The concept of "design" and calculation plays a prominent role in Pride and Prejudice. The design is used as a marker of values, particularly in marriage, and presents characters with a challenge in balancing intrigue and morality in its use. Already in the first lines we can see the presence of design in the narrator's fervent declaration that "a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in search of a wife". The fact that Bingley is seen from the beginning as an object to be conquered indicates the predatory attitude of the society, which will use any means necessary to make things work according to the design of its members. Mr. Bennet also refers to Mr. Bingley's "¹design in setling here (5)¹", making it clear from the beginning of the novel that design is an influential part of this society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThis bias towards design has a basis. The characters live in a static financial situation. Since none of them work, there is no possibility of acquiring money and power outside of planning. The decline of accumulated family wealth, as is clearly demonstrated in the novel, is a central concern for individuals of the nobility. The social stigma against work prevents these families from returning to the world of work to make their fortune, and therefore a different strategy must be adopted. Marriage in this world is necessarily more of a business venture than a demonstration of love. Women in particular have no support outside of marriage, as they typically do not inherit their family's wealth. We see this dilemma in the Bennetts' relationship with Mr. Collins, who will inherit all the family property, including the house, when Mr. Bennet dies. Women in particular, therefore, must engage in some plan to secure a rich husband in order to provide for themselves. The economic dimension of marriage is a key element in the role of design in the world of Pride and Prejudice. Some design elements are considered good prudence, although a prudent woman must be careful to avoid extreme mercenary behavior. On the other hand, the woman must ensure that she gives sufficient importance to the economic aspect, and avoid a marriage that demonstrates a total lack of meaning and consideration for her family and her future. We see that it is mostly women who plan in this novel, as men inherit family wealth and have fewer worries about what to plan. Charlotte presents the clearest example of someone acting in accordance with these financial security challenges. Does the entire Lucas family, faced with a significant decline in family wealth, have prudent interests in mind, believing that "Mr. Collins' current circumstances made him an ideal match for their daughter, to whom they could give little fortune?" Lady Lucas directly began to calculate how many more years Mr. Bennett was likely to live (103)." Driven by these interests for herself and her family, Charlotte plans to marry Mr. Collins. For this she uses methods such as when "she saw him from an upstairs window while walking towards the house, she immediately set out to accidentally meet him in the alley (102)". This drawing about Mr. Collins can be considered mercenary, but it also shows prudence given Charlotte's situation. A form of drawing clearly more cold and calculating is seen in Lady Catherine's dynastic ambitions She had a long-developed plan for Darcy to marry her daughter in order to create a wealthy family dynastydrawing on the lives of the young men to include Elizabeth, in an intimidating scheme to lure her away from tempting Darcy with her "¹ arts and seductions (which) may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and all his family (285).¹" To maintain her family's power, she must work to ensure the outcome of Mr. Darcy's marriage choice. Much of what Lady Catherine says carries some moral weight. A choice about marriage in Pride and Prejudice affects entire families, rather than just the individual. This impact was clearly seen in Lydia's transgression and the references made to the shame it would bring upon her entire family. Lady Catherine is planning with this idea of ​​family interests in mind, but she goes too far and defines family interests in such a way as to justify her immoral demand for power. Miss Bingley also displays a cold and calculating design in her attempts to portray Elizabeth. in a negative light for Darcy. She hopes that by securing Darcy's contempt for Elizabeth, she can thus be free to persuade him to have a greater affection for herself. This criticism makes his project evident in its often desperate tone. He says "¹How ill Eliza Bennett looks this morning, Mr. Darcy, I never said in my life that anyone was so altered as she is since the winter. She has become so brown and rough! (220),¹" and later "¹i her eyes, which have sometimes been called so beautiful? They have a sharp, shrewish look, and altogether there is an unfashionable self-sufficiency in her air, which is intolerable (221).¹" Miss Bingley's design, in its simplicity? , is clearly perceived by all the characters in the novel. Hearing of Darcy's preliminary engagement to Miss de Bourgh, Elizabeth smiles, thinking of poor Miss Bingley. In fact, all his attentions must be vain, his affection for his sister and his praise for himself must be vain and useless, if he were already self-destined for another (71). "The design in Pride and Prejudice is not used only in the name of prudence, but also of sentiment when he plans to keep Bingley away from Jane by following him when he leaves the city on business, and convincing him to stay there, «rejoicing that he has recently saved a friend from the inconveniences of a marriage. imprudent (153)". Although this has negative results and constitutes interference in the life of another, the intentions were noble and he does not deceive his character and fully admits his role, saying "¹I do not suppose that it (the Bennett family) ) would have ultimately prevented the marriage, if it had not been supported by the assurance, which I did not hesitate to give, of your sister's indifference? To convince him not to return to Hertfordshire (164).¹" We see throughout this novel that design can have a positive side, or at least arise from good intentions. As previously mentioned, it is necessary for women to design to ensure their future; this is a social reality in the world the characters live in. The social structure makes it difficult to meet suitable husbands without some element of planning, so a series of social strategies are developed to secure a husband, including dances and strategic visits when the Bennett women pressure Mr. Bennett to visit Bingley at the beginning of the novel Since a young woman is unlikely to meet suitable men without these social tools, this is an acceptable form of planning, the general idea is that if they are to happen. good things, an individual must organize the world to make them so. The challenge, however, is to employ these strategies without becoming too immersed in the intriguing and therefore deceptive elements of design. This is a distinction that Austen's characters struggle to make;secure one's future without falling into the trap of mercenary plots, and the true character of each individual can be judged by his ability and determination to avoid this trap. The existence of so much design makes it difficult to truly evaluate people's character and feelings. that are presented in the novel. The characters live in uncertainty of the true nature and intentions of their acquaintances, particularly regarding marriage. Those with wealth must be careful to ascertain the motives of their suitors. The characters of the novel largely depend on appearance to judge the character, but appearance can be used to mask the underlying design. Lizzy suspects that Darcy is plotting against her and using his appearance and mannerisms to disguise his character. Wickham is the most deceitful character in the novel, who uses the advantage of his appearance to advance a plan to blacken Mr. Darcy's name. Wickham also displays this mercenary design in his interest in Miss King, to whom he "¹gave (her) the least attention, till the death of her grandfather made her mistress of this fortune (128).¹" The design may also demonstrate the quality of character of the designers themselves. Darcy uses good intrigue to try to save his friend, and so through the design he demonstrates his good character. Charlotte uses patterns, but no deception of her character. Wickham, however, regularly uses deception for mercenary purposes. The type of design undertaken by individuals shows their true "character" in a society where everyone must design. This raises a key question; Does Lizzy herself design? We are given some hint of this when she sees Pemberly and says "¹I could have been the lover! With these rooms now I could have had a familiar acquaintance (202)!¹" and soon after "thought of his (Darcy's) look with a deeper attitude". feeling of gratitude never aroused before? She wished to know what he thought of her (205-207)." Her behavior towards Darcy also changes when she is confronted with his wealth; she acts less sarcastic and more friendly towards him. The narrator's closeness with Lizzy, however, he gives weight to the interpretation that her reversal of feelings is genuine and that she is not simply giving in to her mercenary desires and altering her behavior in an attempt to marry him. The idea that Darcy's property and the her management reflect greater moral significance is highlighted here to free her from suspicions of calculation. She is credited with having thought "As a brother, master of the house, master, did he consider the happiness of many people under his tutelage? He thought of it with a deeper feeling of gratitude than he had ever aroused before (205)." This may still be seen as an expression of a mercenary design to secure a man with such considerable power, but it seems clear that the purpose of this elaboration on Darcy's "noblesse oblige" is instead to attribute to Elizabeth the deepest feelings that founded his mind transition: this is just one example. Get a personalized document now from our expert writers custom essay Design speculations demonstrate the moral and social challenges in courtship Whether some design is necessary to preserve oneself raises a social challenge in ensuring a prudent marriage and a moral dilemma about the place of feeling in marriage and how much it. planning is acceptable. Lizzy asks us "what is the difference in marital matters, between the mercenary motive and the prudent one? Where does discretion end and avarice begin?" The central position of these questions in the Victorian world leads/2872192)