Claudia L. Johnson: "Pride and Prejudice and the Pursuit of Happiness"

Key points:

• This is a unique work of Austen's because it indulges all of our wishes and fantasies, and in granting happiness to Darcy, a figure of power (who in comparison to similar figures in other novels lacks significant faults), Austen reaffirms social arrangements without challenging the status quo of the upper class. In other words, lack of satire regarding Darcy's character.
• Some have said that happy ending of the novel is a surface solution that does not address the real problems with society that Austen has uncovered; however, we shouldn't undervalue what Austen achieved for her time by showing the two protagonists in mutually improving debates
• This, like many Austen novels, is about happiness. The characters are shown to us so that we may assess their behavior and choose a desired outcome--and then even to judge the way in which they end up seeking happiness
• Confrontation between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine: decisively progressive, because Elizabeth does not allow the interests of the ruling class to bind her. She places her happiness in the hands of her own moral compass and no one else's--Elizabeth is not awed by mere "money or rank".
• Note: Elizabeth becomes enamored with the fact that Darcy holds so many people's happiness in his hands, despite the fact that he is usually unconcerned with other people's happiness (the way he treats those in his company at balls, etc.)