Complete Works of Jane Austen (49 page)

BOOK: Complete Works of Jane Austen

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Willoughby could not hear of her marriage without a pang; and his punishment was soon afterwards complete in the voluntary forgiveness of Mrs. Smith, who, by stating his marriage with a woman of character, as the source of her clemency, gave him reason for believing that had he behaved with honour towards Marianne, he might at once have been happy and rich. That his repentance of misconduct, which thus brought its own punishment, was sincere, need not be doubted; — nor that he long thought of Colonel Brandon with envy, and of Marianne with regret. But that he was for ever inconsolable, that he fled from society, or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or died of a broken heart, must not be depended on — for he did neither. He lived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself. His wife was not always out of humour, nor his home always uncomfortable; and in his breed of horses and dogs, and in sporting of every kind, he found no inconsiderable degree of domestic felicity.

For Marianne, however, in spite of his incivility in surviving her loss, he always retained that decided regard which interested him in every thing that befell her, and made her his secret standard of perfection in woman; and many a rising beauty would be slighted by him in after-days as bearing no comparison with Mrs. Brandon.

Mrs. Dashwood was prudent enough to remain at the cottage, without attempting a removal to Delaford; and fortunately for Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, when Marianne was taken from them, Margaret had reached an age highly suitable for dancing, and not very ineligible for being supposed to have a lover.

Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication which strong family affection would naturally dictate; — and among the merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.

THE END

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Pride and Prejudice
was first published on January 13
th
1813 in three volumes by Thomas Egerton
.
Although Austen had published her debut novel on a commission basis, resulting in a profit, she unfortunately decided to sell the copyright of
Pride and Prejudice
to Egerton for a one-off payment, a costly decision as the book was a financial success. A second edition of the novel was issued in November 1813 and by 1817 a third edition had also been released.

The author had begun composing the novel in 1796 and finished it in October 1797, under the title
First Impression.
Austen’s father sent a letter to the bookseller Thomas Cadell asking if he would be interested in reading the manuscript, but Cadell declined the offer. It was only after the novelist made important revisions to the work in 1812 that she renamed it
Pride and Prejudice
. It is estimated that more than twenty million copies have now been sold and it has remained an incredibly popular work, exemplified by the array of adaptations it has received over the past century.

The plot centres on the changing relationship between the heroine, Elizabeth Bennett and the wealthy Mr Darcy. The novel opens with the news that Mr Bingley, a wealthy and eligible young man has moved into the neighbourhood, which motivates Mrs Bennett to attempt to marry one of her five daughters to him. Mr Bingley organises a ball where he meets and becomes infatuated with Jane Bennett, Elizabeth’s sweet, generous and good natured older sister. Mr Darcy appears at the social function where he insults Elizabeth and behaves in a proud and aloof manner towards nearly everyone. This first encounter of the protagonists begins a series of interactions between them, creating one of the most memorable relationships in English literature. Austen crafts a world of bright, distinct characters that enliven and enrich the central narrative and help to create a novel of great humour and insight.

Elizabeth Bennett is an enormously vivid and attractive heroine; she is intelligent, witty and vivacious, but also impetuous and quick to judge. By contrast, Mr Darcy is taciturn and socially awkward, though also intelligent and honourable. Through these characters and others, Austen explores the themes of marriage, class and wealth, exposing the limitations and restrictions of early nineteenth century England. The author reveals and highlights the crude economic basis of the function of marriage and the necessity for women to find a husband in order to secure their future. Austen underlines this issue very clearly in her treatment of the marriage between Charlotte and the pompous, idiotic Mr Collins; there is no love, only a clear-sighted, rational, pragmatic decision by Charlotte not to become an economic burden to her family and to tolerate her husband, rather than risk the possibility of impoverishment.