To Say Or Not To Say Letters And Letter Writing Essay, Research Paper

In her novels, Jane Austen frequently uses letter writing between characters as a way to explain past events and the roles certain characters played in them. This character development strategy is used to articulate many of the themes in her novels. A prevalent thematic structure in Austen’s work is to satirize nineteenth century manners and morals, especially as they relate to courtship. The misinterpretations of these behaviors stand to be clarified through letterwriting, offering insight into a character’s true nature, which is often not what it appears to be. This tactic is prevalent in her 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice.

Throughout the novel, Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Gardiner, and Mr. Collins write letters, and each letter reveals its author’s personality and sincere thoughts. It is in fact the letter writing that prompts the union of hero and heroine at the end of the story. Each letter clarifies confused circumstances as well as discloses hidden feelings about other characters that would otherwise go unnoticed.

The first significant example of letter writing allows for conclusions to be made about a character’s persona upon Mr. Bennet’s receipt of a foolish letter from the Reverend Mr. Collins. Collins, who is the Bennet’s nearest male relative will inherit Longbourn after Mr. Bennet’s death. In his letter, Mr. Collins suggests a visit to Longbourn and hints at a proposal of marriage to one of the Bennet daughters. The reader quickly learns of this man’s nature because of the contents of his letter as well as Mr. Bennet’s reasoning behind his acceptance of the proposal. Mr. Bennet makes fun of Collins’ unusual writing style and pomposity, and also makes snide remarks to his family about him. As Mr.Bennet says sarcastically, “There is a mixture of servility and self importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him” (47). Ultimately, he agrees to the visit because he wants to laugh at Mr. Collins’ expectations.

Austen presents the qualities of a person indirectly, which is clearly seen here. The odious letter from Mr. Collins prepares the reader to dislike him even before he arrives. Without even meeting this man, his personality is shown by his use of excessive verbiage, pompous flattery, and conceit evident in his letter. Elizabeth is extremely perceptive about Mr. Collins’ letter because (after hearing it) she immediately wonders if he can be a “sensible man” (44). As the story unfolds, Mr. Collins’ actions will prove her belief to be true.

Although the letter written by Mr. Collins allows the reader to form an impression even before seeing him, it is not this letter that provides the reader with the most insight into the nature of its author. It is in fact the letter from Fitzwilliam Darcy, the proud and rich man who falls in love with Elizabeth (and after a time, makes her fall in love with him), that is the most important of the novel. The importance of the letter lies specifically in the reactions that it evokes from Elizabeth. It is only after reading Mr. Darcy’s letter that Elizabeth endures a great recognition of her own nature and a self-realization of her own pride and prejudice.

Elizabeth began reading the letter “with a strong prejudice against every thing he might say,” but as she reads the letter a second and third time, one or two things begin to strike her as true (141). Once she has brought herself to accept one statement as being true, she then realizes that she must ultimately accept every fact as true or reject them all. As she reevaluates the sequence of events, Elizabeth begins to reevaluate Mr. Darcy himself. Suddenly, she cannot remember anything that Mr. Darcy has ever done which was not honorable and just. “She grew absolutely ashamed of herself” (143). As she gains awareness of the true nature of characters like Darcy and Wickham, she gains more and more awareness of herself. Elizabeth has thus gained a moral insight into her own character. Her final realization is that she has been “blind, partial, prejudiced, and absurd” (143). Elizabeth admits: “Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind” (144). Consequently, it is Elizabeth’s character that increases in depth as she is able to analyze herself and come to these new and crucial conclusions.

Although it is Elizabeth’s reaction that makes Mr. Darcy’s letter so important, it is also the contents of the letter itself that allow for questions about his true nature to be answered. Writing more from injured pride than to renew his marriage proposal, Darcy is nevertheless sensitive and honest while justifying and explaining his actions. For example Darcy revised his opinion on her uncles’ less than genteel sources of income. No longer was this the main issue; now the issue is her immediate family’s lack of propriety: The situation of your mother’s family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison of that total want of propriety so frequently. So almost uniformly betrayed by herself, your three younger sisters, and occasionally by your father” (137). His judgment seems much more considered and reasonable than the prejudice he displayed earlier to make the same point about the inferiority of the Bennet girls’ connections. In addition, Mr. Darcy completely acknowledges his faults throughout, which serves as testament to his sincerity. He earnestly states, ” one part of my conduct in the whole affair, on which I do not reflect satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the measures of art so far as to conceal from your sister’s being in town” (137). The proud, prejudiced, and arrogant man we were introduced to at the beginning of the novel is nowhere to be found. Mr. Darcy’s lack of guile and trickery, perceptive analysis of others, and his honest devotion to those he admires are all present in this letter. All of these qualities, which had never been expressed verbally, are seen here for the first time. Although he and Elizabeth are indeed both guilty of pride and prejudice, it is in the body of his honest letter that his true feeling are revealed and hers are kindled.

Mrs. Gardiner is the intelligent and cultivated sister-in-law of Mrs. Bennet, who plays a relatively minor role in relation to that of Mr. Darcy. Her letter is nevertheless important because it clears up the confusion that Elizabeth felt towards Mr. Darcy and his involvement in the wedding of her sister, Lydia. Mrs. Gardiner’s letter also results in Elizabeth’s realization that Mr. Darcy had done nothing but help the Bennet family.

Elizabeth was intensely curious as to the extent in which Mr. Darcy was involved in Lydia’s marriage. She wrote her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner to demand the information that will enable her to answer the many questions she has. Elizabeth also suspected that Mr. Darcy had involved himself because of his concern for her welfare. Indeed it is her aunt’s reply that provides Elizabeth with the answers she craved.

Mrs. Gardiner consistently makes steadfast and intelligent perceptions; she shows warmth, hope, understanding, and is also critical, though unbiased. These qualities are previously seen in her character and are profoundly illustrated in her thoughtful response to her niece. She writes with glowing praise about Mr. Darcy’s character: “Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him. His behaviour to us has been pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire I thought him very sly”(223). She also explains that Darcy had brought about the entire resolution to the problem concerning Lydia. This explanation is critical because Elizabeth’s revelation concerning Mr. Darcy’s role causes her to reconsider the influence she has on him. She is ashamed to think of how much he has done for her family, but she is deeply grateful. Thus, Elizabeth again shows some hope for the future, and when Mr. Darcy next appears, she will receive him as a person deeply indebted to him instead of the independent woman she had considered herself to be.

Elizabeth also realizes from Mrs. Gardiner’s letter that Lydia is enjoying the whole melodrama. In the letter, she relays to Elizabeth that Lydia was, “absolutely resolved on remaining where she was. She cared for none of her friends She would not hear of leaving Wickham” (221). Elizabeth realizes again how shallow her younger sister really is, and how Lydia lacks morality or social consciousness. She knows wholeheartedly that her sister Lydia was fascinated by Wickham’s uniform and by his attention toward her. Elizabeth’s realization emphasizes the importance of Mrs. Gardiner’s letter. It proves that the letter not only reveals her aunt’s own endearing qualities and enlightens Elizabeth to the truth, it also offers insight into the flighty personalities of some of the other members of the family.

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses letters to reveal the innermost thoughts of her characters as well as to express their personalities. These letters communicated style, intelligence (or lack thereof), and aid character development. Mr. Collins’ foolish letter reveals his blatantly ridiculous nature, while Mr. Darcy’s shows the sincere qualities of his persona that had not been seen before. Mrs. Gardiner’s letter further illustrates traits we had seen before, but also helps Elizabeth figure out how she felt about Mr. Darcy. Whatever each letter accomplished, they are all critical to the structure of the novel. Without them, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth would have never gotten together, and neither character would realize their own pride and prejudice.

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