Pride and Prejudice Assignment 2

Rachael Kerr
AP English 11
December 3, 2009
Pride and Prejudice- Assignment #2
Lady Catherine as a Critiquing Point
In the most obvious sense, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was a critique on the absurdity of the class system. She demonstrates this through a multitude of ways, but namely one of the most hated characters in the novel. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is the deserving antagonist of the novel largely because of her disposition towards those of lower classes; Lady Catherine is a snobbish, haughty heiress obsessed with the class system. Although Lady Catherine is not the only character of such a high class (Mr. Darcy is practically of equal status), by using an easily-detestable character, the negative points are more easily accepted. Lady Catherine is used because of her stereotypical nature and her contrast to Mr. Darcy. By using a highly undesirable character to personify the class system, Austen establishes her critique with a more substantial impact than if she used a likable character such as Mr. Darcy.
Lady Catherine is the most bothersome, disagreeable character, which is why she is a perfect representation for the critiques of high society. Lady Catherine is a prejudice elitist who lacks manners and a legitimate reason for her status beside marriage, yet “whatever she said, was spoken in [an] authoritative […] tone, [which] marked her self-importance”(Austen 125). Here, Austen demonstrates her first few problems with upper class citizens. Firstly, towards those of the lower class, they are intensely rude no matter what kind of person they are. Secondly, they are aware of their status, and take pride in the ability to flaunt it. Thirdly, they throw their status around so as to strike fear into the hearts of the lower class. However, these are not the only ways in which Austen reveals the flaws in high class society; she also does this through juxtaposition.
Another upper class citizen would be Lady Catherine’s nephew Fitzwilliam Darcy; although related, Darcy is acts nothing like her. Darcy realizes any proud faults he has: “I was spoilt by my parents who…allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing” (282). By placing these two in the same class (nonetheless the same family), Austen not only continues her critiques, but stays away from attacking the entire class. By critiquing the entire class, Austen would be stereotyping because not everyone in upper class is like Lady Catherine. This is Darcy’s job; by introducing him in the story, Austen demonstrates that her critiques do not apply to everyone, only those who are guilty of what she expresses.
The critiques of the upper class can be listed as such: pride in and awareness of social status, stereotyping lower class, ill-will towards that lower class, and lack of legitimacy in their deserving to be in their position; Lady Catherine is the perfect personification of all of these. Austen uses a high class character that is abhorred by the reader- Lady Catherine-opposed to a high class character than can be adored by them- Mr. Darcy- so as to more evidently bring to light the upper class’s flaws. When Austen exposes Lady Catherine’s flaws, there are no doubts in any reader’s mind that she is guilty and deserves judgment, whereas if she were to use Mr. Darcy, there would be some second thoughts. Such use is a clever way to ensure that Austen’s commentary is clearly received, understood, and accepted. In addition, by introducing Mr. Darcy as Lady Catherine’s nephew, Austen authenticates her knowledge that not everyone in upper class is deserving of these criticisms. This use refutes the argument of stereotyping against her point. Both of these literary devices allow an insightful and definitive assessment of the flaws in that of the upper class elitists.