Macbeth Act 3

Act 3, Scene 1
Act 3 opens at the royal castle on the day of a great feast to celebrate Macbeth's coronation. Banquo is the first to enter the great dining hall. The prophecy of the Witches races through his mind, and he begins to believe that Macbeth himself was responsible for the fulfilment of the Hags' prediction. He thinks upon his own destiny as foretold by the Witches. If Macbeth is now king, Banquo is sure to father future kings. A trumpet sounds and King Macbeth and his Queen enter the hall with Lennox, Ross, and a long parade of servants. Macbeth is very concerned with Banquo's activities for the day, and asks him where he plans to go before dinner begins. Banquo tells him that he and his son, Fleance, are going to ride on the vast castle grounds in the afternoon, but he assures Macbeth he will not miss the feast. Macbeth orders everyone to take the afternoon for himself and be 'the master of his time' until seven that evening, when the banquet will commence. Everyone rushes off, except Macbeth and a servant. He asks the servant to bring in two men that have been waiting at the palace gate. Alone for a brief moment, Macbeth reveals his plan to have Banquo and Fleance murdered while they are out riding. The men are not professional assassins, but rather poor men who are willing to work as mercenaries. Macbeth has already blamed their current state of poverty on Banquo. He now tells them that while Banquo is his own enemy as much as theirs, being a loyal friend of Banquo's prevents Macbeth from killing Banquo himself. Killing now comes easier to Macbeth and he will gladly slay his friend and his child if it means securing the throne for his own lineage. The “be a man” theme recurs in Macbeth’s address to the murderers. When Macbeth demands whether the murderers have the courage to kill Banquo, they answer "we are men, my liege" (line 92). But their answer does not satisfy Macbeth, who berates them as less-than-exemplary examples of men. Macbeth thus uses very much the same goading tactics his wife used in compelling him to kill Duncan.The servant returns with the men whom Macbeth has commissioned to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth gives them some final instructions and sends them on their way. As the scene comes to a close, we see Macbeth's transformation into an evil villain now complete: "It is concluded Banquo, thy soul's flight if it finds heaven, must find it out to-night." (Lines 140-141).

Act 3, Scene 2
In another room in the castle, Lady Macbeth orders a servant to find her husband. Lady Macbeth is not as happy as she thought she would be as Queen of Scotland, and, although she hides it better than Macbeth, the murder is all that she can think about. Despite the fact that they now have exactly what they desired, Lady Macbeth confesses that they have gained nothing and lost everything by killing Duncan: 'Nought's had, all's spent' (line 4). Macbeth enters and he too admits to consuming feelings of guilt and fear. He laments 'in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly: better be with the dead' (lines 18-9). Lady Macbeth wants to think of other, more pleasant things, and she tells her husband to be happy and enjoy his feast. Macbeth informs her that he has decided to kill Banquo and Fleance. She asks for details but, to save her from further guilt, Macbeth will not tell her any more: 'Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck' (lines 44-6).

Act 3, Scene 3
The two murderers set out to find Banquo and Fleance, riding on the palace grounds. A third murderer joins them, sent by Macbeth to ensure the killing is carried out according to plan. They hear horses approach. It is Banquo and his son, walking toward the stables, talking about the fun of the day. Night has fallen early and they carry a lit torch. The First Murderer attacks Banquo but before he dies he cries out to Fleance to run away as fast as he can. In the scuffle the torch goes out and Fleance successfully escapes into the dark countryside. The murderers know that they have left incomplete the more important task of killing Banquo's son, but they nonetheless head to the castle to report Banquo's death to Macbeth.
Banquo's murder itself makes use of a common theme in Shakespeare's plays the contrast between light and dark. While the murderers wait for Banquo and Fleance to approach, one of them observes that the sun is setting. This is no coincidence: Banquo serves as a bright contrast to the dark night that accompanies Macbeth's rise to power. He is a man who does not allow his ambitions to eclipse his conscience. At the moment that he dies, therefore, it is appropriate for the last remnant of sunlight to fade away. Such symbolism is reinforced by the fact that Banquo and Fleance approach the murderers carrying a torch. The torchlight is the first thing that the murderers see: "a light, a light" notes the second murderer (line14). And after the deed is finished, the third murderer asks: "who did strike out the light?" (Line 27). At the same moment that the good and kind Banquo dies, the light is extinguished.

Act 3, Scene 4
At the banquet, a murderer arrives and reports to Macbeth just as the dinner guests begin to arrive. The First Murderer tells him that the blood Macbeth sees upon his face is Banquo's and that Fleance has escaped. Macbeth is unhappy with the news that Fleance remains alive, but he focuses on the good news of Banquo's death and decides to take his place at the dinner table. Even when Macbeth has Banquo killed at a safe distance from himself, the spilled blood still returns to haunt Macbeth. When the murderer shows up to report his success, Macbeth observes: "There's blood upon thy face" (line 11). The blood itself serves a sign and reminder of the Macbeths’ culpability—ultimately driving Lady Macbeth mad.
But Macbeth's seat is already occupied. It is Banquo's ghost, and Macbeth is horrified. Before his stunned guests he begins to speak to what they believe is an empty chair: "Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you?/Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too" (lines 68-70). Lady Macbeth tells the guests that Macbeth is suffering from stress, and, when the ghost disappears, Macbeth regains his composure. He says that he has a "strange infirmity" and quickly calls for more wine and toasts the "general joy of the whole table". Unfortunately, Macbeth decides to mention Banquo specifically in the toast, which prompts the re-appearance of Banquo's ghost. Macbeth again reacts to the spirit, much to the bewilderment of his guests. Lady Macbeth, afraid her husband is losing his mind and will reveal their crimes, bids the guests an abrupt goodnight and shuffles them out of the hall. When they are alone, Lady Macbeth, who is baffled by Macbeth's behaviour, tells him that his lack of sleep is causing him to hallucinate. She draws Macbeth aside and attempts to calm him by asserting that the vision is merely a “painting of his fear”—just like the dagger he saw earlier, “This is the very painting of your fear; This is the air-drawn dagger which you said Led you to Duncan" (line 60-62). Macbeth insists that he must consult the three Weird Sisters to find out what dangers lie in wait. Macbeth and his Lady retire to bed and the scene ends with Macbeth's final thought that, because he is new to such heinous crime, his conscience is overactive, but he will improve with time. As he tells Lady Macbeth: "We are yet but young in deed" (line 146).
The boundaries between reality and the supernatural are blurred as Banquo's ghost appears twice—both at exactly the moment Macbeth mentions him. It seems that the vision of Banquo accompanies the idea of Banquo in Macbeth’s mind. The ghost thus seems more like the manifestation of an idea—a figment of the imagination—rather than a “real” ghost. Just like the dagger, Banquo's ghost appears to be a realization of Macbeth's guilt. Even if the occurrence is supernatural, the event is very real for Macbeth.
Act 3, Scene 5
Thunder crashes overtop a lonely heath where the Witches are gathered. Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, scolds the Hags for not including her in their meetings with Macbeth. Hecate tells them that they must reassure Macbeth when he comes to visit, for she knows that security "Is mortals' chiefest enemy" (line 34).

Act 3, Scene 6
In a room in the palace, Lennox and another lord discuss the deaths of Duncan and Banquo. Lennox now suspects Macbeth has committed the murders and subtly reveals his thoughts in an exceptional speech, noted for its sustained irony. The lord also suspects Macbeth, and he tells Lennox that Malcolm has the support of Edward, King of England, and that Macduff has since sided with Malcolm and is gathering an army as they speak. They hope Malcolm and his troops return as soon as possible to help the Scottish rebels overthrow Macbeth.

Act 2 Macbeth

Act 2, Scene 1
The night falls over the castle at Iverness. Banquo comments to his son, Fleance, that it is as black a night as he has seen. Banquo is having trouble sleeping, for the prophecy of the Witches is the only thing on his mind. He hints that he too has been thinking ambitious thoughts and he begs the heavens for the will to suppress them: "Merciful powers/Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature/Gives way to in repose" (2.1.7-9). Banquo meets Macbeth in the courtyard and he tries to bring up the subject of the Witches but Macbeth refuses to discuss them or their predictions. He bluntly replies "I think not of them", and bids Banquo goodnight. Macbeth goes to an empty room and waits for his wife to ring the bell, signalling that Duncan's guards are in a drunken slumber. Macbeth's mind is racing with thoughts of the evil he is about to perform and he begins to hallucinate, seeing a bloody dagger appear in the air. He soliloquizes on the wickedness in the world before concluding that talking about the murder will only make the deed that much harder to complete. Suddenly, a bell rings out. Macbeth braces himself and utters these final words:
I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell. (2.1.62-4)
In this scene the reader will feel tensed as Macbeth is about to kill the king.
Macbeth's famous soliloquy at the beginning of this act introduces an important theme: visions and hallucinations caused by guilt. The "dagger of the mind" that Macbeth sees is not "ghostly" or supernatural so much as a manifestation of the inner struggle that Macbeth feels as he contemplates the regicide. It "marshals him the way he was going," leading him toward the bloody deed he has resolved to commit, haunting and perhaps also taunting him


Act 2, Scene 2
Lady Macbeth has drugged Duncan's guards and she waits in her chamber for Macbeth to commit the murder. She hears moans of torture coming from Duncan's quarters and she loses some of herself-control. She fears that they have awoken the guards and she confesses that she would have killed the King herself if he did not resemble her own father. Macbeth returns a murderer; his hands dripping in blood of his victims. The two whispers about the deed and Macbeth nervously recounts the cries each man made before he stabbed them. Lady Macbeth tells him to "consider it not so deeply" (line 30), but Macbeth can focus only on their screams and the frightening realization that, when one cried "God bless us!", he tried to say "Amen" in response, but the word stuck in his throat. Lady Macbeth pleads with her husband to put the act out of his mind but Macbeth only thinks harder upon what he has done. He hears a voice cry "Glamis hath murther'd sleep: and therefore Cawdor/Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more!" (lines 41-3). This shows an overwhelming sense of guilt will prevent “innocent sleep” from giving Macbeth respite from his tormented conscience. While he has consigned Duncan to eternal rest, he himself lives now in eternal anxiety.
Lady Macbeth insists that he go wash his face and hands and place the daggers that he has so carelessly brought back with him in the hands of the guards. Macbeth refuses to return to the scene of the crime and so Lady Macbeth goes instead. Alone, Macbeth stares at his blood-soaked hands: He is guilt-stricken and mourns.
What hands are here? Ha! they pluck out mine eyes!
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red. (lines 59-63)
Lady Macbeth comes back, now with hands equally bloody. They hear a knock at the castle doors and Lady Macbeth again demands that Macbeth wash up and go to bed, for they must pretend that they have been sound asleep the entire night. Macbeth's words of regret bring the scene to a close: "To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!" (Lines73-6).


Act 2, Scene 3
The knocking at the south entrance grows louder and more frequent. In a scene of comic relief a porter walks slowly to open the doors, pondering what it would be like to be the door-keeper of hell. He imagines admitting a farmer who has committed suicide after a bad harvest, an "equivocator" who has committed a sin by swearing to half-truths, and an English tailor who stole cloth to make fashionable clothes and visited brothels. Since it is "too cold for hell" at the gate, he opens the door instead of continuing with a longer catalogue of sinners. There are many gothic elements here. Macduff and Lennox are at the doors, arriving to visit King Duncan. Macbeth comes down to greet the two noblemen. Overnight he has fully regained his composure and pretends that their early morning knocking has awakened him. Macduff proceeds to the King's chambers while Lennox tells Macbeth about the fierce storm they encountered on their journey to Inverness. In the howling wind they heard 'strange screams of death' (lines 46), and there were reports of the earth shaking. Macbeth's response is ironic and cruelly comical: "Twas a rough night" (line 47). Macduff re-enters, screaming that the King has been slain. He tells Lennox that it is a horrible and bloody sight, comparing it to Medusa herself. He rings the alarm bell while Macbeth runs to King Duncan's quarters. Macbeth reaches the guards who have been awakened by the bell. Before they can proclaim their innocence, Macbeth kills them and reports to Macduff that he has murdered Duncan's assassins in a fit of fury. Lady Macbeth pretends to collapse in a shock and, while the rest of the men tend to her, Malcolm whispers to his brother, Donalbain. The brothers are not as easily deceived as the others and they know their lives are in grave danger: "There's daggers in men's eyes" Donalbain adds, and they agree to flee Scotland. Malcolm will go to England and, to be extra cautious, Donalbain will go to Ireland.

Act 2, Scene 4
In this brief transition scene, an old man reports to Ross the strange omens that have coincided with Duncan's murder. Days are as dark as nights, owls hunt falcons, and Duncan's horses have gone mad and eaten each other. These are the events that echo the slaughter of Duncan by Macbeth. Thus the unnatural death of Duncan plunges the country into both physical and spiritual turmoil.
Macduff enters and tells Ross that, since the King's two sons have fled Scotland, they are presumed to be the masterminds behind their father's murder. As a result of their treachery, their claim to the throne is forfeit, and Macbeth will be named the new King of the Scots.
In scene 4 Ross reports that "by the clock ‘tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp" lines 6-7). This image of the darkness strangling the light of day is a meteorological manifestation of the murder of Duncan; the light of nature is suffocated just as Duncan's life is extinguished.
In Act 2, characters discuss or see birds in almost every scene. While Lady Macbeth is waiting for Macbeth to finish killing Duncan, for example, she hears an owl hooting and calls the owl a "fatal bellman"—a bird whose call is like a bell tolling for Duncan's death (act 2 scene 2 line 3). The owl could also be "fatal" as an instrument of Fate, just as Macbeth is in some ways an instrument of Fate through the intervention of the Weird Sisters. In this respect, one observes a mirroring between Macbeth and the owl: both hunt at night; the owl is observed killing a falcon, just as Macbeth kills Duncan.

Reading Journal Macbeth Act One

Act 1 Scene 1
The play starts off with a gothic element of ‘thunder and lightning’. This gives the audience the image of the setting being dark and cold. The audience are introduced with the three witches. This is another gothic element. The witches are planning something and say that they will meet
again. Macbeth is mentioned ‘there to meet with Macbeth’. It foreshadows the rest of the play ‘fair is foul, and foul is fair’. The dialogue has rhymes ‘again’ rain’, ‘done’ ‘won’ suggesting that the witches are doing a chant or a spell. A lot of questions arises from the audience such as what are the witches planning? Who’s Macbeth? What interests do they have with him? This makes them wanting to read ahead.

Scene 2
It is set in a battlefield. King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox and attendants meet a wounded captain. The captain reports that Macbeth and Banquo have performed valiantly in the fight. His admiration of the noble yet brutal Macbeth is deep indeed ‘for brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-disdaining fortune, with his brandish’d steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valour’s minion carved out his passage....Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps, and fix’d his head upon our battlements’ (Lines 15-20). Death and blood is another gothic element. It gives a strong image of war to the audience and they also see that
Macbeth is a noble character that people look up to, and also that he is a brave soldier. Ross enters telling the king that they have won the battle against Norway and that the treacherous
Thane of Cawdor has surrendered. At this happy news the king gladly hands over the Thane's title and all his land to Macbeth and decides to kill the former Thane of Cawdor. ‘Go pronounce his present death, and with his former title greet Macbeth.’ (Lines 67-68)

Scene 3
Again thunder sets the scene. The Witches meet on the dark and lonely heath to await Macbeth. To pass the time they exchange boasts about their evil deeds. ‘Where hast thou been sister?’ ‘Killing swine’, again they end their sentences with a rhyme and speak one after the other. Macbeth and Banquo come across the ‘Weird Sisters’ and we see immediately that Macbeth has a strange connection to the Witches, mimicking their famous words spoken earlier in
the play: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen"(line 37) . For the first time the audience gets a image of how the witches look like, Banquo says ‘her choppy finger laying upon her skinny lips. You should be women; and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so’ (lines 43-46)
The Witches address Macbeth as Glamis, Cawdor, and King of the Scots. Macbeth is startled by what he sees clearly as a prophecy that he will be Scotland's next ruler. He is too stunned to speak and so Banquo asks the Witches if there is any more to their premonition. They do have something to add, not about Macbeth, but about Banquo. They talk in riddles, telling him he will be "Lesser than Macbeth, and greater"and "Not so happy, yet much happier” ( lines 64-65). They also tell Banquo that even though he will never himself be king, he will create future kings of Scotland. Then the Witches disappear into the darkness, despite the pleadings of Macbeth, whose shock has turned to the lust for more information. Once alone, Macbeth and Banquo pretend not to believe anything the Weird Sisters have said, but in secret they cannot help thinking that there is a little truth to the Hags' words. Banquo is not sure of what he saw and heard was the truth; he questions himself ‘were such things here as we do speak about? Or have we eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner?’

Ross and Angus arrive and inform Macbeth that Duncan has appointed him Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth and Banquo are stunned by the turn of events, realizing that the Witches are right about one facet of the prophecy and Macbeth cannot help but focus on their other, greater prediction that he will be king, ‘Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature?’ (Lines 131-136) This foreshadows the rest of the play and the audience see that Macbeth will do anything do get what he wants. He is planning to kill the king. ‘Come what come May, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.’ Macbeth and Banquo decide to talk about the prophecies between themselves later in the day. This scene brings the theme of destiny and prophecies.

Scene 4
Macbeth and Banquo reach King Duncan's castle and Duncan praises Macbeth for his loyalty and valour. He also embraces Banquo and thanks him for his courage during the rebellion. He announces that he has decided to visit Macbeth's castle at Inverness, and that he has chosen his son, Malcolm, to be the Prince of Cumberland and, therefore, the next king of Scotland. Macbeth proposes that he leave early for his castle to make sure everything is perfect for the King's arrival, and Duncan happily approves. But Macbeth is really only concerned with the King's choice of successor. With ambitious thoughts racing through his mind, Macbeth again finds himself lusting after the crown: "Stars hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires" (lines 50-1) this shows the audience how determined he is to be king.

Scene 5
The scene starts off with Lady Macbeth reading a letter from Macbeth alone. She learns of the prophecy of the Witches and that one prediction has already come true. Lady Macbeth is ecstatic and she fixes her mind on obtaining the throne for Macbeth by any means necessary. But Lady Macbeth knows that her husband has a weakness that will prevent him from taking the steps required to secure the crown. She is sure that because Macbeth is an ambitious man, he has entertained the thought of killing Duncan, no doubt several times. But she fears that he is without the wickedness that should attend those murderous thoughts. Although the unusually vicious slaying of his enemies on the battlefield have us questioning his propensity for evil, Lady Macbeth feels that he is simply too full o' the milk of human kindness" to kill King Duncan ( line 15). She, however, thinks herself not as compassionate as her husband, and when a messenger arrives with word that Duncan plans to visit Inverness, she is overjoyed that the opportunity to murder the King has presented itself so soon. She summons all the evil spirits to ensure that no pleadings of any man will come between her and her monstrous deed ‘come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! (Lines 38-41) Macbeth arrives at the castle and Lady Macbeth is ready to tempt him to join her in murder. She subtly hints at her intentions: "Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under it. He that's coming must be provided for..." (Lines 63-65). Macbeth dodges the matter at hand and sheepishly tells her that they will speak further on the subject. Lady Macbeth confidently assures him, "Leave all the rest to me" (line 71).this shows the audience how manipulative and overpowering Lady Macbeth can be. She also will do anything to make the prophecy to; however Macbeth just wants someone to give him the title without doing anything.

Scene 6
Duncan arrives at the castle with his sons, and Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, and others his party. Ironically, Duncan and Banquo discuss the beauty of the castle while inside it reeks of moral decay. Banquo goes so far as to say that the "temple-haunting martlet does approve of the castle and its sweet smelling fresh air.' Unbeknownst to Banquo, this is a particularly inappropriate reference to the martlet, a bird known for building its nest near holy places. Lady Macbeth is the first to greet Duncan and his court. She welcomes them gracefully to her humble abode. As is the custom of the land, she tells the King that she has prepared an account of all that she owns so that Duncan may perform an inventory of his subjects' belongings. But Duncan does not want to discuss such matters. He again expresses his love for Macbeth and they all move behind the castle walls.

Scene 7
Macbeth is alone in a dining room in the castle. His conscience is acting up, and he is particularly worried about the punishment he will receive in the afterlife. In his soliloquy he says "If it were done, when 'tis done, then twere well It were done quickly." If there were no consequences to be suffered for killing Duncan, then Macbeth would not be so reluctant. But he concludes that even if heaven were not going to judge him, he cannot bring himself to kill Duncan, whom he believes is a good man and an excellent monarch. Lady Macbeth walks in on her husband and sees the indecision on his face. Macbeth tells her that he has changed his mind: "We will proceed no further in this business" (line 32). Lady Macbeth, who is ruthless beyond comprehension, refuses to accept Macbeth's decision. Instead, Lady Macbeth plays upon his emotions, calling him a coward and accusing him of not loving her. Her cunning words work well on Macbeth, and she turns his mind back to thoughts of murder. However, he is still afraid and he asks her "If we should fail?" (Line 58). With conviction and confidence enough for both of them, Lady Macbeth responds to her husband's doubts: "We fail! But screw your courage to the sticking place And we'll not fail" (lines 59-61). Macbeth is once and for all convinced -- they will proceed with the murder of the King. This again shows the audience how manipulative lady Macbeth can be to Macbeth and how Macbeth can be easily manipulated.

Gothic Elements in Macbeth

The play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare is written in gothic literature, this is evident through an examination of the feelings of guilt, sin, madness, the battle between good and evil and omens and curses that take place throughout the play. The opening scene of Macbeth brings in the three witches on 'a desert place' in the midst of 'thunder' & 'lightning', thus introducing very early in the play an atmosphere of fearful suspense. Appearing in their eerie physical attributes & initiating a mysterious conversation, as well as making responses to Macbeth like 'graymalkin' and 'paddock'. Scene 2 offers us a detailed account of bloodshed and horrors of the battlefield: Macbeth's 'brandished steel which smoked with bloody execution'; Macbeth and Banquo meaning to 'bathe in reeking wounds, or memorize another Golgotha'. Lines 1-37 of scene 3 present the three witches engaged in some professional occupations which suggest their vulgarity and mischief-making. Further on, their 'wild attire', 'choppy finger' & 'skinny lips', as pointed out by Banquo, underpin the terrible and the supernatural. Supernatural beings are used to create dramatic emphasis in all forms of literature. Shakespeare uses witches, ghosts, and apparitions in his play, Macbeth, to generate this effect. Supernatural beings are effective in provoking a reaction in audiences today, so it is easy to imagine how these spectres would have alarmed the people of the Elizabethan era. The population of the Elizabethan era had certain ideas about witches, which the three witches in Macbeth were based upon. So the witches add an element of the supernatural (a characteristic of the gothic) and the emphasis on darkness and on blood are all elements of the gothic. First words of the play ‘What bloody man is that...’is also evidence of a gothic element.

Marxism Analysis on Pride & Prejudice

Marxism is the idea that society is driven by money and the economy and it also divided up by the ruling class (bourgeoisie) and the workers (proletariat). So for example, Mrs. Bennet wants to marry off all her daughters to wealthy men. This to a Marxist would mean that she is driven by wealth because she wants to be wealthy but also wants to have a higher status than everyone else. In pride and prejudice it concerns itself with what class the characters belong to, but also by what means, or means of production, each character gained their status. Austen's novel is principally concerned with the social fabric of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century England, a patriarchal society in which men held the economic and social power, in an often satirical portrait of the men and women attempting to gain a livelihood. Pride and Prejudice contains many elements of social realism, and it focuses on the merging of the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy during the era of the Napoleonic wars and at the beginning of the industrial revolution. This shows that at that time the writer was influenced by the society in late 18th century to write the novel.