Mrs. Wickham A Moral Outward Appearance - 1635 Words

The third satirical example Austen employs in her novel to reflect Regency society’s manner-based stereotypes is with her character Mr. Wickham. Despite his black heart and poor morality, Mr. Wickham has a way with words and is able to smooth talk his way in and out of every situation. His good looks and manners establish a moral outward appearance in the society. Elizabeth admits in her personal monologue while in denial of Mr. Darcy’s revelations in his letter that, â€Å"His countenance, voice, and manner had established him at once in the possession of every virtue. She had tried to recollect some instance of goodness†¦ But no such recollection befriended her† (Austen 236). To Elizabeth, Mr. Wickham at first appears to be the example of an amiable man in terms of manners and morality; however, she solely bases her judgment on her first impression, â€Å"Elizabeth’s emotional commitment to her belief in Wickham’s good character is such, how ever, that she undertakes to convince herself that her friend’s manners are at all times unexceptionable, that he always her model of the amiable and pleasing† (Bloom 17). In addition to fooling Regency society, Wickham is even able to fool Austen’s intelligent protagonist, Elizabeth. Wickham realizes her abhorrence for Mr. Darcy at the Netherfield Ball, and is able to use that prejudice to exact his appearance of morality. By telling Elizabeth the fake horrors Darcy inflicted upon him, Elizabeth takes pity and trusts Wickham, a huge mistake sheShow MoreRelatedThe Austen Marriage1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe females in Pride and Prejudice have their moral values reflected in their marriage. They each have a predetermined standard – whether it is love or monetary gain, or superficial or complex – of what constitutes a marital relationship. According to Zimmerman, â€Å"the character from whose point of view much of the action is seen is Elizabethâ €  (67). She is either the one being married or is the one giving opinion on another’s marriage. Jane Austen utilizes Elizabeth as the crux of the plot’s movementRead More Irony in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice Essay3430 Words   |  14 Pagesbecomes ironic when one realizes IT is a truth universally acknowledged. The first character to express sarcasm and irony is Mr. Bennett. Austen brings forth the irony of her opening thesis in his sarcastic speech. The opening dialogue between Mr. Bennett and his wife is a worthy example. She comments on a man leasing a piece of property, Netherfield Park. Mr. Bennett shows very little interest in her story. His disinterest perturbs her and she asks him if he wants to know who has rented theRead MoreEssay about Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice2664 Words   |  11 PagesIn Sense and Sensibility this moral change is obvious in Elinor and Marianne. The development of these adolescents into mature, reasonable adults is a gradual transformation seen in Sense and Sensibility. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy begin Pride and Prejudice as arrogant and biased adults and end the story as liberal minded individuals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      In Sense and Sensibility the family has been forced to move from the plush lap of luxury into a more modest setting. Mr. Dashwood has just passed awayRead MoreSocial Norms and Values in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice2819 Words   |  12 Pagestruly a lady or a gentleman. Both ladies and gentlemen were expected to be considerate to others, respectful towards those less powerful than themselves, courteous, and in control of their manners and appearance at all times. Flaunting one’s power was seen as rude and arrogant, and control over outward emotion was imperative. One of the primary examples of how Austen shows the values associated with a gentleman occurs with regard to Elizabeth’s early reactions to Darcy. Although rich, Darcy’s behaviorRead MoreMr Benett and the Failures of Fatherhood8365 Words   |  34 PagesMr. Bennet and the Failures of Fatherhood in Jane Austens Novels Author(s): Mary A. Burgan Reviewed work(s): Source: The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, Vol. 74, No. 4 (Oct., 1975), pp. 536552 Published by: University of Illinois Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27707956 . Accessed: 29/08/2012 00:55 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR isRead MoreSatire in Jane Austens Pride in Prejudice Essay3688 Words   |  15 Pagesbeing mentioned in the next sentence† (Selznick 92). The ridiculousness of the value placed upon money – of which the middle class has very little – is evident as Austen progresses the story and the relationships between her characters – namely between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. The fact that, in Austen’s time, the society revolved around the gentry – whose entire idea of class and power involved money – makes it easier for the audience reading Pride and Prejudice to understand why she has satirized this