Among novelists Jane Austen ranks as a supreme mistress of comedy. She brought with her task of social comedy a singular combination of rare gifts - a wit and satire of wonderful delicacy, a mind of great penetration, a style absolutely pellucid and effortless. No novelist has ever been more thoroughly an artist both in her attitude towards her own work and in her respect for her own limitations. She is so impersonal in her attitude that one may seek in vain for any trace of her own opinions or thoughts in her writings. Within her own limits she comes as near perfection as any human genius can.
One of the world's most popular novels, Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", has delighted readers since its publication with the story of the witty Elizabeth Bennet and her relationship with the aristocrat Fitzwilliam Darcy. Similar to Austen's other works, Pride and Prejudice is a humorous portrayal of the social atmosphere of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century England, and it is principally concerned with courtship rituals of the English gentry. The novel is much more than a comedic love story, however; through Austen's subtle and ironic style, it addresses economic, political, feminist, sociological, and philosophical themes, inspiring a great deal of diverse critical commentary on the meaning of the work.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Picaresque Novel:
1.2 Gothic Novel:
1.3 Epistolary Novel:
1.4 Psychological Novel:
1.5 Regional Novel:
1.6 Pride and Prejudice
1.7 Sense and Sensibility
1.8 Mansfield Park
1.9 Emma
1.10 Northanger Abbey
1.11 Persuasion
2. HUMOUR
3. JANE AUSTEN AS A HUMORIST
4. HUMOUR IN PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND EMMA
4.1 EMMA
4.1.1 Humorous Situations
4.1.2 Gentle Satire and Irony
4.1.3 Humor through Delusion
4.1.4 Genial Spirit of Humour
4.1.5 Humorous Approach
4.1.6 Keen Sense of Humour
4.1.7 Humour Through Dramatic Irony
4.1.8 Humorous Elements
4.1.9 Psychological Humour
4.1.10 Humorous Characters
4.1.10.1 Mr. Woodhouse as a Comic Character
4.1.10.2 Miss Bates as a Comic Character
4.1.10.3 Emma as a Comic Character
4.1.10.4 Mr. Knightly as a Comic Character
4.1.10.5 Mr. Bennet as a comic character
4.1.10.6 Elizabeth and Darcy as humorous Characters
4.1.10.7 Mr. Collins A Highly Comic Character
4.1.10.8 Lady Catherine de Bourgh as a comic character:
4.1.10.9 Mrs. Elton as a comic character
4.1.10.10 Minor comic characters
5. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation explores the presence, function, and nature of humor in Jane Austen’s novels, specifically focusing on Pride and Prejudice and Emma. It seeks to analyze how Austen employs humor not merely as a comedic device, but as a critical tool for social commentary, character development, and the manifestation of ironic detachment within the constraints of the landed gentry of her time.
- The evolution of the novel as a literary genre in 18th and 19th-century England.
- The conceptual definition of "humor" and its historical and literary significance.
- Jane Austen's specific techniques as a humorist, including irony, satire, and character foil.
- The role of social customs, marriage, and gender dynamics in shaping Austen's comic vision.
Excerpt from the Book
Humour Through Dramatic Irony
The comic vision of Jane Austen’s novels is projected through the ironic treatment of situations, episodes and characters. Mrs.Bennet, in her anxiety to entrap suitors, drive them away. Lady Catherine, trying to prevent the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth, helps them decide to get married. Miss Bingley in the process of maligning Elizabeth in the eyes of Darcy raises her in his esteem and spoils her own prospects. Elizabeth prides herself on her perception but discovers that she has been morally blind. She tells Mr. Collins that she is not the type of girl who will reject the first proposal to marriage and accept the second, but this is exactly what she does. Mr. Darcy tells Bingley that Elizabeth is not handsome enough to tempt him to dance with, but the girl who is not good enough to dance is good enough to marry. Lydia is allowed to go to Brighton so that she might not indulge in something undesirable at home but this trip leads to her elopement. And the elopement itself, instead of alienating Darcy and Elizabeth, brings them close to each other. Mr. Darcy, who prevents Bingley from marrying in the Bennet family, ends up by marrying a delightful girl.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides an overview of the development of the novel as a literary form and contextualizes Austen’s work within the socio-historical landscape of her time.
CHAPTER-2 HUMOUR: This section defines the historical and literary concept of humor, tracing its origins from ancient physiological theories to its application as a social and literary tool.
CHAPTER-3 JANE AUSTEN AS A HUMORIST: This chapter analyzes Austen’s specific style as a humorist, highlighting her preference for subtle irony and social satire over boisterous comedy.
CHAPTER-4 HUMOUR IN PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND EMMA: This section provides a detailed analysis of how comic elements, character foils, and dramatic irony are utilized within these two specific novels.
CHAPTER-5 CONCLUSION: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, affirming Austen’s position as a supreme mistress of comedy and acknowledging the enduring relevance of her ironic moral vision.
Keywords
Jane Austen, Humor, Irony, Satire, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Social Commentary, Characterization, English Novel, Comedy of Manners, Feminism, 19th Century Literature, Dramatic Irony, Landed Gentry, Literary Criticism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this dissertation?
The work fundamentally examines the elements and functions of humor within Jane Austen's novels, specifically Pride and Prejudice and Emma, and how this humor serves as a lens for her social and moral observations.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The core themes include the nature of comedy in literature, the role of irony and satire, the social customs of the 19th-century landed gentry, and the evolution of Austen’s female characters.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The main goal is to demonstrate that Austen's humor is not merely for entertainment, but a sophisticated, ironic, and purposeful tool used to criticize social folly and analyze human character.
Which scientific or analytical method is applied?
The author employs a qualitative literary analysis, examining text-based evidence, dialogical exchanges, and narrative structures to interpret the usage of irony, character foils, and satirical techniques.
What content is addressed in the main body?
The main body breaks down the theory of humor, establishes Austen's specific brand of comedic writing, and performs an in-depth, chapter-based exploration of how characters like Mr. Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, and Mr. Collins demonstrate her distinct comic style.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Jane Austen, Irony, Satire, Comedy of Manners, Social Commentary, and Characterization.
How does the author analyze the humor in the specific character of Mr. Bennet?
The author views Mr. Bennet as a satirical onlooker who utilizes wit and sarcastic detachment as a defense mechanism against his domestic dissatisfaction and his ineffective role as a father.
How is "dramatic irony" utilized in Emma?
Dramatic irony in Emma is used to highlight the gap between Emma's misguided perceptions of her own match-making success and the reality of the social and romantic situations unfolding around her.
Why does the author consider Pride and Prejudice to be the most comical of Austen's works?
It is viewed as the most comical due to its frequent use of witty dialogue, the presence of highly memorable character caricatures like Mr. Collins, and the overarching social satire inherent in its plot.
- Quote paper
- Nirupama Patel (Author), 2011, The Elements of Humour in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/381250
