What is austen saying about lady Catherine de bourgh?

Answer 1

Lady Catherine de Bourgh is given the odd situation of being a character more mentioned than present!

Austen uses her in different ways- firstly to show that being wealthy and important does not necessarily bring happiness or friends.

Secondly, Catherine de Bourgh has the self-importance that means she never considers her own opinion to be anything less than infallible- her lack of skills on the piano do not stop her from believing she would be 'proficient' and better than others, if she had ever been taught.

Thirdly, that there will always be those who 'suck up' to power and property- Mr Collins is a prime example of this. It is not for her wisdom or personality that he adores her!

Fourthly- she is a good indication of the background that Mr Darcy has to fight against to become his own person. Imagine that Darcy has been growing up around those who believe that their importance is much greater than others less fortunate, that their opinions are equally so and that haughtiness and 'rude' behaviour is acceptable in themselves, because of their own importance! Darcy himself admits that he was given good principles, but left to follow them without further guidance. The contradiction between the behaviour he saw and the behaviour he was told to follow is a good mirror to the behaviour shown in Lydia, who followed the behaviour of her mother more than the behaviour implored of her by her sisters!

Lastly, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is used as one who Lizzie has little respect for- but still feels the need to fight against. Their talk in the garden towards the end of the book is such that it provokes Lizzie to confront her own feelings- any opponent less forceful could only have forced Lizzie to amusement and wit rather than getting her to show her true emotions!

Answer 2

Jane Austen portrays Lady Catherine de Bourgh as a pompous and meddlesome character who feels entitled to control the lives of those around her. Through Lady Catherine, Austen criticizes the rigid social hierarchy and arrogance of the upper class.