Social Class Stereotypes In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

In author Jane Austen 's 1813 romance novel Pride and Prejudice, social class stereotypes play a very key part when affecting the rolls of the Bennet sisters. Very clear distinctions between people who are grouped into classes are shown throughout the novel by characters of different classes stereotyping against others. This causes problems for many of the main characters who often fails to meet the social standards of others and stereotypes others themselves When it comes to social stereotypes Elizabeth Bennet, the second oldest Bennet sister, is no stranger. Throughout the novel her mother is often reminding her how to properly dress and correcting her on her manners. For example, in the beginning of the novel when Elizabeth’s sister Jane becomes sick when she is off visiting the Bingley’s, Elizabeth walks over a mile to get to her. Before she left her mother warned her “*****”. Elizabeth, however did not care how she looked, she only wished to see her sister. When she arrives at the Bingley’s, her skirt is covered with dirt and mud which repulses Me. Bingley’s sister was repulsed, as this was very against social norms. Elizabeth Bennet is also stereotyped by society because of her family, although she is nothing like her parents or sisters. This causes problems for her as she grows older and is expected to begin courting. When Elizabeth catches the eye of Mr. Darcy, a “****”, he avoided her for a very long time as his admission to himself that he is in love with