Irony In Pride And Prejudice Rhetorical Analysis

1036 Words5 Pages
During Regency England, young author Jane Austen overcomes the challenges of being a female novelist and writes a well-known comedy of manners, Pride and Prejudice. Without the convenience of technology like today, the communication consists of letter writing and word of mouth. In those conversations, men and women give reports of others without confirmation of the truth of the news. In accordance of it being a comedy of manner, Austen writes in a sophisticated way while satirizing society. Austen employs situational irony to critique the weak aspect of social manners to spread news without validity or alter opinions based on appearance. The town’s shifting thoughts denotes the irony of the gossip that rapidly spreads without a reliable source.…show more content…
Bennet ironically varies her belief by sight and the voices of others. Mrs. Bennet’s character of gossiping portrays the community who never doubt to speak and without a filter of their words. In the description of Mrs. Bennet in the beginning of the story, Austen writes that her “solace was visiting and news” in any moment possible (7). She gathers her knowledge from the tales of others and not from time spent to know the person or situation. Mrs. Bennet believes whatever she hears even if it comes from unreliable sources. From the rumor that Elizabeth starts of the ill behavior of Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet announces, “good gracious! Mr. Darcy! ...but else I must say that I hate the very sight of him” when Darcy and Bingley return to Netherfield from their avoidance of Hertfordshire (278). Without actually knowing the true character and nature of a man, Mrs. Bennet hates him because of the false words of another. The hatred of a man disappears from one proposal of him marrying her daughter. On the news that Lizzy is to marry Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet rambles “Mr Darcy! … Such a charming man! —so handsome! so tall!” (316). Ironically the same man that pages before Mrs. Bennet hates, she admires his appearance, wealth, and character. With a gossiping nature, Mrs. Bennet never restraints herself in conversation and becomes ignorant of the danger of…show more content…
When one man comes to the town, the community’s response of prejudice symbolizes man’s inquiring nature. At the Meryton ball, the first time Elizabeth encounters Mr. Darcy, the handsome gentleman “soon drew the attention of the room … —and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance of his having ten thousand a year”(11). The information of the gentleman’s wealth reaches the ears of curious listeners around the room, even before the understanding of his personality. People judge by appearance and social status, but rebuff after a slight offence. Mr. Darcy “ was looked at with admiration for about half the evening,” at the ball until he refuses to dance with ladies outside his former acquaintances and “his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud” (11). When Elizabeth spreads the news of Darcy’s criticism so that the esteem for him transforms into loathing, she provides an example for the harm done by the human mouth. Instead of determining an opinion of a person because they spend time with them to understand and know their disposition, human beings tend to settle their belief from the tattles of others. In the same evening that Mr. Darcy drew the attention of the room because of good-lucking mien, ironically his “character was decided [that] he was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world “

    More about Irony In Pride And Prejudice Rhetorical Analysis

      Open Document