An Analysis of the Pemberley Estate

By: Abby Miri

In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, the Pemberley estate was used to mirror Mr. Darcy’s true self, reverse prejudice against him, and symbolize major themes in the book. Pemberley was described as “a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; —and in front, a stream… but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned” (Austen 239). This quote shows that Pemberley was used by Austen to mirror its owner, Mr. Darcy. Just like the building, Darcy was handsome, influential, and well-established in social circles. His inner-self was reflected in the nature surrounding the house, showing he was also authentic and not artificial in his personal relationships.

Where Mr. Darcy had elicited prejudice from Elizabeth, Pemberley’s reflection of his true self undid a lot of her prejudice. This was shown in the quote, “at that moment [Elizabeth] felt, that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!” (Austen 239) and the quote by the housekeeper, “he is the best landlord, and the best master…that ever lived,” (Austen 243). Austen shows Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Darcy reverse. On seeing Pemberley for the first time, she starts to see where Darcy was coming from and begins to admire him. Hearing from the housekeeper that he is the best master makes her rethink what Wickham had told her. In this way, Pemberley reversed Elizabeth’s prejudice about its owner.

Pemberley also symbolized major themes in Pride and Prejudice, such as social classes and marriage. The generational library at Pemberley symbolized the knowledge and refinement to which only the wealthy in Regency England had access. Similarly, the piano symbolized the high social class of the Darcys because playing piano was a skill only the wealthy had time to cultivate. The ballroom at Pemberley symbolized the theme of marriage and courtship because it was where many in Regency England went to find a spouse. Meanwhile, the nature surrounding the Pemberley house symbolized authenticity and love in marriage and courtship, as it is where couples would walk one-on-one and talk. Because of this, the ballroom symbolized the stiffness of societal rules at the time, while the outdoors and nature symbolized the authentic and romantic side to marriage.