Pride and Prejudice

The title of the novel, Pride and Prejudice, highlights the cynicism of the characters and society in the setting of the story. Both pride and prejudice are key elements of this cynical society. The cynical attitude of society is first introduced when Mrs. Bennet describes her new neighbor, Mr. Bingley.  Mrs. Bennett focuses primarily on the wealth of Charles Bingely and the social status in which he will provide to her daughters if they are to wed. Mrs. Bennet is intent on the daughters meeting Mr. Bingley, and is far more focused on the status they will get from being married to him, than on the daughter's happiness. Prejudice is a theme that plagues the upper class in the novel. Darcy, a friend of Mr. Bingely, represents the pompous attitude of the high society. When asked to dance with one of the Bennet daughters, he exclaims, "she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (12). Darcy care a lot about the vanity of the girls in which he attends to. He is prejudice in his selection of women and would not dare court a girl of lower society (as the Bennet sisters are). The main theme of the novel is the contrast between high society and the lower class. The lower class desires pride offered by the upper class, however the upper class maintains a deep prejudice against the lower peoples.