Analysis of the incipit of Pride and Prejudice

INTRO :

In the novels, the incipit is used to anounce the first details of the story like the context, the characters or the (social) background. This extract, is the incipit from the novel entitled Pride and Prejudice who was written in 1813 by Jane Austen. And it really allows the reader to have a look at the prevailing norms and expectations of the early 19th-century England in wich the story is set.

So, what does this incipit reveal about the begining of Pride and Prejudice ? First of all, we are learning a lot about the society that is depicted in this extract. Then,we are gonna focus on the characters and what do we learn about them. And finally, we are gonna show that it may be a reflection about the real world in wich Jane Austen was living in.

1) To begin with, we are gonna see that we are learning a lot about the society that is depicted in this extract.

At first glance, we can notice that marriage and money are the principal themes

- Indeed, even before reading the extract we can observe that there's already a way to know what this is gonna be about. Indeed, the title is Pride and Prejudice, and the choice of both of these notions highlights the fact that moral values and human behaviour are paramount in the characters’ attitude, within a defined social background. That's why there's the alliteration here in «  Pride and Prejudice » with the p that is enhancing a possible proximity between the two notions, although the words themselves have different meanings.

Then, in this English society of the end of the 18th century, the reader notices that the idea of possesion is very present.

That's why the lexical field of that is really noticable in the whole text.

For example, we can notice that the opening paragraph is framed by the idea of possesion because, in l.1 or l .5 the narrator talks about « the rightful property » . This shows the power of a wealthy man who can be rightfully in possession of both money and a wife . Here, the female gender is considered as sheer commodity . And suprisely by women themselves !! Because it is more Mrs Bennet’s opinion than Mr Bennet , who actually turns out to be far more respectful than her !!

Besides marriage, wealth is also a central theme that makes us learn more about the society depicted in this extract. And the indication of wealth is given directly or in an indirect manner.

-Indeed, Mrs Bennet mentions the eligible young man’s wealth. He says even with figures, he has a number of servants, he has a chaise and four ( so it’s basically a carriage drawn by four horses, and not only two ! And in the past this was really indicating that this man was very rich if he had a lot of horses )

2) Then, we are gonna focus on the characterisation, and what do we learn about the characters. Here,the fact that it's a dialogue is like a direct access to what these characters, are, there persona, and how they behave.

We learn that Mrs Bennet and Mr Bennet are 2 characters completely different and not on the same wavelenght.

-Indeed, Mr Bennet stands back from his wife , he's a lot more reserved. And he quietly enjoys a position which seems to be more in control of things. And says things with witty humour. And the 1st thing we can notice about him is that in l 19 , when he says « what is his name ? using direct speech. he really sticks to simple facts and asks simple questions

On the opposite, Mrs Bennet shows a sense of impatience and eagerness. Her use of hyperbole or exclamations. Like in line 22 when she says «Oh ! Single, my dear, to be sure ! » this really shows her excessive emotion is that of a woman who has no sense of reflexivity or individual thinking. She’s really into gossips and just thinks and says what others think and say.That's why she tends

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