Pride and Prejudice is a romance novel published in 1813 and written by Jane Austen. The story is set in late 18th-century England. During this period known as the Regency era, English society was highly stratified and people were very class-conscious. The book follows the evolving relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, whose biases, due to social backgrounds and misunderstandings, constantly jeopardize their relationship. As a series of social and personal revelations unfold, their perceptions of each other change, leading to an unexpected conclusion. I really enjoyed Austen’s ingenious use of irony to ridicule the class consciousness of people during the Regency era. For example, the famous first sentence of the book, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (Austen 3), shows the societal expectation of marrying up. Although some may find the vocabulary of this book to be very complex, I found them intriguing. Words such as “condescension” (display of superiority through patronizing those who are inferior), and “to court” (pursuing someone with the intention of marriage) are imprints of the Regency era and vividly illustrate the social norms of that time. People who like romance, wit, and classical literature will certainly enjoy this book.
