Elizabeth’s quick judgment of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham causes her and her family pain, Mr. Wickham’s villainous actions and their effects on Elizabeth Bennet reveal how faulty first impressions can be, and how she could have prevented some heartache if she had been less judgmental.
Pride and Prejudice depicts the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her family of four sisters and parents in 19th century rural England. Set during the Napoleonic wars the novel is primarily told from Elizabeth’s point of view. The plot follows mainly Elizabeth and her sister Jane in their journey to find true happiness. Jane falls in love with Mr. Bingley, a wealthy man she meets at the ball but his family and friends believe that the class difference is too great;
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Wickham advances, Elizabeth comes to question his stories and his motives, ultimately realizing the faults in her judgment. For instance at the second ball, more known as the Netherfield Ball in the story, Mrs. Gardiner along with Caroline Bingley and Jane warns her against Mr. Wickham and his deceitful ways. Elizabeth slowly detaches herself from Mr. Wickham and ignores him and while doing so she finds herself becoming closer to Mr. Darcy, particularly when she visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins at Pemberley. After receiving a letter from Mr. Darcy Elizabeth she comes to the realization of Wickham’s deceitful nature and how successful he has been in manipulating her judgment towards Mr. Darcy. Her prejudice has proven to be utterly false and she regrets how she let herself be influenced, an example of her regret is when she reflects over her behavior towards Mr. Darcy “How despicably have I acted!...But vanity not love has been my folly”(Austen pp. 205). Here, Jane Austen use internal discoveries to elucidate the fact that first impressions are often flawed. Essentially, Elizabeth allowed herself to be deceived by such a man as Wickham and she understands how hurtful she has been to Mr. Darcy. Furthermore, Elizabeth realizes that Mr. Wickham only despised Mr. Darcy because of misconceptions in their past and not because Mr. Darcy was an evil