Pride and Prejudice, Volume II, Chapter 3 - Jane Austen (1813)

Extract

[...] I do think that Wickham uses the position when Elizabeth actually believes that Mr Darcy is selfish, a bad person and she is willing to believe anything bad about him. Wickham uses this knowledge to get closer to Lizzie and her family. By the time Elizabeth realises who really is Wickham, it is too late for the youngest Bennet. It is revealed through the course of the story that George Wickham's true nature is that of a manipulative character, a minor character who plays a crucial role in the novel as Mr Darcy's opponent. IV. [...]

[...] Pride and Prejudice, Volume II, Chapter 3 - Jane Austen (1813) I. Situate the fragment within the novel and explain its function This fragment is located in the third chapter of the second volume of the book. This chapter is showing that Elizabeth Bennet has been rejected by Mr Collins, cousin of the Bennet sisters and the heir to their properties. Its principal function is to show us that this rejection has touched her heart in a painful way, but she understands her best friend's condition, that she is marrying Mr Collins because she does it out of necessity, and later she will accept it without resentment. [...]

[...] The narrative point of view would be an omniscient narrator, intrusive and a third person narrator where she is not a character, supposedly neutral and she is not supposed to transmit any ideology. It surely coincides with the narrative perspective, it focalises Elizabeth Bennet where the perspective, the point of view is given from outside the character. Lizzie provides her views and feelings, so, this character is the filer where the events are given. E.g. Line 3-4 of the fragment “Her heart had been but slightly touched, and her vanity was satisfied with believing that she would have been his only choice ” III. [...]

[...] Charlotte Lucas and George Wickham are two different characters that only share on thing: convenient marriage. Charlotte has been forced by circumstance and economics to choose Mr Collins to marry. She may be comfortable, but she cannot be happy with Mr Collins. Wickham, however, marries Lydia because of the situation. He was running away from the debts, and I believe he had no intentions on marry her because she had no money, it could be a fling or a revenge against Lizzie. [...]

[...] She is crucial to the turn of action. Mrs Gardiner's function in the novel is to be an advisory figure to Elizabeth, more based on friendship rather than authority. She advises her on any preoccupation that Lizzie has. She is also who confronts Lydia when she is found with Wickham, and who tells Elizabeth the full story of Darcy's act of generosity towards her family. So, in conclusion, Mrs Gardiner acts as a mother to Elizabeth. But always from her own criteria as a strong, intelligent woman. [...]