Schmidtt’s Heroine’s Journey with respect to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
(Spoilers) Even above romance, Pride and Prejudice is a work of social commentary. Jane Austen is big on what marriage means in her world and how largely that’s influenced by money and class. The characters’ journeys reflect this. Elizabeth Bennet, our heroine, has a pretty standard heroine’s journey where she learns not to judge based on appearances as much, although the internal changes she goes through aren’t very large. Her development is overshadowed by Mr. Darcy’s. Very simply, the plot follows the Bennet family, which consists of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their five daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. The Bennets are landed gentry, but on the poorer and lower class side. Mrs. Bennet’s goal in life is to get her daughters married, and she thinks they have a chance at making good matches when the amiable Mr. Bingley, along with his friend Mr. Darcy, move into the neighborhood. Darcy is extremely rich, but so proud and unfriendly that no one likes hi...