19 family. They try to make their social class becomes high social class. However,
the struggle to make their social class higher is not that easy. They have to face the society that gives them conflicts. Jane Austen describes that people from
higher class society always try to stop and insult them when they start to get closer to wealthy people.
1. Conflict between Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley
The conflict starts when Mrs. Bennet hears that someone who is very wealthy, Mr. Bingley, comes to their town. She wants one of her daughters to
meet him and win his heart, so that she can change her family’s fortune. From this
point, Mrs. Bennet would like to change her family’s social class into higher
social class. Jane Austen shows how people at that time depicted by the Bennet family, especially Mrs. Bennet, who
is very eager to change her family’s social class and status.
However, her family has to face several conflicts when finally her daughter, Jane Bennet, can get closer to Mr. Bingley. Jane Austen describes that
the first conflict that the Bennet family has to face is when Mr. Bingley’s sister,
Caroline Bingley, judges Elizabeth as a low moral woman because Elizabeth cannot dress properly when she comes to see Jane,
who is in Mr. Bingley’s house. Caroline Bingley says,
To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone What could she mean by it? It
seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country town indifference to decorum. Pride and Prejudice, p. 31
20 Caroline Bingley, as a woman from high class family, has a standard for
anyone who is trying to get closer to her family. She cannot accept anyone who does not look like a high class person. The opinion also comes from Mrs. Hurst,
who judges the Bennet family as a low-middle class family and they must not have connections with the Bennet family.
I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were settled. But with such a father and
mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it. Pride and Prejudice, p. 31
Elizabeth suddenly realizes that Caroline Bingley dislikes the Bennet family and that she also pretends to be friend with Jane. From that moment,
Caroline Bingley always tries to keep a distance from the Bennet family. Soon after, Bingley, his sisters, and Darcy depart for London and announce to Jane that
they have no intentions of returning to Netherfield. They also tell Jane that Bingley will marry
Mr. Darcy’s sister. This is the only way from Caroline Bingley to stay away from the Bennet family.
Though Jane really loves Mr. Bingley, she has to face the fact that Caroline Bingley tries to make Jane and her family stay away from Bingley
family. Furthermore, the prevention is coming up again when Jane goes to stay with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, in order to forget Bingley.
However, unexpected event happens, Bingley is also in London. She tries to see him many times, but unfortunately she is prevented by Caroline Bingley and even
Caroline Bingley does not let Mr. Bingley know that Jane Bennet is also in London. It is not only Caroline Bingley who tries to separate Jane Bennet and Mr.
21 Bingley. Mr. Darcy also takes a part in separating them. He admits it when
Elizabeth Bennet confronts him about what he has done to Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley. He says,
“I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Towards
him I have been kinder than towards myself,
” Pride and Prejudice, p. 156. As stated by Collins 1974, he concludes
“coercion and the ability to “force” others to behave a certain way are the pr
imary basis of conflict” p.56, Mr. Darcy makes Jane Bennet separated from Mr. Bingley. It is because Mr. Darcy thinks Jane only
wants Mr. Bingley’s wealth. The conflict that Jane has to face is that she is always prevented by
Caroline Bingley to meet Mr. Bingley. In this point, Jane Austen describes that high class society is hardly being a friend with middle and even low class society.
There is always a gap between these two classes and Jane Austen is successfully describes it in the novel.
2. Conflict between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy
