The Subtle Humor Of Pride And Prejudice — страница 2

  • Просмотров 201
  • Скачиваний 5
  • Размер файла 15
    Кб

settling here?” “Design! nonsense, how can you talk so!” (p.2) Mr.Bennet’s conversation is quite ironic and very satirical, because of his extreme politeness and playful innocence, which in result, upset Mrs. Bennet. That provides humor for the reader as a result of her dramatic character. Mrs. Bennet’s character is not ironic in the least, but it is the blending of both characters that bring about the irony. Such foils points out to the readers the ridiculousness of human nature. Pride in Prejudice is also very rich in satire. Satire, in it’s simplest form, is a “wit, irony, or sarcasm, used for the purpose of exposing or discrediting vice or folly”. Satire is commonly used for many reasons, including ridiculing public opinion. Austen disapproves of the way that

public opinion always considers itself to be above all other opinions. She demonstrates the arrogance of public opinion in the matter with Darcy and the ball. Darcy “drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared that he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley.”(p.7) The reasons which cause the ladies to consider him much handsomer than Mr. Bingley is because his income is much more handsome as well. Public opinion considers Darcy to be a great man, simply on account of his large income. However, once public opinion hears of Darcy’s pride

and supposed arrogance, it immediately states that it knew Mr. Darcy was a horrible man, and that it always assumed so. Elizabeth, throughout the majority of the novel, follows public opinion on the view of Darcy. She’s simply a sheep, following the rest of the herd. Austen demonstrates that public opinion is so quick to change minds that it often develops an opinion without informing itself of all the details or facts. This becomes, to the readers, something to laugh at, although most readers do follow public opinion, one way or another. The great display caricatures, character foils, irony, and satire of provides humor for Austen’s readers. Many of the characters that Austen writes about are often subjects of ridicule. The characters and situations that Austen enjoys

satirizing were real for her in her time as well. However, the ultimate irony falls on us, Austen’s readers, who laugh at Austen’s characters. We are the characters in the novel to Jane Austen. We recognize ourselves in the characters that Austen enjoys criticizing. It’s that recognization of ourselves that we laugh at and what we find amusing is the fact that Austen makes us view ourselves this way. We laugh at our own faults. 355