Briski 2 Camille Charise Briski Mrs.

Sparks AP Lit 8 23 August 2012 The Spirit of Love "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." (185) This quote accurately sums up the theme of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin; Love triumphs all. Austin uses Elizabeth's and Darcy's love to display her theme numerous times throughout the book. Love triumphs over Elizabeth's struggle with Lady Catherine, the Bennett's careless parenting and even Elizabeth's prejudice and Darcy's pride. With the use of satire and humor, Austin cleverly weaves a theme that is now told in nearly every romantic comedy. Love can conquer all, and this is displayed many times throughout Pride and Prejudice. First, Elizabeth and Darcy face an inner battle concerning their ethic's and values ,but ultimately love dismisses all doubts and Elizabeth and Darcy marry. In the first few chapters of the book, Elizabeth develops a prejudice regarding Darcy. Your character was unfolded in the recital which I received many months ago from Mr. Wickham. (187) Similarly, Darcy's pride keeps him from displaying his affections towards Elizabeth. Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger. (51) Love is strong enough to change people, and Austin uses the change in Darcy and Elizabeth to display her theme. Love is also powerful enough to defeat any opposition, including Lady Catherine, who Elizabeth encounters before Darcy's proposal. She tells Elizabeth in a frank manner that she will not let her marry Darcy. Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. (335) During this argument, Elizabeth displays every quality Darcy dreams of having

Briski 2 in a woman. He confirms earlier in the book that a woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved. (39) Elizabeth tells Darcy that she has never met a woman to the standard he describes and then ironically exhibits every characteristic he hopes for during her argument with Lady Catherine. In this way, Austin dismisses Lady Catherine as an obstacle and reaffirms her theme, love can conquer anything. Elizabeth's and Darcy's love defeat yet another obstacle during the climax of the book. With the negligence of a sarcastic father and the stupidity of a foolish mother Lydia is able to run away in plans of eloping with Mr. Wickham. Though the Bennett's worry about Lydia's safety, their main concern is that Mr. Wickham will not marry Lydia and the Bennett's family reputation will be ruined. Mr. Bennet gives up on finding Lydia, and in the end it is Darcy who seeks her out. When he finds her he pays Mr. Wickham to marry her, leaving the family with no worries. He does this because he loves Elizabeth, and through this gesture of love some of her own prejudice is acquitted. She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. (295) Austin uses this to demonstrate that love triumphs anything, even the result of foolish parenting. Pride and Prejudice brings to surface an idea that was new in the 1800's: Love can conquer anything. Austin shows this through her irony, satire, and wit. Furthermore, she demonstrates this in many situations. Love dissolves Elizabeth's prejudice and Darcy's pride and defeats Lady Catherine's opposition to Darcy's and Elizabeth's marriage. Finally, love resolves an issue evolving from negligent parenting and in all this, Austin presents her theme clearly and purposefully. Austin excites the mind with her theme and leaves the reader with a hopeful soul. You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of

Briski 2 love. (Henry Drummond)