Pride and Prejudice an Essay on Internal Class Division

William Wood
Capstone Course
5th Discussion posting
May 28, 2011
Pride and Prejudice an Essay on Internal Class Division

The 2005 film Pride and Prejudice, based on Jane Austin’s novel by the same title, is a character study of the class divisions prevalent in the non peer landed gentry upper class of The United Kingdom around the end of the 18th century. In this short essay four questions will be addressed. The first question will refer to individual characters and their class rank. The second and third questions will address the issue of the woman’s role in regards to inheritance and social status. The final question will focus on Mr. Bennet’s role as an heirless landed gentry.

The majority of the characters in Pride and Prejudice are a part of the upper class. The upper class in England at the setting of the film, consists of the non peer landed gentry and includes Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, Lizzie’s uncle, and Mr. Collins. The latter, Mr. Collins was also a part of the clergy who had its own class distinction which was being done away with in the late 18th century. The non peer class was the often titled, non nobility. Men in this class were known as Gentlemen or Esquires. Women were considered wife of or daughter of Mr. such and such. One female character in the film held the title of Lady. Lady de Burgh. By title, The Lady de Burgh would be the female equivalent of a Lord which would commonly be a part of the Nobility. However, Barzun points out that titles that include “de” could be purchased or possibly bestowed from the royal sovereignty.

The upper class had internal divisions. Money, titles, status, and land were the basis for this division. The Darcy’s, and the Bingley’s belonged to the top end of the upper class where as the Bennets were at the lower end (one step above middle class). Internal divisions portrayed in the film lead to prejudice amongst the upper class. This was clearly evident when Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Bingley’s sister enter a ballroom in the Village of Longbourn. Status was apparently an important issue too. When the Bennets find out that their daughter Lydia has run off to town, they worry that their reputation will be tarnished should Lydia become involved with a man of a lower class. As we shall see, an upper class woman’s status was all too important to her livelihood and well being.
Throughout the film, Mr. Bennet’s wife is preoccupied with the marrying off of her daughters. Along the same line, Charlotte Lucas accepts Mr. Collins offer of marriage. There are several reasons why these two women feel the way that they do. First, Mr. Bennet has no direct heir to his estate. By way of primogeniture, Mr. Collins would be in line to inherit the Bennet estate and would not be responsible for the outcome of Mr. Bennet’s daughters. Unmarried daughters of a deceased gentleman would become the heirs of nothingness and would lose their status. This motive entices Charlotte Lucas to accept Mr. Collin’s proposal. During this time the order of the day was, marriage first relationship building later (if at all). Status meant everything.

Along the lines of status, a discussion of Mr. Bennet and his short comings should be addressed. Throughout the film Mr. Bennet is portrayed as a man uninvolved with the affairs and obsessions of his wife (most of the time). Mr. Bennet is a caring father but also as a landed gentry who knows his role and place in social affairs. At times it seems as though these two roles conflict with one another. As a father, Mr. Bennet probably wished to scorn the man named Wickham and Mr. Bingley for their treatment of his daughters. However, in keeping with social mores of his class, Mr. Bennet represses his anger. Personally I would have had both men shot. Mr. Bennet’s reluctance serves him well. Wickham inherits a small endowment and Mr. Bingley recants his earlier opinion of the Bennets and proposes to Jane. Mr. Bennet’s reputation and status remain untarnished and his daughters are happy.

In today’s society class distinction, as it was in 18th century England, has lost its significance. However their remains a distinction between the “haves” and the “have not’s”. This discrepancy is blatant in the modern United States. Wealth is the catalyst that creates class division. Solely based on income (wealth) I consider my family part of the middle class. If class distinction were based on culture and education then I would feel a part of the upper class. My question to you as the reader is this. Which class do you consider yourself to be in and what are you basing your criteria on?

Mr. Wood (Esquire)