Write a note on plot construction of Pride and Prejudice.

 

Q.10. Write a note on plot construction of Pride and Prejudice.

Or, An Essay on Pride and Prejudice event: Plot Structure and construction.

 

Ans:    The plots of Austen’s novels especially that of  Pride and Prejudice are well-knit, organic plots. There is very little in them that may be called superfluous. In Pride and Prejudice. In the novel the events follow each other logically and inevitably.

 

The story opens at Longfourn. The arrival of Mr. Bingley at Netherfield Park is an important event because of the matrimonial intention of the Bennet family, and also because it is with him that the hero Darcy makes his appearance. Quite naturally, there is a ball at Netherfield Park which makes stage in the development of the plot. The plot develops through the conflict between Darcy and Elizabeth, the pride of one and the prejudice of the other.

 

Jane Austen shows great skill in the handling of events which now follow in quick succession, resulting in the depending on Elizabeth’s prejudice and the awakening of Darcy’s love for her. The conflict between pride and prejudice weakens as Darcy makes his proposal to Elizabeth at Hunsford. However, as this proposal is made an insulting tone, it is at once rejected. From this time onward up to the end, Jane Austen is at her best. Thus the structure of Pride and Prejudice is dramatic.

 

The attitudes of the hero and heroine gradually but inevitably, undergo a complete reversal and marriage is the only natural solution. The beginning of the story begins together with the hero and heroine. The story develops through conflict between their respective pride and prejudice and ends with the reversal of their attitudes. Character also is developed through dialogue instead of description or analysis.

 

Comedy deals with the conflict between illusion and reality and this is also the theme of Jane Austen’s novels. Jane Austen’s novels are dramatic novels of conversation rather than of action.

 

There are several pairs of lovers. Her novel consists of several sub-plots, digressions, and episodes. Thus in pride and prejudice, we have at least:-

( a ) the main plot consisting of the love story of Decay and Elizabeth,

( b ) Jane – Bingley subplot.

( c ) Lydia – Wickham episode, and

( d ) Collins – Charlotte episode.

 

The novelist has woven together all these threads with great skill. The subplots besides providing a touch of tragedy to the story, also serve as a foil to the main plot. Jane and Bingley are more passive lovers as contrasted with the active nature of Elizabeth and Darcy. Bingley’s sudden departure for London from Netherfield serves to heighten Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Darcy, for she regards him as being responsible for the misery of her sister. At the beginning of the subplot holds the front of the state, but gradually it is flushed into the background and the main story is seen in its proper perspective. Lydia – Wickham episode also adds the element of melodrama and sensation. It also highlights the essential nobility of Darcy and thus serves to dispel the prejudice of Elizabeth. It serves to increase the suspense of the story.

 

Thus there are no loose ends; all the parts have been well fused into a single compact whole. Jane Austen’s novels contain very little action and what every action there is it is trivial and commonplace. The plots of Jane Austen’s may not be highly original or ingenious, but they are highly artistic. No other writer of function has ever achieved such great results by such insignificant means, none other has, upon material so severely limited, expended such beauty ingenuity and precision of workmanship.

 

 

Or, Write a note on plot construction of Pride and Prejudice.

Or, An Essay on Pride and Prejudice event: Plot Structure and construction.

 

Ans:    In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen creates a picture of the small, cocooned world of the middle class gentry -- with their commonplace joys and their commonplace sorrows. The central concern of this "comedy of manners" is Mrs. Bennet’s dogged efforts to find suitable husbands for her eldest daughters. Of course, Mrs. Bennet’s judgements cannot be trusted, for she is a nagging wife, an ineffectual mother, and a social misfit throughout the novel. Her repeated and continued foolishness is one of the things that holds the plot together into a unified whole.

 

The plot’s focus on marriage is seen from the very beginning of the story. The arrival of Mr. Bingley, ‘a single man of large fortune’ at near-by Netherfield immediately fires the imagination of Mrs. Bennet. An acquaintance is struck and what follows is a series of parties, balls, and teas, which are very essential to the plot; it is at these social gatherings that the four main characters -Bingley and Jane and Darcy and Elizabeth - are brought together. They also serve to illustrate the culture, manners, fashions, pretensions, and snobberies of the English gentry at the time.

 

The first ball at Netherfield hints at the course of things to follow. The amiable Jane and the gentle Bingley are almost instantly drawn to each other. In contrast, the proud Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth have great difficulty in communicating; Elizabeth is infuriated that the arrogant man has slighted her. Much of the remaining plot is centered on the unfolding of the pride and prejudices of this pair, which Jane Austen carefully develops. Jane’s illness at Netherfield Park is deftly contrived by the author to get the two pairs of lovers into closer contact, where they can observe each other’s natures and evaluate their own feelings. In contrast to his reaction at the ball, Darcy is attracted by Elizabeth’s fine eyes, her frankness, and her ready wit. Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s prejudice against Darcy makes her misinterpret anything he says or does. Wickham, serving as a contrast to Darcy, diversifies the plot. By telling falsehoods about Darcy, he strengthens Elizabeth’s dislike of the man. When Elizabeth spurns his advances, he preys upon the coquetry and caprice of Lydia, finally eloping with her. This event lets Darcy prove his true worth to Elizabeth.

 

Mr. Collins is introduced into the plot to reveal the negative side of marriage. He is a sycophant, a pompous clergyman, and an odd combination of ‘servility and self importance’. He is a deliberately constructed, grotesque figure, who is desperate to marry for any reason. Unfortunately, Charlotte Lucas, compelled by economic and social pressures, accepts his proposal. The picture of their married life is a bleak one. The noble Charlotte, however, tries to make her life as pleasant as possible, tolerating Collins as a payment for her sense of security offered by marriage.

 

Lady Catherine de Bourgh is introduced into the plot as a very wealthy member of the upper class society and as Collins’ patroness. She also happens to be Darcy’s aunt, and it is speculated that her nephew will marry her unacceptable daughter. In each encounter with Lady Catherine, she shows herself to be rude, authoritative, and domineering woman, who would like to run the lives of everyone she knows. Through her, Jane Austen clearly shows that superiority of social class does not necessarily imply superiority of intellect, ethics, or morality. For all her purported sophistication and snobbery, Lady Catherine, in her own way, is as coarse and vulgar as Mrs. Bennet.

 

The plot is further advance by another meeting of Darcy and Elizabeth, which leads him to know that he is in love with this vivacious young lady. Against his better judgement and sure that she will accept, Darcy proposes to Elizabeth. Her stormy refusal jolts his prides and results in an explanatory letter, which seeks to clarify the two allegations leveled against him. Although angered by the letter, from this point forward, Elizabeth begins to change her opinion of Darcy, moving away from her prejudice to a more realistic and uncritical viewpoint. At the same time, Darcy is forced to look at himself and lose some of his arrogance.

 

Elizabeth’s visit to Derbyshire with the Gardiners brings her into contact with Darcy once again. Elizabeth’s prejudice really begins to thaw under the warmth he emits during the visit; but just as the two are about to be reconciled, tragedy strikes. Lydia has eloped with Wickham, and Elizabeth is summoned to Longbourn. Ironically, Lydia’s crass behavior threatens to fatally injure the chances of her two admirable sisters to attract Bingley and Darcy.

 

In the end, Lydia’s elopement provides an opportunity for Darcy to prove his worth to Elizabeth. He convinces Wickham to marry Lydia, by offering him a large sum of money. When Elizabeth learns of his noble deed, she realizes how wrong she has been in her judgement of him and hopes for a chance to make things right. When she sees Darcy again, she apologizes and expresses her appreciation. Darcy’s response to Elizabeth’s humility is to propose to her once again. This time Elizabeth eagerly accepts, bringing the plot to its natural climax.

 

The fully developed and tightly constructed plot clearly centers on marriage in its various forms. It is the central theme that binds the plot together. Therefore, the natural end of the novel comes with Jane’s marriage to Bingley and Elizabeth’s marriage to Darcy. Love has conquered all - both pride and prejudice.