Loading…
GCSE English Literature · key term
An excessive concern with being admired or thought well of by other people.
Used by AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas
Paper 1
Revise: Pride and prejudiceDuring the same conversation in Chapter 5, Mary declares: “Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us.” The balanced clauses and semicolon neatly separate inward self-estimation from the desire to shape other people’s opinions.
Paper 2
Excessive satisfaction with oneself or a desire for admiration. Elizabeth recognises that Wickham’s flattering attention encouraged her to believe him.
Create a free account to keep every note you open and track your progress.
The exclamation reveals how painfully she now judges conduct she previously considered clever. Her repeated declarations beginning “I, who” expose the gap between her proud self-image and her actual behaviour. She identifies “vanity, not love” as her weakness: Wickham pleased her by admiring her, while Darcy offended her by neglecting her.
Excessive concern with being admired or thought well of by other people.
Paper 1
Concern with gaining admiration or approval from other people.
Revise: Pride and prejudiceMary offers a useful distinction in Chapter 5: “Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us.” The balanced clauses separate self-estimation from the desire for approval. However, Mary’s solemn explanation does not place her above either fault: the narration describes her as taking pride in her reflections, and Chapter 6 shows her eagerness to display her accomplishments.
An exaggerated belief in one’s own importance or superiority.
Component 2
An exaggerated belief in one’s own importance or superiority.
Revise: Human complacency and humilityThe criticism becomes explicit in “Yet so vain is man, and so blinded by his vanity” (Book One Chapter 1). The repeated idea of vanity suggests that pride actively obstructs understanding. People can imagine life elsewhere only within limits flattering to themselves, rather than accepting that other beings might surpass them.
Concern with gaining other people’s admiration or approval, rather than simply holding a high opinion of oneself.
A desire to be admired by other people.
