Title Significance: Pride And Prejudice

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The title of Jane Austen’s most celebrated novel, Pride and Prejudice, was originally titled First Impression, which is a fit title according to the theme of the novel. However, Austen was inspired by the last chapter of Frances Burney’s Cecilia, in which the phrase “pride and prejudice” appeared in capital, block letters three times. Therefore, Austen chose to name her novel with these two words because almost all of her characters in the novel have some kind of pride in them and because of that, they judge, and are judged according to the prideful manners, thus the “prejudice” from themselves and others. It is also noted that pride is one of the seven deadly sins in Christianity. Pride is defined as the quality or state of being proud, or an ostentatious display. Jane Bennet seems to be the only character in the novel that shows neither pride nor prejudice against others, but Jane herself is the source of pride of Mrs. Bennet and was prejudiced against by others. At the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth has prejudice against Mr. Darcy due to his prideful manners, but by being judgmental, Elizabeth is being prideful herself, too. It is because no one possesses the power to judge other people. Austen was wise to change the title to Pride and Prejudice because the cycle created by these two words is a never ending fascination. It also creates a better first impression for the book to first time readers than the dry and hackneyed title – First

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