The Irony of Pride in Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen uses the elements of both pride and prejudice to develop satire in her novel. Austen presents pride as both a vice and a virtue. Austen initially introduces pride as a vice of arrogance and prejudice, but as the novel's characters develop, so does the concept of pride. Toward the end of the novel, pride becomes the vehicle for many of the noble actions undertaken by the main characters. Austen skillfully weaves together the two parts of pride, plot, and main characters so that they develop together in the book. By the time we reach the end of the novel, we find ourselves with a fuller understanding of the complexities of pride. Throughout the first part of the novel, pride is seen as negative and destructive. He is characterized as conceited and arrogant. The actions of the main characters seem to be driven by selfish pride. It is this type of pride that leads the main characters to act in ways that cause themselves and others much distress and suffering. Indeed, the tensions, misunderstandings and hostilities between the two main protagonists, Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet, are by-products of the vice of arrogant pride. When we first meet Mr. Darcy at an assembly, he is perceived as a handsome man. exciting young man who has much promise as a gentleman and future husband. But the guests of the assembly soon examine his proud manners and actions and it turns out that he is less than desirable. Mrs Bennet, Elizabeth's mother, sees him as "the proudest and most disagreeable man in the world". Her presumptuous and proud character not only offends her, but most of those present at the assembly. His arrogance consumes him and his character, and veils every good thing... middle of paper...ouse Publishers, 1996. Hennelly, Jr., Mark M. "Pride and Prejudice." Jane Austen: New Perspectives. and. Janet Todd. New York: Holmes & Meier Publishers, Inc., 1983. Jane Austen information page. Henry's Cemetery. University of Texas, Austin. November 23, 2000. .Kaplan, Debora. Status Structures: Eighteenth-Century Social Experience as Form in Jane Austen's Courtesy Books and Novels. Diss. University of Michigan, 1979.Monaghan, David. Jane Austen's structure and social vision. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1980. Poplawski, Paul. An encyclopedia of Jane Austen. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1998. Reidhead, Julia, ed. Norton Anthology of English Literature vol. 7, 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.Ward, David Allen. "Pride and Prejudice". Explainer. 51.1: (1992).