Pride and Prejudice — Quotes

13 quotes — Appearance vs Reality with full 6-part analysis

Appearance vs RealityShow all quotes →
1
STAGNATE

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a goo…

FREE INDIRECT DISCOURSE / IRONIC NARRATORIAL VOICEEPIGRAMMATIC STRUCTURE

Narrator · Chapter 1, Opening Line

3
STAGNATE

In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You…

SEMANTIC FIELD OF CONFLICT / MILITARY METAPHORSYNTACTIC FRAGMENTATION

Mr Darcy · Volume 2, Chapter 11 (First Proposal)

4
STAGNATE

You are mistaken, Mr Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration aff…

FORMAL REGISTER AS WEAPONPARALLELISM & ANTITHESIS

Elizabeth · Volume 2, Chapter 11 (First Proposal Refusal)

5
PROGRESS

Till this moment I never knew myself

ANAGNORISIS / EPIPHANIC MONOSYLLABLESBREVITY AS STRUCTURAL VOLTA

Elizabeth · Volume 2, Chapter 13 (After Darcy's letter)

6
STAGNATE

My good opinion once lost is lost for ever

EPIGRAM WITH ABSOLUTIST DICTIONDRAMATIC IRONY / PROLEPTIC REVERSAL

Mr Darcy · Volume 1, Chapter 11

9
STAGNATE

She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me

LITOTES / DAMNING UNDERSTATEMENTDRAMATIC IRONY / GENERATIVE INSULT

Mr Darcy · Chapter 3 (Meryton Ball)

18
STAGNATE

You ought certainly to forgive them as a Christian, but never to admit them in y…

OXYMORONIC MORAL LOGICEPISTOLARY SATIRE

Mr Collins · Chapter 48 (Letter about Lydia)

21
STAGNATE

Lady Catherine de Bourgh... has condescended to advise me to marry as soon as I …

DEFERENCE AS CHARACTER DEFININGCOMIC SATIRE OF PATRONAGE

Mr Collins · Chapter 19

25
STAGNATE

She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that in po…

UNRELIABLE TESTIMONYSATIRICAL VENTRILOQUISM

Lady Catherine (via Mr Collins) · Chapter 14

26
STAGNATE

Mr Darcy can please where he chooses. He does not want abilities. He can be a co…

STRATEGIC CONCESSIONUNRELIABLE NARRATOR DEVICE

Wickham · Chapter 16 (First conversation with Elizabeth)

27
STAGNATE

A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made …

PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION AS SELF-EXCULPATIONVICTIM NARRATIVE

Wickham · Chapter 16

28
STAGNATE

Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose him

PERFORMATIVE CONTRADICTIONAUSTEN'S IRONIC FORESHADOWING

Wickham · Chapter 16

29
STAGNATE

I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle

THE EXCUSE WITHIN THE ADMISSIONCONTRAST WITH DARCY'S CONFESSION

Wickham · Chapter 52 (via Lydia's account)