Pride and Prejudice Essay

Essay Topic:
The pride and the prejudice referred to in the title of this Jane Austen novel prepares the reader for the character flaws of the main characters, Elizabeth and Darcy. The pride and prejudice of Elizabeth and Darcy prevent the two from recognizing and admitting their love for one another. Choose 1 or both of these characters and write a persuasive essay on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen in which you argue that these character flaws exist and analyze how they are overcome. In other words--how do they get past their pride and the judgments and opinions that they have formed about each other and ultimately experience love together? You may wish to also reflect upon the social and historical factors which made these character flaws so common, identifying, for example, the role that social status played in relationships at that time.

Requirements: You must have the following elements completed: Fill in as a self-editing checklist and attach to the final essay:
___I used a minimum of 4 MLA in-text citations
___I used a minimum of 4 unit vocabulary words
___This is final copy quality
___ I used good spelling and grammar
___I have a definite thesis statement
___ I have transitions and topic sentences
___ I made an outline
___ This is approx. 2-3 pages written/ typed, double-space
___ I used examples from the text in each body paragraph and analyzed them (related them to the thesis)
___I have a Works Cited page


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“ She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (Austen 8).
“I have been a selfish being all my life…and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth!” (Austen 317).
“You showed me how insufficient all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased” (317).
“ I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry” (Austen 166).
“She had a lively, playful disposition that delighted in anything ridiculous” (Austen 9)
“ You are mistaken... I might have felt in refusing you, had you behave in a more gentlemanlike manner” (Austen 166).
“He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting” (Austen 12).
“Your sisters are engaged and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with” (Austen 8).
“Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room with his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien…” (7).
“..he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased…having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance…” (7).
“In vain have I struggled…You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” (162).
“Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?” (165).
“He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again” (8)
“She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd” (178).
“How despicably have I acted! I who have prided myself on my discernment!..Till this moment I never knew myself!” (178-179).
“I do love him. Indeed he has no improper pride” (324).