“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a
good fortune, must be in want of a wife.“ Narrator, Volume I: Chapter 1

a. Which two themes are revealed in the opening line?
Marriage and money/ wealth/ social status or men’s and women’s position in society
b. How are individuals defined? Which is the status of women in Regency England, namely in the early 19th century?
They are defined by their fortune, their social status and their gender. Women have a clearly inferior social status compared to that of men because they are regarded as “complements” to male status and not as individuals with their own needs and personalities.
c. The gossipy small town environment is a microcosm of society at large. What do you think about Jane Austen’s perspective on society as a whole? What conclusion can you draw about Jane Austen’s perspective on the society of that era?
Jane Austen is critical and occasionally ironical towards the society of her time, which was established or structured on the basis of class, money and gender. Social behaviour was regarded as a very important aspect and it was thus closely observed, imposing strong limits on individuals, particularly women. The author shows people who are constantly being watched and criticised by others, both in public and family occasions, which could mean that she wanted to portray the lack of independence that people, and especially women, at her time used to have. Moreover, Austen’s choice to present characters from different social and/or economical backgrounds who fall in love with each other, perhaps shows her intention to criticize or even reject the values of her society.
d. Imagine that you are a novel writer and transform the sentence, changing its perspective.
Any well-formed answer could be accepted
“Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till, catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.” Darcy, Meryton ball Volume I: Chapter 3
a. How does Darcy see people living in Meryton?
He considers them as being inferior to him
b. How do you characterise him? What kind of behaviour does he display?
He can be described as arrogant, snobbish, conceited, prejudiced, socially pretentious and completely dependent on status when judging people or making friends.
c. What is his impression of Elizabeth?
He thinks that she is insignificant, inferior to him. He judges her only by her physical appearance and jumps into conclusions.
Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment; yet she tried to the utmost to speak with composure when she said, “You are mistaken, Mr Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner.” She saw him start at this, but he said nothing, and she continued, “You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it.” Elizabeth, Volume II: Chapter 11
a. Which word best describes Darcy’s way of making the first marriage proposal to Elizabeth?
Arrogant/ conceited
b. How does Elizabeth behave and react with reference to the title of the novel?
She is very proud of herself and she cannot forget the way Darcy has treated her at the beginning of the novel. She is now absolutely prejudiced against him and she disapproves of his every move and opinion.
c. Can you guess about the impact of Elizabeth’s behaviour on Darcy? How should he behave from now on?
He must be very upset because we know that he has started having feelings for Elizabeth, which grew so tense that he finally proposed to her. He should try to convince her that he has changed and that he does not judge people based on their social background but rather on their merit/ personality. He should also try to be less arrogant and aloof and to show his real feelings.
d. Does Elizabeth pay any attention to his behaviour or his aristocratic standing?
Elizabeth judges him only on the basis of his behaviour towards her and her family and not on his aristocratic background.
"How despicably I have acted! I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified my vanity in useless or blameable mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery! Yet, how just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind! But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself." Elizabeth, Volume II: Chapter 13
a. Which words show that Elizabeth has shown narrow-mindedness?
Despicably, vanity, useless or blameable mistrust, wretchedly blind, my folly, prepossession, ignorance, driven reason away.
b. Has she recognised her faults? How has her judgment been affected by her pride and prejudice?
Her lament shows that she has clearly and unequivocally recognised her faults and has regretted making them. She has been too proud and prejudiced to see that Darcy has changed and that he really loves, admires and respects her.
c. Do you think she feels humiliated when admitting her feelings to Darcy?
Probably yes, because she is very proud and independent and it is difficult for her to acknowledge her mistakes. On the other hand, she is honest, intelligent and bold, which means that she prefers admitting her feelings than concealing them.
d. How would you characterise Elizabeth on the whole? Why? Draw a character map to show her traits based on her actions.

"I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased." Mr Darcy, Volume III: Chapter 16
a. Has Darcy acknowledged that his class prejudice had clouded his judgment about Elizabeth? How is this revealed in the text?
Yes, he does. This is revealed by the fact that he admits being selfish and having compared others only to his own (social) worth. He also admits being humbled by Elizabeth.
b. What is his opinion about a person's manner and his or her social status? Which words reveal this opinion?
He has been taught that he is superior to people with a lower social status to his but now, thanks to Elizabeth, he has learned to behave differently. His initial opinions are revealed by words like “pride”, “conceit”, “spoilt”, “selfish”, “overbearing”, “insufficient”, “pretensions”.
c. Has his upbringing affected his behaviour?
Certainly it has. He himself comes to admit: “Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world“.
d. Explain how the above quotation reveals Darcy's journey to self-discovery. Having in mind that self-actualisers accept their own human nature with all its flaws, how can it be characterised as a self-actualisation climax?
He admits his own mistakes and flaws and he seems to have sincerely regretted his past behaviour. He also seems to be eager to change and become the man Elizabeth needs.
e. Do you think that achieving a level of self-awareness leads to one’s future happiness? Is future happiness determined by self-awareness only?
Students’ own answers