Works Cited

Works Cited

"Dance." Georgian Index -- Alphabetical Site map. 31 Mar. 2009 http://www.georgianindex.net/Dance/dance.html.

"Fortepiano." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merrian Webster. 30 Mar. 2009 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortepiano.

Jane, Austen,, and Howard Carol. Pride and Prejudice (Barnes & Noble Classics). New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2004.

Joel Sommer, Littauer. "Foil." 30 Mar. 2009 . http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/terms/Literary.Terms.2.html#Foil

Pamela, Whalan. "Understanding Jane Austen's society." Jane Austen Society of Australia (JASA). 07 Sept. 2003. 30 Mar. 2009 .

Foreshadowing

"Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions..." (pg. 95)

In this scene, the extremely haughter Miss Bingley is telling Elizabeth that she shouldn't believe everything that Wickham tells her. Austen employs foreshadowing in this passage to let the audience know that, even though Elizabeth trusts Wickham and what he's told her about Darcy, Wickham is not to be trusted. Of course, the audience later finds out that not only did Wickham waste the money that Darcy's father left him and the money Darcy lent him but he attempted to run off with Georgiana, only to break her heart and marry Elizabeth's sister Lydia.

Prejudice

"And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?" "I hope not." (pg. 94)

In this scene, Darcy and Elizabeth are speaking while dancing at the ball at Netherfield. Austen's irony comes through in full force in this passage. Her two main characters are both appraising each other again in this scene after both have already determined that they don't like each other without really knowing one another. The fact that Elizabeth asks Darcy if he is ever prejudiced speaks volumes about her slightly hypocritical nature, as she is extremely prejudiced when it comes to Darcy. Darcy is hypocritical as well in saying that he is not prejudiced when we well know he is, especially when it comes to Elizabeth and her family. Austen's decision to include this piece of irony helps to characterize her protagonists as well-meaning but ultimately wrong in their primary judgements.

Blinded by Looks

"Besides, there was truth in his looks." (pg. 87)

When Elizabeth first meets George Wickham, she instantly feels a connection with him. In this passage, Liz is talking to her sister about how Wickham told her about how Darcy cut him off after the death of Darcy's father. Jane has a hard time believing that Darcy would do such a thing, but Liz believes it and defends what Wickham said. Austen's diction in this sentence points to the fact that Liz had been blinded by Wickham's "looks". She is thinking rather on how Wickham looks than to what she knows of Darcy. Again, her prejudice toward Darcy helps her to be decieved by Wickham.

Inheritance

"It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out on this house as soon as he please." (pg. 62)


Another important plot point in Pride and Prejudice is the fact that none of the Bennet daughters can inherit Longbourn when Mr. Bennet dies. The only reason they cannot inherit the home is because they are women, and under English law of the 19th century, only men could inherit things like houses. Austen chose to include this law firstly because it was a law that were inact while she was alive and because it drives the goal of Mrs. Bennet to marry off her daughters, which furthers the main plot of marriage in Pride and Prejudice.

Piano-forte

"Her sister made not the smallest objection, and the piano-forte was opened..." (pg. 58)

A piano forte is an early form of the piano originating in the 18th and early 19th centuries and having a smaller range and softer timbre than a modern piano. Another cultural context clue added by Austen, the piano forte was an important part of evening life in Austen's time and often an indicator to how "achieved" a young lady was. Elizabeth's talent at the piano forte is mediocre at best and this is an interesting nod to the way in which she is seen as "successful". She is not the traditional achieved woman, as Darcy sees certain women, but she accomplished in certain areas that other women are not, like independent thought and her ability to hold an enlightened conversation with a man.

Link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortepiano

Twelfth Night

"I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love," said Darcy." (pg. 45)

In including an allusion to one of William Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, Twelfth Night, Jane Austen makes a sly reference to false first impressions. In Twelfth Night, the female protagonist, Viola, must dress as a man and in serving her master, the Duke, she falls in love with him. Just like The Duke only sees Viola's outward and male appearance, Elizabeth only sees the selfish and cold exterior Darcy puts forth and not the true and compassionate Darcy.