Characterization and Irony in Pride and Prejudice"Like all true literary classics, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is still capable of engaging us, both emotionally and intellectually" (Twayne back cover ) through its characters and themes. This essay illustrates how Jane Austen uses characterization of the main characters and irony to portray the theme of social frailties and vices due to imperfect humanity. Austen writes about the appearance versus reality of characters, the reluctance to believe other characters, the desire to judge others, and the tendency to take people based on first impressions. The main female protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, like many in the company, appears perfect, but is actually flawed. Austen uses this to show that no one in society is perfect and will never achieve perfection. Elizabeth's main flaw is her ability to make "fundamental errors towards her fellow men" (Moler 23). Charlotte Lucas, although her best friend, is even a stranger, because Elizabeth shows no signs of knowing her feelings for Mr. Collins. She did not and could not accept the fact that her best friend should marry Mr. Collins after the engagement was announced. Society in Austen's time, from 1775 to 1817, put a lot of pressure on women to find a decent husband and the ultimate goal was to get married (Weldon 37). Although she never married, Austen felt the stress bestowed upon her by her companions. “Women were born poor, remained poor, and lived well only because of the favor of their husbands” (Weldon 37). Elizabeth is obviously wrong about Charlotte and her need to get married, and doesn't know her or take the time to get to know her, as a best friend is obligated to do. Elizabeth is at fault for... half of the paper......33, pp. 28, 44, 58, 62, 64, 66, 69, 72, 76, 78, 86, 89-90, 92 and 96. Oliphant, Margaret, "Miss Austen and Miss Mitford", Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, vol. CVII, No. DCLIII, March 1870, pp. 270-313. Pollock, W.F., "British Novelists - Richardson, Miss Austen, Scott," Fraser's Magazine. vol. LXI, No. CCLLI, January 1860, pp. 20-38. "A Review of 'Pride and Prejudice,'" Critical Review, vol. 3, no. 3, March 1813, pp. 318-24. Robinson, Henry Crabb, Henry Crabb Robinson on books and their writers. vol. I, Edith J. Morley ed., J.M. Dent & Sons Limited, 1938, p. 227.Scott, Walter, The Journal of SirWalter Scott: the text revised from a photostat in the National Library of Scotland. Olner and Boyd, 1950, pp. 122-4. Southam, BC, (ed.), Jane Austen: The Critical Heritage. Landon, NY: Routledge and Kegan Paul - Barres and Nobel Inc., 1968.