Plot Construction | 'Pride and Prejudice'

 

It has been generally and frequently observed and noted that Jane Austen's greatest drawback is her limited range and confined outlook in her novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’. This charge is levelled against her because in her age great revolutionary changes, Napoleonic wars and political movements were going on but she discussed only the theme of love and marriage. She had a narrow outlook. But fortunately, her limited range proved to be very helpful and useful in creating a well-knit and masterly interwoven plot.

 

“Her disadvantage proved to be her merit.”

 

There are four plots in the novel. The main plot consists of Darcy, Elizabeth love affair and the sub-plots comprise on Jane & Bingley love affair, Lydia & Wickham's elopement & marriage and Charlotte Lucas & Mr. Collins’ marriage.

 

The sub-plots reinforce the main idea broached in the main-plot of Darcy and Elizabeth love affair. The sub-plots are closely connected to the main plot because all of them have a common theme and the characters of the sub-plots play a role of vital significance in the development of the main plot.

 

In the main plot, we see that Darcy is a very proud and haughty person. He refuses to dance with Elizabeth in a dance party arranged by Mr. Bingley. He says that; 

“Elizabeth is not handsome enough to tempt him.”

 

Elizabeth overhears his remarks about her. she is prejudiced against him.

Darcy and Elizabeth meet each other in another dance party arranged by Charllotte Lucas. In this party, Darcy makes himself available for dancing with Elizabeth, but she revenges herself on him by refusing plainly to dance with him.

 

“Darcy begins to be impressed by her dark eyes and pleasing figure.”

He tries to resist the temptation but to no avail. He proposes her in a very proud and haughty manner and gets her offended more than ever before. She asks him to respect others. He acts upon her precious advice and changes his behaviour to the possible extent.

 

“He makes Elizabeth wait for a second proposal by his changed behaviour and at last they are married.”

The plot of Jane and Bingley influences the main plot and is influenced by the main plot. The characters of both the plots are related to each other. Jane and Bingley love each other but Darcy draws them apart from each other. Elizabeth comes to know about it and is prejudiced more than ever before. The separation between Jane and Bingley also causes a breach between Elizabeth and Darcy.

It means that;

 

“Both the plots are closely related to each other and have tremendous influence upon each other and set the whole story in motion.”

 

Collins and Charlotte marry each other and show that some of the marriages are based upon material requirements and the marriage partners have ambitions other than a happy conjugal and matrimonial life. Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth and she refuses to marry him. When he feels that Elizabeth and Darcy are coming close to each other, he poisons his patroness' ears against them. Her quarrel with Elizabeth assures the marriage between Elizabeth and Darcy. Darcy was afraid of Elizabeth's first refusal and when he came to know that Elizabeth was waiting for a second proposal, he became very delighted and excited. He proposed to Elizabeth and they got married.

The plot of Jane and Bingley has been tremendously influenced by the characters of the main plot. Darcy plays a vital role in bringing Jane and Bingley closer to each other. In this way, our idea of well-knit plot is reinforced.

 

The plot of Lydia and Wickham is also remarkable in this connection. Wickham is a mean and cunning fellow. He is a flirt and his most favourite hobby is to jilt the young girls. Once he tried to elope with Darcy's sister. Lydia took a fancy to him and eloped with him and brought a great disgrace and discredit to the family's honour.

“The main plot is set in motion and developed to a great extent by this sub plot.”

 

Their elopement ironically results in the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth. Wickham tried to convince Elizabeth that Darcy was a mean fellow and he had mistreated and misbehaved with him. Elizabeth is convinced and is drawn apart from Darcy. But later on, Darcy explained his position and proved to be a good- natured and good-mannered person. He played a role of vital significance in saving the honour of Bennet family. He traced Lydia and Wickham out, paid them money and arranged their marriage.

In this way, he did a great favour to the Bennet family and became a benefactor of the family. As a result of it, Darcy and Elizabeth were reconciled and married to each other.

The above discussion clearly reveals that the plot is well knit and deliberately constructed. Austen’s limited range helped her in constructing and knitting an exemplary, ideal and recommendable plot. She should be credited for introducing and constructing a well-knit plot. We cannot regard any of the sub-plot as a digression or diversion from the major plot or main theme of the novel i.e. ‘love and marriage’. She harped on the same string from beginning till the end and resultantly a simple, monotonous and dull story became so appealing and striking. This is the greatness of her art.