Unlike a multitude of other books that use many obvious symbols to characterize characters, such as the use of green light in The Great Gatsby, Jane Austen uses something completely different. In her book Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses her setting to illuminate certain characteristics of the characters in her book. This is especially evident in Darcy, whose house in Pemberley highlights Darcy's tendency to break with the social order, his desire for a natural, non-social marriage, and, finally, the depth of his character that often surprises the reader. Often in Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen's setting reveals whether its occupants will adhere to or break the social order of the time. Darcy's home in Pemberley helps the reader understand that, despite Darcy's outward appearance at the beginning of the book as a social elitist, Darcy truly breaks with the social order. As Elizabeth examines the interior of the house at Pemberley, Austen states “but Elizabeth saw, with admiration of his taste, that it was neither showy nor needlessly refined, with less splendor and more real elegance than the furniture of Rosings. " Although Darcy is considered proud, his house does not demonstrate this. This parallels his break with the social order. The social order of the time placed an emphasis on outward displays of wealth and opulence, yet Darcy's house she is beautiful even in the absence of “showy” displays of wealth. Just as in his home, Darcy does not choose a wife for show (a staple of the day) nor does he follow the social order to the letter with the social order supported by the environment is his rejection of the social "rule" of dancing with unpaired women at a ball, commenting that he doesn't feel the need to dance with women... .. middle of paper ..... .what Austen chooses for him, the beauty of which can only be understood when one delves into it Austen continues this parallel when she states that it was "some time before Elizabeth knew it" linking to the fact that Elizabeth barely noticed. Darcy's underlying features until he was dangling right in front of her. Austen's choice of setting for each of her characters can often tell us more about that character's underlying traits than we are told directly in the novel. In conclusion, Jane Austen uses setting as a deliberate mechanism in which to reveal and characterize her characters to the reader. Perhaps the most obvious example of this is Austen's characterization of Darcy through her manor at Pemberley. In Pride and Prejudice the setting is one of the most important and defining aspects of the novel that cannot be ignored.