Pride and Prejudice Essay

Jane Aus cristals novel haughtiness and Prejudice (1813) is believed to originate from the military personneluscript vociferateed starting line Impressions that harbor been written mingled with 1796 and 1797. The initial statute title indicates that characters behavior and evaluations are influenced by their root persuasions. The scrap title stresses the importance of such psychological characteristics and mechanisms as primp and prejudice. In a phase of the novel influential persons change a lot so far as they understand that perfunctory attitudes and assessments are false when populace devoid of comeledge of the context and understanding of an individuals character.The map paper tackles upon analysis of Austens book as being researched finished a lens of psychology. Contemporary science introduced the cordial stereotypes concept which importantly influences peoples interaction within a given mixer assembly. Among soldieryy a(prenominal) separate important con tri thoions, the novel of interest t each(prenominal)es us to onward motion carefully decisions as link up to our interpersonal acting and judgment of sort members concord to offset printing impressions. The effects, dangers and consequences of premature evaluations as based on tender stereotypes will be analysed with particularized theoretical accounts from the book.The novel under review is believed to be an example of psychological writing or novel of human relationships. As Sherry has acknowledged, the source is always aware of the presence of new(prenominal) individuals with whom it is both a duty or a pleasure to mix (611). The existent title of the book consists of two psychological concepts. The angiotensin converting enzyme of surcharge de nones a trait of character associated with juicy self-esteem. An new(prenominal) one of prejudice refers to a bit when a person makes decisions regardless of the context and relevant features of a grammatical composito rs case or individual.In regard to the coming back of Austens psychologism, critic anthesis has cited Ian Watt, an important theorist of literature from Stanford University. The last mentioned has claimed Austen to be the commenting narrator in the sense that her analyses of characters and their states of mind, and her ironical juxtaposition of motive and situation do not seem to come from an intrusive author but quite an from most august and impersonal spirit of social and psychological understanding (39). In his repeal, another literary critic, Ryan, has de fined Austens psychologism as an experiment in schematic psychology (33).The latter definition with its emphasis on the writers schematism in delineating peoples behavioral patterns and analyzing their internal and remote drives seems to be really accurate, given the recent developments in psychological science. bonny think of the plain statistics in Austens text, thither are 48 references to the phenomenon of pride, which is accessible with direct observation, but there are exclusively 8 cases of mentioning the phenomenon of prejudice, which requires a deeper understanding of psychological mechanisms and social contexts.It seems that the writer lacks instruments and concepts to give way human behavior at a deeper level but this is not Austens fault. world unaware of any of the recent theories of social sciences, she but hits the very essence of the process that would later be called social stereotyping. permit us prove this hypothesis on the example of the pride concept. First time it is explained in Chapter 5 by bloody shame Bennet, the most intent of the Bennets, who is interested in social theory.Upon the ball at which the local fraternity has got acquainted with Fitzwilliam Darcy, the rich and beauteous gentleman from London, women start discussing the refreshfulcomer and adjudicate him as being eat up with pride (Austen 25). On occasion, Mary has demonstrated her education, say ing Pride is a very earthy helplessness human nature is particularly prone to it, and there are very few of us who do not cherish a tactile property of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the speech are oft used synonymously.A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our flavor of ourselves, vanity to what we would pretend others think of us. (ibid. ) The validity of Marys (i. e. , Austens) remark has been acknowledged many decades afterwards by contemporary psychologists including Hunyady and Ryan. Whereas Mary Bennet operates the phrase opinion of ourselves, when referring to characteristics ascribed to the self by an individual, Ryan uses the term self- evaluates (191), and Hunyady employs the term self-image (189). Both Mary (i. e. Austen) and current scientists are aware of the complexity of perceptions as featured by the area and members of the company. To pro ceed with comparison, whereas in the novel there is make a note between pride as a self-rating and vanity as the rating imposed by the community, Ryan speaks near the concept of social stereotype. The psychologist has acknowledged that it consists of the two basic elements the comprehend stereotypicality of a theme (i. e. , the perceived extremity of the cardinal tendency) and the perceived dispersion, or diversity, of radical members (191).This point is not Ryans whimsical invention. On the same issue, another social scientist, Hunyady, has stressed the duality of social processes as occurring both within the specific group and outside it. notice the complexity of relationships in dynamic social contexts, Hunyady has emphasized the following The categories of persons and the related stereotypes do not stand on their cause but rather are components of some kind of a system. Stereotypes are the mosaic pieces of a picture organize of the whole society.One not whole gets to know his individual companions or groups of his companions but also tries to get a blanket(prenominal) view of the entire human world and of society, in which he and his fellows gift a place and a more or less immutable environment. (189) In other words, psychologists argue that in a process of exhibiting the new goal to the social group, the behavior of group members in regard to this object is predicted by realistic group conflict theory and social noesis theories of social categorization. Every subject unit of the group obeys to a plastered set of normative regulations.An individual does not function on his/her own but calorie-freely fits into this or that friendship. Subsequently and inevitably, a person evaluates oneself according to the degree of membership, or the extent to which his/her ratings of the self, the group and social processes conform to the summated ratings of other people belonging to that group. As Ryan has indicated, there is a substitution tenden cy, or the core perception of the phenomenon that is agreed upon by all group members as being guided by a set of shared norms, and there are also deviations from the mainstream.The latter are allowed by those group subjects who are less inclined to stereotype the phenomena of life due to their intellect and character. victorious this conceptual framework into consideration, we should admit that the stages of the social stereotyping process are brightly revealed by Austen in Pride and Prejudice, albeit the narrator employs a simple, non-scientific language. There is a specific group in the countryside 19th century England whose members share the common regulations concerning people and in timets. The luxuriouslyest value is attributed to the amphetamine class membership, wealth, and appearance.There is the aura of a small, enclosed community of talking, visiting, and company (Sherry 611) that confines every person to the specific role and place. In this social atmosphere, first of all impressions, which are based on the abovementioned features of appearance and sweet manners (i. e. , those which do not deviate from the central tendency), become the long-lasting tags for an individual. It is extremely difficult to overcome the sustainability of these immediately formed stereotypes. Since the very moment of his entry to the ball room, Fitzwilliam Darcy drew the groups care.He is a new person to the community, and at first troop he seems to be in accord with the shared set of norms so far as the man is high, good-looking and enjoys a substantial income of ten thousand a year. However, conforming to the stereotype of a good man in the sense of lookout man and social position, Darcy becomes a breacher of discipline in terms of his relationships with other group members. Darcy is claimed to be proud to be above his company, and above being pleased and not all his large res humanitya in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreea ble reserve (Austen 14).The reason for such a shift in attitudes is the mans denial of the spirit of companionship that is somewhat more important to the community than the characteristics of its individual subjects, however handsome and wealthy they are. The clue to understanding the first impression of Darcy is provided in the scene where unripe women are discussing him after the ball. Charlotte Lucas, the dress hat friend of the assist Bennets daughters Elizabeth, who is the main female personage of the story, justifies Darcy by the fact that his high self-rating is understandable so far as he possesses every feature admired within the groupHis pride does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud. (Austen 25) In other words, this is not the mans high self-esteem t hat hurts the senses of the locals. His drawback tackles upon not the pardonable attitude of pride but the regrettable vanity, or the bald negligence of the shared persuasion that the given social group is the take up environment for any dignified individual.Regarding the eagerness to enter the local community and borrow its toolkit of stereotypes, Darcy represents a sharp contrast to an amiable young officer, Mr. Wickham. The latter is as handsome as the former but is more eagerly holded by the group so far as he gladly steps into social intercourses with every member of the circle. As the personage himself has confessed, I pass been a disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I must have employment and society (Austen 98).This weakness and lack of the so to say inner rod is initially perceived as a virtue by group members. Austens command is made evident in the scenes documenting the usual intercourse between group members so that the proofreader can get impre ssion of the relationships permeating the group atmosphere and learn the principles which back up the social stereotypes of that time. To make a clue to her heroes characters, the writer provides short explanations of the peoples psychological background. plurality and events are evaluated by many people who exchange remarks on the issue of interest, although Austen takes a particular interest in the phenomena as perceived through the cores of Elizabeth Bennet. This is a beautiful and intelligent young lady of 20 years old who displays a lively, playful disposition, which de lightered in anything anomalous (Austen 16). She deserves the readers appreciation, demonstrating more quickness of observation and less litheness of temper than her sister, and a judgement too unassailed by any attention to herself (Austen 20).Due to her intellect and sociable yet a bit absent-minded character, Elizabeth exhibits the everlasting(a) ability to deviate from the central tendency in her assess ments and evaluations of life matters. The second of Bennets daughters is obviously the all group member who could have appreciated Darcys ability to let the world slide, if not for the case of personal injustice. She cannot forget the pain that has been caused to her own self-esteem. The thing is that Elizabeth has heard the handsome newcomer admitting that she is not full beautiful to dance with.The remark is ample for the young lady to start detesting the offender to her pride. As Elizabeth herself has stated, I could substantially forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine (Austen 25). The first impression of Darcys rudeness at the ball is driven by the meeting of self-esteems, and negative perceptions color the young ladys further preparation of the hero up to the very moment when he reveals his love toward her in Chapter 34. The futility of first impressions is demonstrated through the description of Elizabeths relationships with Darcy and Wickham as thoroughly as her understanding of Bingleys character.As it has been stated earlier, all ternary men fit the shared groups concept of an discriminate gentleman in terms of their looks and wealth, albeit Wickham is not as rich as the other two men and pretends to be a man who is unjustly insulted. He pretends to be modest and good-hearted when he says, I have no right to give my opinion or I am not qualified to form one (Austen 96) in regard to Darcys background, and immediately afterwards he does his best to ruin Fitzwilliams re entrustation. each(prenominal) Wickhams envy of Darcy is demonstrated in the following characterization The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen (Austen 97). The remark provides the reader with a hint concerning Darcys manner of functioning within the upper class social circle. Among this threesome with Bingley being superficial and Wickham being villainous, Darcy is t he only person to be criticized for the lack of that agreeable manner that Wickham demonstrates speaking even about insignificant matters.The intelligent and kind-hearted Lizzy cannot but feel that the commonest, dullest, most stock(a) topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the verbalizer (Austen 94) when she socialized with Wickham, whereas Darcys brisk and unwilling manner of speaking makes the young lady feel uncomfortable. This is true that being compared to his friend Bingley or his controversy Wickham, Darcy is not the object to readily fall in love and perceptiveness with. He dances only with the two selected ladies and neglects the rest.This manner is regarded an offense to the aura of amiability, and he abstains from the social chit-chat. Besides this gentleman directly expresses his opinions of other people alternatively of camouflaging them under the veil of behind-the-back gossip. This personage makes it too clear that the local society is a collection o f people in whom there was little kayo and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure (Austen 22).He reveals indignation, boredom, or sarcasm in the situations when other men pretend to be pleased and amused. Judging from first impressions, Charles Bingley is more favored by the locals since he treats them as the nicest people he has ever met. In his turn, Wickhams reputation is based on the supposition that Darcy has devoid him of wealth, which puts the two men in the positions of a victim and an offender.This is only throughout a course of the plot development that the narrator makes clear that Bingleys sociality is explained by superficiality, and Wickham is a cheater who has attempted to seduce Darcys younger sister. Utilizing the theories of social categorization, one may say that Wickham has been admitted to the local group more easily than Darcy because the former has readily belittled his self-rating in public conversations and demonstrated the greater extent of willingness to share the pre-established social regulations of the given group. existence compared to the sweet Mr. Bingleys behavior, Darcys behavioral pattern is rooted in the wider cognitive scope and finer spiritual development. The latter is strong enough to disregard the central tendency as it exists in the given group. Being cleverer than his friend Mr. Bingley, who has managed to become the crowd puller, Darcy falls into the sin that is not pride per se but rather vanity. The local society would gladly accept him as the most important person if he had been willing to put himself on one leg so to say with other group members.It is only in Chapter 10 when the narrator lets readers learn more about Darcys understanding of pride and related concepts. In public opinion, his high self-esteem is a manifestation of haughtiness, whereas Wickhams seemingly low self-rating is a sign of appropriateness as shown through humb leness. In his turn, Darcy detests the appearance of humility that is genuinely the carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast (Austen 60).Contemporary psychologists would call Darcys conceptualizations of pride, humility, and boast as being driven by operative utility of human behavior. According to this hero, this is inappropriate to put down ones self-esteem just for the sake of being praised by other group members. Throughout the novel this personage remains the vivid example of a person who shares certain believes common to the central tendency of stereotypicality but reveals energy to display also diversity in his ratings of the self and other people.The complexity and dynamism of social stereotypes is shown through Darcys and Elizabeths attitudes to each other. Whereas Lizzys stereotypes in regard to the man remain sort of flash-frozen for a while under the mans satirical eye (Austen 30), Darcy is being engaged into the fast proceeding process, in a course of wh ich he changes the initial perception of the young lady. The narrator specifies Darcys turn toward re-evaluating Lizzy Bennet as followsBut no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her juicy eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect commensurateness in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the modernistic world, he was caught by their easy playfulness.Austen 29) In other words, Darcys first rejection of the second daughter of Bennets has been caused by the incongruity between Elizabeths outlook and his own classical perception of beauty as a foolhardy symmetry of forms and elements. It is clear that the gentleman has initially been blinded by both his personal and group set of stereotypes that required women to conform to certain standards. Elizabeth does not seem to be classically beautiful, and her gaiety during the first meeting has poked the man away as a manifestation of social inappropriateness.