The Role of Letters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: An Analysis

This essay examines the critical role of letters in Jane Austen's novel, *Pride and Prejudice*. It argues that the letters are essential for developing the narrative and providing insights into the characters' thoughts, motivations, and relationships. The essay explores how Austen uses letters to reveal character traits, bridge societal gaps, and create dramatic tension. It analyzes the different styles and tones of letters from characters like Elizabeth, Jane, Lydia, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Darcy, demonstrating how these letters contribute to the overall themes of the novel. The essay highlights how the letters provide readers with intimate access to the characters' inner lives, challenging initial perceptions and shaping the readers' understanding of the characters and their actions. The analysis includes how the letters reveal vulnerabilities and complexities, ultimately enhancing the novel's exploration of societal norms, prejudice, and personal growth. The essay concludes that the letters are a significant literary device in *Pride and Prejudice*, offering a unique perspective on the characters' experiences and the dynamics of the society in which they live.

Running head: ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
Pride and Prejudice and the Importance of the Letters
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Author Note

ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice in 1813. Austen is famous for detailed
development of characters, realistic portrait and d relationships. She developed the characters in
her novel with the most ordinary treatment living their most ordinary lives. Austen has always
stood out because of her usage of irony, realism and commentary on society. She has gained
enormous critical acclamations for her contributions to literature. Pride and Prejudice is a novel
by Austen which was published in three volumes with the name First Impressions. The thesis
statement of the paper states that the letters are significant to develop the narrative of the novel
Pride and Prejudice.
Pride and Prejudice is a novel which is set against the picture of rural England of the 19th
century. The story includes five sisters of Bennett family of whom Mrs. Bennett the mother, is
ever anxious to get all her daughters married. Austen presented the society along with the
prejudices which existed within, by employing satire and precision (NABI). Jane Austen chose
to follow the ways of Samuel Richardson who wrote his novels in the form of letters which
weaved the story into a natural narrative. The novel comprises of descriptions and dialogues
which shape the narration (Lau). These letters are often the point of diversion in the plot. One
can locate them to be at the points of crisis in the novel, therefore, they play a role of building
dramatic tension in the novel. In other words, they are contributory in the exposition of the
theme.
The letters allow the readers to know the characters from close proximity with the most
intimate view of their thoughts. It is, as if, the readers are familiarized with the characters
without any intervention of the author’s thoughts. The letters, thus, provide a vantage point to the
readers to get a clear understanding of what goes on in the characters' mind and the thoughts

ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
which provoke them towards their actions (Hodson). This literary technique, has been one of the
most profound one to demonstrate the roles and personalities of the characters in the novel.
The letters are one of the primary literary devices which have been used in the novel as
they continually correspond with the characters. They bear messages from Elizabeth Bennett,
Lydia, Mr. Collins, Jane and Mr. Darcy. Also, Austen, employs the usage of letters in order to
expose strengths and follies of the characters (Fan). They also bridge gaps between societal
perceptions of each of the characters when they are confronted with such circumstances (Austen
and Austen). Thus, the letters play a very significant role to present the characters with much
transparence in front of the readers.
The letters depict age, class and traits which are associated by one character by another
from close proximity (NABI). It also creates and under current flowing through the narrative
which acts as a parallel voice putting a cross the feelings of the characters in the novel and
projecting their real self. Austen used it to allow her characters to communicate their real
thoughts by taking much time to contemplate about them (Hodson). As much as face to face
communication has been given importance in the novel, the letters have been too. The letters aid
in the most intense revelations in the story which include Darcy’s intense feelings. Darcy is
perceived as an arrogant man in the first instance, while, in the most intimate letter to Elizabeth,
he writes, 'I write without any intention of paining you' (Austen). This familiarize the readers
with the sensitive side of the character which is almost misjudged. While he makes the
Revelation about Wickham, initiates by writing 'you may possibly wonder why all this was not
told to you last night; which I was not then master enough of myself to know what could ought
to be revealed' (Austen). This brings out the side of the Darcy which fights with himself about

ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
whether or not to reveal truths which might hurt the other. The letter plays a very crucial role in
altering Elizabeth’s thought about Wickham as well is Darcy.
Jane's letters written to Elizabeth are in contrast to those which are written by Lydia. Jane
is much matured with her writing as she uses of formal manner and a complex vocabulary to
convey thoughts (Hodson). The two sisters, Jane and Elizabeth share a strong bond, which is
even realized through the letters as Jane makes use of abbreviations for names and places such as
Mrs. F, Colonel F and W. hoping that Lizzy will understand them. These hint at Jane's character
to be considerate and kind hearted.
Lydia and Mr. Collins' letters a quite informal and often displeasing in tone. While Mr.
Collins write to Mr. Bennett to invite himself to Longbourn and marry one of his daughters, on
the other hand, Lydia writes to her friends to inform about her elopement and bragging to Frat
for not dancing with him. Lydia's letters often come across to the readers as being bereft of
judgement and respect for the recipient (Hodson). It is understood that she is self-centered and
careless about the consequences as her letters to her family lack compassion as she mentions 'you
need not send them word at Longbourn of my going, for it will make the surprise the greater,
when I write to them and sign my name “lady Wickham”. (Austen)’
It can thus be concluded by saying that the letters play a very important role in
developing the storyline of the novel. The letters devised in bringing out the internal selves of the
characters independent of the portrayals made by the author. They have also enabled the readers
to understand the society as they have painted a clear picture of it. It is unique how Jane Austen
have used the letters as a literary device in the novel to provide the readers with significant
reflections and voice which highlight the joys and desolation of the characters.

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References
Austen, Goldwin Smith, and Jane Jane Austen English novelist Britannica. "Critics On Jane
Austen."
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice (Norton Critical Editions). WW Norton & Company, 2016.
Fan, Zhang. "Exploring Austen: A Brief Comment on J. Austen's Novels [J]." Journal Liaoning
Normal University 4 (2001).
Hodson, Jane. "In Search of Jane Austen: The Language of the Letters." (2016): 267-271.
Jane, Austen. Pride and Prejudice. Рипол Классик, 2017.
Lau, Beth. "Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice." A Companion to Romanticism (2017): 237-244.
NABI, ARSHI. "Elements of Irony in ‘Pride and Prejudice’-A Critical Study." International
Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences (IJRESS) 8.2 (2018).