Jane Austen's Conception of Human Nature as Perceived through the Novel, Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen's nineteenth century novel, Pride and Prejudice, demonstrates that human nature is innate and, for good or bad, can be cultivated and influenced by the society to which one subscribes. Austen further substantiates that human nature is fortunately alterable and refineable. Austen demonstrates this notion by focusing on two particularly iniquitous aspects of human nature; pride and prejudice. The inevitably …showed first 75 words of 968 total…

…showed last 75 words of 968 total…reflect one's nature) admits that the essence of her nature has changed. Austen's assessment of human nature in Pride and Prejudice is at times harsh, yet she manages to extract a happy ending. She skillfully demonstrates the perils of pride and prejudice and the customs of the marriage process in aristocratic, eighteenth century society. But most importantly in this analysis, Austen illustrates that human nature is innate, though alterable, improvable, and subject to external influence.