Originally written in the late 1700s, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice satirically depicts the universal ideals in Regency England, primarily regarding social class. Austen follows the development of an outspoken, middle-class British woman, Elizabeth Bennet, as she encounters and overcomes the many social barriers that separate her from her aristocratic neighbors. Throughout the novel, Lizzie must face society's class-consciousness, particularly with her family's growing relationship with the wellborn Bingleys and their friend, Mr. Darcy. The …showed first 75 words of 1282 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1282 total…as she often did towards Mr. Darcy, this is out of the societal norms and thus, Mrs. Bennet builds up a bad reputation. Later in the novel, when Lydia elopes with Wickham and lives with him out of wed-lock, their family is then further disgraced by this flagrant violation of society's "code". It seems unfair to condemn the other sisters because of her own acts, but that was the viewpoint people used to judge by.