Comedy of manners

The novel is a comedy of manners: conversation, visits, dances and marriage negotiations expose the rules and pretensions of a particular society. Its romantic ending offers satisfaction, while its satire questions the assumption that money, status and polished manners prove someone’s worth.

The novel’s form is prose fiction: it combines third-person narration, dialogue, access to thoughts and letters written by characters. It is also a comedy of manners, using wit and social encounters to expose pretension and the pressures surrounding courtship. Visits, dances and drawing-room conversations matter because they are opportunities to form attachments, assess possible partners and influence reputations.