Improve Ourselves Essay

Submitted By EmmaRalphs
Words: 720
Pages: 3
Open Document
Pride and Prejudice makes it clear we should always be looking to improve ourselves. Do you agree or disagree with this statement.

What does it mean to improve oneself in Austen’s era?
Is the question metaphorical or literal?
Men and women had varied views and conceptual/societal interpretations of self-improvement. Social classes had contrasting ideas on what improvement meant in regards to their personal situation.
Many factors contribute to what an individual or group perceives to be improvement
Gender
Age
Socio-economic status
Occupation
Family influence
Current values and beliefs – contextual
Personal morals or values
Which characters embrace or disregard the idea of improving oneself?
Comparison allows the reader to reflect and contrast ways to improve ourselves are today
Personality traits
Achievements/goals
Pursue education
Higher earning jobs
In her novel, Austen teaches us the value of self-improvement through the journeys of her characters as they undergo conflict, growth and eventually maturity. This resonates with Weldon’s argument for literature, however in contrast to her demanding style, Austen invites us to parallel our lives to each stage of the characters personal development. Though Weldon believes that to understand others, one must first understand the self, Austen’s protagonist, Elizabeth is only fully aware of her true character once she recognises that her flaw is her judgment of and attitude to others. Elizabeth is introduced to the reader as having “quickness of observation”, an ability to discern sincerity, which is evidently valued by Austen who endears her to us by her favourable characterisation.

However, true to Weldon’s view of literary characters, we observe that Elizabeth is not all-knowing, but in fact has much to learn about herself and her ability to judge characters. Elizabeth’s journey to self-recognition occurs through various events, but the most notable learning curve occurs through, well, reading. While it was not quite literature, Mr Darcy’s enlightening letter challenges Elizabeth’s sense of self; she realises that she has been “blind, partial” and “prejudiced”. She has fallen prey to the flattery of Mr Wickham and the lure of resentment to soothe injured pride. Till she understood the motives and characters of others, Elizabeth realises she “never knew” herself. Austen’s purpose in “humiliating” Elizabeth is to convey to us, through her use of plot and characterisation, the dangers of pride and prejudice.
The medium for self-evaluation in Austen's world is evidently marriage, which drives the plot of the novel. Austen uses marriage as a device that tests the propriety or worth of her characters. The marriage of Mr and Mrs Bennet works as a model to which other marriages can be compared. The Bennet’s is a relationship lacking in respect and mutual admiration. It seems a result of union purely for
Show More

Related Documents: Improve Ourselves Essay

Essay about people study

Leadership By: Stephen R. Covey ISBN: 0671792806 How do we as individuals and organizations survive and thrive amid tremendous change? Why are efforts to improve falling so short in real results despite the millions of dollars in time, capital, and human effort being spent on them? How do we unleash the creativity, talent, and energy within ourselves and others in the midst of pressure? Is it realistic to believe that balance among personal, family, and professional life is possible? Stephen R. Covey…

Words 496 - Pages 2

Psychology and Doris Lessing Essays

Doris Lessing’s essay “Group Minds,” talks about the human nature of belonging to groups. Humans, specially those in Western societies do not like to be loners, but rather enjoy being part of a like-minded group. In her essay Lessing talks about the view most people of western society have about their individuality. Lessing says that people have an urge to belong to groups. She also explains how people are put in uncomfortable situations due to that urge. She also talks about the fact that we have…

Words 347 - Pages 2

Keith Oatley's Changing Our Mind

In Keith Oakley’s article, “Changing our minds,” was published in the Greater Good Magazine on September 2, 2009, novelist and psychologist Keith Oatley argues that by imagining many possible worlds, fiction, helps us understand ourselves and others. Citing Lisa Zunshine’s 2006 book, Why We Read Fiction, Oatley shows how fiction engages our theory-of-mind faculties and gives us practice in working out what characters are thinking and feeling by using the novel, Pride and Prejudice, as an example…

Words 247 - Pages 1

Written Report Essay

Evaluation of the argument Group Minds by Doris Lessing 1. Provide a short summary Doris Lessing’s Group Minds talks about the fact that human nature belongs to groups. Throughout the entire essay, Doris Lessing talks about critical thinking. What she means by critical thinking is the ability to think for ourselves and to disagree. According to Lessing, being able to think critically also means that we are educated and have our own opinions. She talks about critical thinking, because the government has…

Words 824 - Pages 4

Explain The Message Of Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sent out an important message in all his speeches. He showed us that one person could change the ideas of everyone, from the smallest individuals to the biggest countries. The message, to me, means that we must be aware that we can be more than just students. I would like to accept and change myself before trying to change the world. Accepting myself will help many people in my school including myself. This will help me have better grades, have a healthier lifestyle…

Words 392 - Pages 2

Ralph Waldo Emerson Self Reliance

Society is ever evolving and changing, as generations pass, and new inventions are created. In Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay titled “Self-Reliance”, he claims that technological advancements hinder the improvement of mankind. With an ever changing society, technology now plays a large role in our lives. New inventions get better and better, but people in our society do not improve. Acting this way id like running on a treadmill because you keep running and running, but you never move forward to your…

Words 259 - Pages 2

Summer Bridge Reflection

I remembered when I received an email from the Summer Bridge Program from the University of the Virgin Islands. I was both shocked and excited for the opportunity to attend this free program that would help me improve my mathematical and writing skills. When I was chosen and accepted to attend the program, I knew I had an enormous and laborious challenge on my hands because I struggled in writing. In order to evolve into a better writer, I expected the Summer Bridge Program to enhance and critique…

Words 645 - Pages 3

Assignment 2 Essay

ignorance and ethocentrism. The misguided War on Terror, one of the more important examples in our time, is the result of religious and culture intolerance on both sides. In her essay, “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism” Martha Nussbaum argues that to remedy such issues, we should forgo our nationalist tendencies and view ourselves first and foremost as citizens of the world, or cosmopolitans. In particular, Nussbaum focuses on education as a breeding ground for cosmopolitanism. While she concedes that…

Words 451 - Pages 2

Ap Us History Reflection

Everyone can be considered a scholar because of the hard work and effort that they put on into their school work. I guess i can consider myself as one too! The most challenging course I have ever taken was AP environmental Science. Everyone in the class was learning about how there was so many environmental causes being caused all around the world that nobody have ever thought about resolving it. I guess you can say that there is just too many that you will have to remember them. What I did to learn…

Words 310 - Pages 2

Essay on UOPX Ethical Perspectives Learning Team A

Ethical Perspectives – Learning Team A In this essay, we, as team A, will discuss what we have learned from our ethical lenses and how we can ensure correct decision making that will advance ourselves and influence our communities in a positive way. Likewise, we will also be discussing the similarities and differences between our ethical lenses, and what we have learned from each of our defined blind spots. In conclusion, we will be presenting the importance of this week’s concepts on ethics…

Words 1455 - Pages 6