Thursday, March 25, 2010

Foreshadowing

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." (1)

Austen not only includes this line to foreshadow a piece of the plot, but also to arose curiosity and to force readers into having their own opinion. If a man already were to have good fortune, what would be so appealing of having a wife? Austen uses irony to help readers see a point she is trying to make. In most cases a man of good fortune is not longing for a wife: a woman simply wants a man of good fortune, no matter what their personality might be. Elizabeth's mother wants her daughters to each find a rich man who can provide for them. This is just another example of how Austen includes first impression and stereotypes.

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