How Does Jane Austen's Use Of Irony In Pride And Prejudice

Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice, is often noted for being a feminist ahead of her time. In this novel, she is also adept at creating comedy that is both subtle and profound at the same time. Since Austen’s style of writing heavily uses her wit and her ability to seamlessly incorporate irony where one wouldn’t think there to be any, it is only natural that Pride and Prejudice is filled with moments of “thoughtful laughter.” Thoughtful laughter is when any medium—a scene, a particular quote or character, etc.—is humorous not in a blatant way, but in a more contemplative and stimulating manner that can tie back into themes found in the work as a whole. It is essentially the type of humor a reader may find funnier after they have

She is a caring sister and steadfast in protecting her family. However, she is also quick to judge; always keen on seeing the negative in people, unlike her sister Jane who can find no fault in anybody. Elizabeth due to her unorthodox behavior was often the source of vexation to several characters, including her mother Mrs. Bennet, a rather odd and pompous early love interest, Mr. Collins, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh, an overbearing high-status woman related to Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth’s relationship with her main love interest, Mr. Darcy, had a rocky start since Lizzy had been blinded by the blow Mr. Darcy had dealt to her pride the night they met at the ball and was set on viewing him only in a negative light throughout a majority of the book because of her first impression of him. Lost in her own cloud of ego and prejudice, she had failed to see the irony in telling Darcy that, “It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly first” (Austen, 78). Her many interactions with Mr. Darcy throughout the novel arguably provide the best instances of thoughtful laughter with relation to the theme that love can manifest itself in the people we don’t expect it