Jane Austen's use of Irony | 'Pride and Prejudice'

 

Irony means difference between appearance and reality. Jane Austen has introduced ironic situations, ironic characters and narrative irony very frequently in her well reputed novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

Ironic situation occurs when a character condemns something at one time and accepts that very thing after some time. Then, there are ironic characters who think that they are very respectable, honourable and worthy persons but, in fact, they are ridiculed and made fun of. They think that they are elevating themselves by their certain actions but these very actions become a great source of disgrace for them. When they are disillusioned, the readers get amused with it. Narrative irony means to describe a trivial object at a very high level, or to say, to use heavy and jaw-breaking words for less important things. It is also a great source of amusement.

The very theme of the novel is ironic. There are two types of characters in the novel i.e. simple and intricate characters. Elizabeth and Darcy are very complex characters. They are unable to know each other, they cannot understand each other and their love affair is a very complex and complicated phenomenon. In the beginning, they get prejudiced against each other but we can easily foresee that they are going to lead a happy and contented conjugal life.

On the other hand, Jane and Bingley are very simple characters. They love each other but there is no likelihood of their leading a successful married life. They are so simple that they can be misled very easily. Mr. Bennet remarks about them that;

 

“They will be deceived and cheated by their servants.”

This is irony that a couple who does not know well the traits of each other's character, lives a happy matrimonial life and a couple who loves each other simply, cannot live happy for a long time. This analysis suggests that the intricate characters are better than simple characters.

In the very beginning, the authoress tells us what she is going to deal with. She says that;

 

“It is a universal truth that a well-off bachelor is always in need of a wife. The fact is that the bachelor women are always in need of a well-off bachelor and even the parents are in search of a bachelor.”

 

It means that the authoress wants to say reverse of the statement. Such deft strokes of irony win great applause for the authoress and the readers feel rivetted to the novel.

There is another ironic statement of Mr. Bennet. He says that Mr. Wickham is a priceless, precious and valuable son in law and we know very well what he means.

 

“How he can be a valuable person, he is a mark of disgrace and brings discredit to the family's honour.”

In this way, Jane Austen amuses the readers by using such statements. At another point, Mr. Bennet says that Mr. Collins is also very important and valuable person. In fact, he wants to say that;

 

“Any other man in the world can be valuable but he can never be valuable.”

 

The novel is full of some unforgettable incidents. Darcy is a haughty person. He is proud of his status, wealth, knowledge, dashing and daring personality. In a ball party arranged by Mr. Bingley, he says haughtily that; 

“Elizabeth is not handsome enough to tempt him.”

But after some time, he himself falls in love with her and she refuses to dance with him. In this way, she revenges herself on Darcy.

Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth and she refuses to marry him. Collins asks her to reconsider the matter but she says that;

 

“She is not one of those girls who resist the first proposal and accept the second one. But she accepts Darcy's second proposal.”

 

Darcy thinks that he is worthy enough to get a reply in affirmative from every girl but he is rejected by Elizabeth plainly. The same is the case with Collins, he is also rejected by Elizabeth.

Jane Austen says that Miss Bingley and her sisters are very fine ladies whereas the real case is reverse of it. Catherine objects to the vulgarity of Bennet family and she herself becomes vulgar and nonsense. She quarrels with Elizabeth to prevent her from marrying Darcy but this dispute assures their marriage. Darcy says to Bingley that Bennet family is not respectable. He advises him not to marry Jane but he himself proposes to Elizabeth Bennet.

 

“Darcy's servants think that only a lucky girl can be Darcy's wife, they do not know that Darcy has been rejected by a girl.”

 

Mrs. Bennet shows happiness at the marriage of Lydia and Wickham but we know that their marriage is a failure. Lydia elopes with Wickham. It is a disgraceful act however, it resulted in the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy. Mr. Bennet says to Elizabeth;

The discussion enables us to conclude that Jane Austen has used irony in the best possible manner and she deserves appreciation for her great and masterly use of irony in the novel.