Examine the treatment of irony in Pride and Prejudice.

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813) is a novel containing heavy ironies and it is peppered with ideological arguments. In its moral concerns, Pride and Prejudice has many affinities with 18th century literature, which valued reason, order and common sense, and liked to laugh at the folly of those who did not aspire to these values. However in this novel Austen also explores the ironies of society and the fickleness of public opinion, and she accomplishes …

…and disdainful, however they also use it to be teasing, witty, intelligent and funny. However it is up to the reader to establish for himself whether the character is being serious or playful and with the help of the narrator's comments and further reading the irony of the novel can be fully appreciated. References: Austen J. 1994 : Pride and Prejudice. Penguin. Berkshire. England. Watt I. 1963 : Jane Austen. A collection of critical essays. Prentice-Hall. New Jersey. America.