Allusions in Pride and Prejudice

It was difficult to find clear allusions in Pride and Prejudice because Austen uses humor, metaphors, and similes to tell the majority of her story. However, here are two literary allusions from the P and P that helps give the story some historical context.

#1:

Mr. Darcy:

“I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love.” (pg. 45)

This is an allusion to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. The quote is a reference to the phrase from Twelfth Night: “If music be the food of love, play on.” The Twelfth Night is a play about outward appearances. In the play one of the female characters is mistaken by the Duke for a man simply because she is disguised as one and the Duke can’t see past what’s on the outside. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen has Elizabeth falling into this same trap: she can only see that Darcy as crass and uncaring even though he is benevolent on the inside.

#2

Mrs. Bennet

“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.” (Pg. 1)

Michaelmas is a Christian festival observed on September 29th on some Western liturgical calendars. Mrs. Bennet’s reference to the holiday alludes to the historical context in which the novel is set. The book is thought to be set contemporary to Austen’s time in the early 1800s Britain where religion (especially Christianity) played a significant role in everyday life.

Oh, and it’s worth mentioning that Pride and Prejudice is one of the most alluded to books of all time. There are tons of books and movies that have taken the timeless story and made it their own including: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries,Bridget Jones’ Diary, and Pride Prejudice and Zombies.