Jane Austen was born in 1775 and died in 1817. She was an English writer, known for her six best novels, who interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry (a British social class that had great privileges) at the end of the 18th century. Austen’s plans often explore the dependence of women on marriage in search of a favorable social position and economic security. His works criticize the novels of sensibility in the second half of the eighteenth century and are part of the transition to literary realism of the nineteenth century. His use of grim irony, along with his realism, humor and social commentary, has gained recognition among critics, academics and popular audiences.
When Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice, she was barely twenty years old, and she shared a room with her sister. She wrote in simple notebooks. The first redaction of the work dates from the period 1796; initially it received the title of First Impressions, but it was never published with that name. This first version of the novel was already sketched by Jane Austen at 21 years old. In 1797 Jane’s father offered it to an editor, who rejected it.
Jane reviewed the work in 1809-1810 and again in 1812, and then offered it, with the support of her brother Henry, to another editor, who had published Sense and Sensibility the previous year.
It was first published on January 28, 1813. Like its predecessor and The Northanger Abbey, it was written in Steventon’s rectory.
The central story it is centralized around the efforts of the family Bennet, who have a social position not so comfortable, to marry their daughters with rich men, as a way to ensure the future of each of them, a situation that also reveals a representation of the English society of the moment, especially about their pride and prejudices.
However, its main characters live a positive evolution, leaving behind some of its main prejudices, and opening towards a much more mature existence, so Pride and Prejudice has been seen by some critics as well as a novel of personal improvement, where his characters acquire values and attitudes that allow them to have a better attitude towards life.
The most significant characters of pride and prejudice are the following: first we find Elizabeth Bennet who is the protagonist of the novel and second daughter of Mr. Bennet, she is the most intelligent and sensitive of the five Bennet sisters. In addition, it is very good and sometimes very sincere, something that is good for her. Know Darcy’s essential goodness by ending his initial prejudice against him. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a wealthy gentleman.
Although Darcy is intelligent and honest, his excess of pride makes him despise socially inferior people. In the course of the novel, he tempers his class consciousness and learns to admire and also to love Elizabeth for her strong character.
Jane Bennet is the older and more beautiful Bennett sister, and she is more reserved and kind than Elizabeth. The ease with which Charles and she interact contrasts with the mutual dislike that marks the meetings between Elizabeth and Darcy.
Charles Bingley is Darcy’s considerably wealthy best friend. The purchase of a Netherfield property near the Bennets by this character serves as an impetus for the novel. He is a genial, well-intentioned gentleman whose carefree nature contrasts with Darcy’s initially impolite attitude. He is happily indifferent to class differences.
The character of Mr. Bennet, who is the patriarch of the Bennet family, a gentleman of modest income with five unmarried daughters, is also developed. He has a sarcastic and cynical sense of humor that he uses to deliberately irritate his wife. Although he loves his daughters, he often fails as a father, preferring to withdraw from women’s unending worries instead of helping them.
Mrs. Bennet, the wife of the previous character, is a foolish and noisy woman whose only objective in life is to see her married daughters.
George Wickham is a handsome agent of the fortune hunting militia. Wickham’s good looks and charm initially appeal to Elizabeth, but Darcy’s revelation about Wickham’s discredited past gives her hints about her true nature and at the same time brings her closer to Darcy.
Lydia Bennet is the younger sister Bennet, she is a gossip, immature. Unlike Elizabeth, Lydia throws herself headlong into romance and ends up fleeing with Wickham.
Mr. Collins is a pompous person, usually an idiot, who will inherit Mr. Bennet’s property. The social status of this character is nothing that can be presumed. He is the worst combination of a presumed person.
Miss Bingley is Bingley’s presumptuous sister. She shows an inordinate disdain for Elizabeth’s middle class background. His vain attempts to attract the attention of Darcy make him admire even more the strong personality of Elizabeth.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a noble who personifies presumption of class, especially in her attempts to keep Elizabeth away from her well-educated nephew.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are affectionate and full of common sense, often proving to be better parents of the Bennet daughters than their parents.
Charlotte Lucas is Elizabeth’s best friend. Six years older than Elizabeth, Charlotte does not see love as the most vital component of a marriage. She is more interested in having a comfortable home.
Georgiana Darcy is Fitzwilliam’s sister, she is very pretty and equally shy, she has a great ability to play the piano. Mary Bennet, is the sister of the middle Bennet, librettist and pedant.
Finally we have Catherine Bennet the fourth sister, just like Lydia, she is captivated as a child by the soldiers.
My personal opinion is so good. However, the book focuses too much on love.
This book has a kind of attraction, if you like the romantic novel. Because you want to continue reading to know what is going to happen. If one will declare to the other, if that one is having an affair with another … It is like the typical Spanish soap opera, only that a long time ago.