Key Quotes in Pride and Prejudice

Understanding key quotations is crucial for excelling in your Leaving Certificate English examination. This selection of quotes from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice highlights central themes, character development, and Austen’s narrative skill.

Each quote is analysed for its significance, literary techniques, and applicability to exam questions. Mastering these will enhance your essay responses and demonstrate a deep comprehension of the novel.

Quotes on Pride and Prejudice

Elizabeth Bennet’s Perspective

• Quote: “I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”

  Speaker and Context: Elizabeth Bennet, reflecting on Mr Darcy’s initial behaviour at the Meryton assembly. She expresses her wounded vanity after overhearing his dismissive comments.

  Analysis: This statement reveals the novel’s central theme of pride, demonstrating its reciprocal nature. Elizabeth’s own pride prevents her from seeing Darcy clearly. The quote uses direct speech to convey her strong emotional reaction. It foreshadows the conflict between their respective prides.

  Exam Application: Use this quote when discussing the theme of pride, characterisation of Elizabeth or Darcy, or the initial obstacles to their relationship. It highlights the subjective nature of first impressions.

• Quote: “There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”

  Speaker and Context: Elizabeth Bennet, speaking to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She refuses to promise not to marry Mr Darcy.

  Analysis: This quote encapsulates Elizabeth’s independent spirit and defiance of social conventions. Her strong will is evident through her direct, assertive language. It highlights her moral integrity and strength of character, especially against aristocratic authority. This moment is a pivotal point in her personal development.

  Exam Application: Excellent for discussions on Elizabeth’s character, her role as a proto-feminist figure, or the conflict between individual will and societal expectations. It illustrates her courage and self-respect.

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Mr Darcy’s Character and Development

• Quote: “My good opinion once lost, is lost for ever.”

  Speaker and Context: Mr Darcy, to Elizabeth Bennet, at the Netherfield ball. He expresses his inflexible judgment regarding Wickham’s character.

  Analysis: This statement initially portrays Darcy’s arrogance and unyielding nature. It reveals his pride and the difficulty he has in admitting error. The declarative sentence structure emphasises his conviction. Ironically, his opinion of Elizabeth, initially poor, does change, showing his capacity for growth.

  Exam Application: Use this quote to discuss Darcy’s initial pride and rigidity. It can also serve as a contrast point when analysing his later transformation. It highlights the theme of first impressions and prejudice.

• Quote: “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

  Speaker and Context: Mr Darcy, during his first marriage proposal to Elizabeth Bennet. He confesses his feelings despite his social reservations.

  Analysis: This quote reveals Darcy’s internal conflict between his pride and his affection for Elizabeth. The short, emphatic sentences convey his struggle and eventual surrender to emotion. His language, while passionate, still carries an undertone of condescension, reflecting his social prejudice. This moment marks a turning point for both characters.

  Exam Application: Crucial for analysing Darcy’s character development, the theme of love overcoming social barriers, and the novel’s exploration of emotional honesty. It shows his vulnerability.

Quotes on Social Class and Marriage

The Bennets’ Concerns

• Quote: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

  Speaker and Context: The narrator, opening the novel. This famous line introduces the central preoccupation of the Bennet family.

  Analysis: This ironic statement immediately establishes the novel’s satirical tone. It highlights the societal pressure on women to marry for financial security. The omniscient narrator uses generalisation to expose the prevailing social attitudes. It sets the stage for the marriage plots that follow, driven by economic necessity. It is a brilliant example of Austen’s subtle social commentary.

  Exam Application: Essential for discussing the general vision and viewpoint of the novel, the role of marriage in 19th-century society, and Austen’s use of irony. It can open or conclude an essay effectively.

• Quote: “To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.”

  Speaker and Context: The narrator, describing Elizabeth’s thoughts about Jane and Bingley. It reflects the social opportunities for courtship.

  Analysis: This quote illustrates the importance of social events, like balls, for romantic connections. It subtly critiques the limited avenues for interaction between young men and women. The light-hearted tone belies the serious implications of such encounters for a woman’s future. It also shows the practical reality of finding a partner in that era.

  Exam Application: Use when discussing the social customs of the time, the role of entertainment in courtship, or the romantic relationships within the novel. It highlights the constraints on women.

Quotes on Appearance vs. Reality

Wickham’s Deception

• Quote: “He has every charm of person and address.”

  Speaker and Context: Elizabeth Bennet, describing George Wickham to Jane Bennet. She is initially captivated by his charming exterior.

  Analysis: This quote epitomises the theme of appearance versus reality. Elizabeth, usually perceptive, is entirely misled by Wickham’s superficial charm. The superlative ‘every’ underscores the completeness of his deceptive facade. This highlights the dangers of judging solely by outward presentation. It also showcases Elizabeth’s initial gullibility.

  Exam Application: Crucial for exploring the theme of appearance vs. reality, characterisation of Wickham, and Elizabeth’s development. It provides a strong contrast to Darcy’s true character.

Related Pages

• Pride and Prejudice Study Guide
• Pride and Prejudice Summary
• Themes in Pride and Prejudice
• Key Moments in Pride and Prejudice