The Art of Comic Irony as the Voice of Female Consciousness in Jane Austen’s Novel Pride and Prejudice

Abstract

This research paper explores the art of comic irony in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice as the subject matter of female consciousness. Though the novelist's vision, in any novel, has to be presented artistically, Jane Austen, in Pride and Prejudice, uses the art of comic irony very naturally and effectively to awaken female consciousness. In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the use of comic irony serves as a powerful tool for both social critique and character development. Through the skillful deployment of irony, Austen highlights the tensions between societal expectations and individual desires, creating humor while also deepening the novel’s thematic exploration of marriage, class, and morality. In this research paper, the modernist free-indirect discourse will be used and considered as the theoretical framework though the concentration will be only on the use of the comic irony as an art to express the female consciousness in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. Through an extensive reading of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Austen was perfect in using the art of comic irony since the novel offers an ideal combination of social critic and artist. Moreover, Pride and Prejudice can be read as a comic novel and subtle tool for social reform, challenging readers to reconsider the norms and expectations of Austen's society and to recognize the value of individual integrity and personal choice.