Favourite Passage - Godwin 08A202

Chapter 1:
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.

"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

"But it is, returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.

"YOU want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it." This was invitation enough.

"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."

"What is his name?"

"Bingley."

"Is he married or single?"

"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"

"How so? How can it affect them?"

"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."

"Is that his design in settling here?"

"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he MAY fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."

"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party."

"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly HAVE had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty."

"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."

"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood."

"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."

"But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for US to visit him if you do not."

"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy."

"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving HER the preference."

"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters."

"Mr. Bennet, how CAN you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves."

"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least."

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three- years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. HER mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.


Analysis: This passage begins with a conversation between Mr. Bennett and his wife regarding the impending arrival of Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Bennett has designs on marrying him to one of her daughters and attempts to persuade Mr. Bennett to visit him. Mr. Bennett’s preference for his daughter Elizabeth becomes evident as he says that
she "has something more of quickness than her sisters," whom he describes as "silly and ignorant like other girls."

The opening line of this passage - ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’- calls our attention to the significance that marriage will have in this story. This quote is filled with irony as Austen tries to create humour using irony. Although Austen says that rich, single men want a wife, what she actually means is that women want rich, single men to be their husbands. Women needed men to survive and without them, they have nothing. Thus, the opening statement seems to be a sort of playful jab aimed at Mrs. Bennett as she assumes that any single man with a good fortune is in want of a wife and begins throwing her daughters in his path. In addition, the quote foreshadows the purely economic motive for marriage of Charlotte Lucas later on in the novel where societal constraints will leave her with little choice but to marry for the sake of economic survival.

Austen continues to use irony through her characters as Mr. Bennett uses irony to mock his wife who does not seem to understand his bizarre humour. He says that ‘for you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party.’ and is trying to imply that she is no longer attractive. However, she hardly detects the sarcasm and assumes that he is paying her a compliment. Mrs. Bennett also talks a lot more than her husband and she talks as though she is powerful yet, she is the powerless one in this marriage. From here, it is clear that Mrs. Bennett is Mr. Bennett’s vehicle for irony. This complicated relationship helps to create a feeling of conflict that could arise in many of the relationships throughout the book.

In this chapter, it is also evident by the amount of dialogue that Austen favours dialogue over narration. The characters of Mr. And Mrs. Bennett are brought to life as they reveal themselves to the reader through their actions and dialogue, rather than through detailed narration.

Hence, this passage is my favourite part of the book as it is littered with irony and it serves as a humorous beginning to Pride and Prejudice and intrigues readers to flip the page and continue reading. It also quickly establishes irony and marriage as central themes in the novel. The entertaining Bennett couple also starts off the book in memorable and dramatic fashion and perhaps their humorous banter is the key reason why this is my favourite passage from the novel.