Pride And Prejudice: Irony

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Austen's novels emphasize characterization and
romanticism, but in Pride and Prejudice the emphasis is on the irony, values and
realism of the characters as they develop throughout the story.

Jane Austen's irony is devastating in its exposure of foolishness and hypocrisy.
Self-delusion or the attempt to fool other people are usually the object of her
wit. There are various forms of exquisite irony in Pride and Prejudice,
sometimes the characters are unconsciously ironic, as when Mrs. Bennet seriously
asserts that she would never accept any entailed property, though Mr. Collins is
willing to. Often Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth serve to directly express the
author's ironic opinion. When Mary Bennet is the only daughter at home and does
not have to be compared with her prettier sisters, the author notes that: "it
was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without much
reluctance." (pg.189) Mr. Bennet turns his wit on himself during the crisis with
Whickham and Lydia: ...

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