Besides reading the novel Pride and Prejudice I also did some further reading such as Babb, H.S., Jane Austen's Novels: the Fabric of Dialogue and Wright, A., Jane Austen's Novels: A Study in Structure. I find those books are conveying a same idea that in Pride and Prejudice the plot is secondary, both in importance and interest, to character and dialogue.
I agree that in Pride and Prejudice "the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language"(Northanger Abbey). But I also think that the real and primary attracting factor of a novel is its plots and in this respect Austen did an excellent job too.
Pride and Prejudice is based on an earlier novel of Austen's called First Impressions. This could be taken as a related theme of the later novel, and helps inform an approach to the text.
Jane Austen, Watercolour and pencil portrait by he...
English: Back View of Jane Austen, Watercolor
English: Français : Une gravure de 1833 illustran...People would carry an air of pride when considering their status, how we judge them and to do so without enough knowledge invites prejudice. The plots help deliver this theme very well. Darcy takes pride in hid rank, and his arrogance colors his assessment of the people of Longbourn. Elizabeth and the neighborhood are prejudiced against Darcy from the beginning, taking offence at his low opinion of them. These qualities infect the portrayal of other characters in the book. Mr. Collins respect Lady Catherine de Burgh for her high rank and praises his patroness extravagantly, and on the other hand he considers the offer of marriage to one of the Bennet sisters as patronage, which reflect his is "a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility". Lady Catherine displays ridiculous pride in her status by showing her domineeringness to...