In a time before telephones or fast, cheap transportation, writing letters was very important to many families of Jane Austen's time. Many 18th century literary works were in the form of a series of letters between characters, such as Pride and Prejudice, written in epistolary form. Letters were the main form of communication between people, near or far. In an emergency, if the sender could afford it, the letter could be sent by a private messenger on horseback or in a carriage. In Jane Austen's time, there were no envelopes or stamps, and the "envelope" mentioned in connection with Caroline Bingley's letter and Darcy's letter was simply another sheet of paper folded around the rest. It was the recipient, rather than the sender, who paid the shipping costs. Letters play two main roles in Pride and Prejudice; firstly they are used to reveal a character's personality through his or her writing style and secondly to convey information between characters. The use of letters in Pride and Prejudice conveys a real form of communication between characters, for example the reader intrudes on personal letters sent between Elizabeth and Jane Bennet, such as the letter in chapter seven from Jane to Elizabeth about Jane's illness all I arrive at Meryton. , 'I'm feeling very bad this morning...- so don't be alarmed if you hear it's from me', this shows a caring side of Jane as she doesn't want to upset and worry her sister when Elizabeth doesn't let her hear it. The letters reveal true thoughts and feelings towards others that the reader would not be aware of through the characters' speeches, some of the letters sent between the characters are full of frustration, such as the one between Elizabeth Bennet in...... middle of card ...... sense of honesty and truth, can also be the beginning of lies and hatred between characters. Some letters may confuse the reader in terms of the characters' point of view, this is reflected in reference to Lydia's letter to Mrs. Harriet Forster announcing the escape in chapter forty-seven, "Lydia's short letter to Mrs. Forster made them realize that they were going to Gretna Green', this implies that Lydia has mentioned the marriage, however none of the characters know whether to believe it because they do not know where Lydia is or what Wickham's intentions are letter written in Pride and Prejudice allows the characters to express feelings who might otherwise be repressed, this trait is reflected in Darcy's writing because he comes to life and the reader is able to understand his actions, thoughts and feelings and appreciates his character more.