Lady Catherine In Pride And Prejudice

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Lady Catherine’s appearance, speech and actions reveal her supercilious behaviour and domineering personality. She is described as a “tall, large women, with strongly marked features,” whose “air was not conciliating.” Lady Catherine’s tall stature causes her to treat others in a condescending manner. Her striking appearance promotes her intimidating persona, instantly causing her peers to feel uneasy. When Lady Catherine begins to interrogate Elizabeth with invasive, personal questions, Elizabeth reveals that she can play the piano and sing. Ms. DeBourgh takes the chance to say, “Our instrument is capital one probably superior to—. “Although Elizabeth does not know about the Bennet’s piano, Ms. De Bourgh

Lady Catherine, “talks, which she did without any intermission.” Nonchalantly, Lady Catherine speaks without caring if anyone wants to listen. She always speaks her opinion as she greatly enjoys the sound of her voice. She also delivers “her opinion on every subject,” believing her viewpoint is the only accurate outlook. She offers her intake on every topic, even if it does not concern her. Lady Catherine imposes Charlotte with a “great deal of advice as to the management of them [domestic concerns] all.” Even though Ms. DeBourgh is unaware of her own household concerns, she enforces her judgement on Charlotte. Lady Catherine’s controlling behavior is witnessed in her conversation with Elizabeth when she says,” You ought all to have learned.” She compares the Bennet family with a less privileged family and claims that the girls from the family have all learned how to play and sing. Lady Catherine also expresses that if she ever meets Mrs. Bennet she would “..have advised her most strenuously.” Scornfully, Ms Debough analyzes the Bennet’s parenting, notifying Elizabeth that if she had a governess the Bennet girls would have attained more talents. Lady Catherine’s pride and loud opinion vividly displays her supercilious and domineering