In “Pride and Prejudice”, dance performs as the setting for some social rituals. Like that of courtship, for example. Dance enables people to learn and socialize with each other. It goes this way both in the novel and in real life. Especially when it comes to the Victorian era. It is like a scene where characters demonstrate their interests and intentions. For Victorian people, a ball is a place to be the real themselves.
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The novel “Pride and Prejudice” depicts the development of Elizabeth Bennet’s character alongside other things. Superficial virtue and genuine goodness are opposed in the book. The reader sees how Elisabeth comes to an understanding of the difference between these two things. Jane Austen used many subtle symbols related to marriage. One of them is a dance. It provokes the development of the events. Characters reveal their nature throughout the dance. Their principles, views, and moods become exposed, too.
Meryton ball represents Mr. Darcy as an arrogant man. He slights Elizabeth Bennet and refuses to dance with her. Remember them dancing together for the first time? Their steps are formal and restrained. It is what reflects their relationship at that point. In the future, in courtship, they also are in hesitation. Young people just don’t understand each other right. There’s like a barrier between them. Dancing helps them overcome it. Pay attention to the first pages: “To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” We see Dance as an act of acquaintance and romance. That, of course, should lead to marriage.