of social expectation.  For example, Mr. Collins immediately assumes that Elizabeth will agree to marry him for his wealth and his inheritance.  He does not have the humility to ask the question whether or not she will marry him but instead goes on haughtily describing their lives “when [they] are married” (93).  Mr. Collins is so proud of his social stature that he overlooks the possibility of rejection, expecting her to adhere to societal tradition.

Mrs. Bennett is another example of someone who demonstrates prejudice as a result of her place in society. When Mrs. Bennett describes Mr. Bingley, she venerates his land and money more than his personality (5-7).  She does not yet know him personally, so she surmises that he is a wonderful man based only on his societal merit.  Mrs. Bennett makes the same assumption with Mr. Collins when she urges Elizabeth to marry him for the sole reason that she wants to retain the probably that he will soon inherit.  Because of her desire to keep her property within her family, she convinces herself that Mr. Collins possesses qualities desirable of a man who will marry her daughter even though she has no evidence except his wealth.