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Pride And Prejudice Flaws

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In Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, the social mores of the upper and middle class in England during this time are explored through Elizabeth Bennett and her relationships with the other characters, especially Fitzwilliam Darcy. Elizabeth and Darcy are both guilty of deciding each other’s character based on the first impression, and their subsequent treatment of each other makes their potential relationship appear improbable. Both Elizabeth's and Darcy’s judgements reveal their own flaws. As the title suggests, the major flaws of the characters are pride and prejudice, which are very prominent during this time. Though the novel leads the reader to believe that Mr. Darcy is proud and Elizabeth is prejudiced, further examination of the …show more content…

Elizabeth is from a middle class family, and during the time that this novel is set one cannot work to change classes; one must marry rich to ever be well off, but Elizabeth wishes to marry for love rather than money. Thus, this desire leaves her inclined to detest Darcy for his wealth and makes Elizabeth inclined to believe the lies that Wickham tells her about Darcy. Accordingly, these lies allow her to make more excuses to despise Darcy. Furthermore, Elizabeth attempts to make Darcy aware of her loathing for him, but, according to the narrator, " . . . there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anyone; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by a woman as he was by her” (38). Her attempt to prove her aversion fails, and Darcy decides eventually to propose to her. As mentioned, Darcy’s flaws come to light during this encounter, but Elizabeth’s pride is also revealed; she is proud of her family even though they are poorer than Darcy, so when Darcy insults them, she confronts him on the issue. During the aftermath of the failed proposal, Elizabeth reveals that Darcy’s “character was unfolded” when she met Wickham (144). Darcy is aware of Wickham’s ill feelings towards him and leaves, but writes a letter to address Wickham’s lies. Elizabeth must acknowledge that she judged Darcy harshly and supported Wickham due to her prejudice against Darcy’s wealth. At Darcy’s second proposal, Elizabeth is able to let go of her pride and accept that her feelings toward Darcy have

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Darcy constructs a barrier between the two, which results in a feeling of absolute temptation and anger. In effect, they can see each other’s love much more easily than earlier in the novel. Elizabeth Bennet is portrayed as coming from a family that is inferior in rank; they inherit this stereotype through aspects of wealth, property, and marriage. On the other hand, Mr. Darcy has a social ranking of complete superiority within the society; he comes from a family that has the highest of standards among those three similar aspects to the Bennet family. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen creates a society that discriminates Elizabeth with her decision to eventually marry Mr. Darcy.

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She comes to speak with Elizabeth. The two head out to a private spot where she then began to reveal the rumours that Darcy wants to marry her. Lady Catherine tries to make Elizabeth promise her she won’t marry Darcy due to her lower wealth but Elizabeth refuses. Lady Catherine then claims she would ruin Darcy’s life by marrying him and then leaves. Shortly after, a letter in the mail arrived for Mr. Bennet suggesting an engagement between Darcy and Elizabeth.

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After the failure of Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth’s had no hope to find herself the perfect partner. As she learned more of Mr. Darcy’s life however, she found him more and more desirable. She learned of his generosity to all: friends, family, subordinates, peers, and especially those who worked for him and his wellbeing. She also saw his wealth on full display with a visit to his estate. At this moment, Elizabeth new she had fallen for the same man she had so strongly hated just weeks before.

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Change is an essential part of life, and change in character throughout one’s life is a necessary aspect of being human. In Pride and Prejudice, several characters undergo some form change between the beginning and end of the book. However, in all other characters, these changes are neither as pronounced nor as focused on as with Elizabeth and Darcy. Throughout the book, Darcy and Elizabeth serve as the primary examples of the prevalent themes of “pride” and “prejudice” respectively. Elizabeth demonstrates her change from a critical, prejudice-prone woman through her relationship with Darcy, and Darcy demonstrates his change from a condemnatory, presumptuous man through his relationship with Elizabeth and behavior towards her relations.

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Edith Wharton stated once that at some stage in a story there will be that turning point or “illuminating incident” that would be a window that opens to convey the whole message and show the deeper meaning of the work. Basing this on Pride and Prejudice, the most significant, shifting point would be when Elizabeth realizes that her first impression has done her wrong, and that she’s the one being prejudicial, not Mr. Darcy. Jane Austen follows the development of Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s relationship in how they both change in order to overcome their own vanities and be able to love each other. Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley, accompanied by her aunt and uncle, causes her to reconsider her thoughts about Mr. Darcy and shows how naïve and inconsiderate she was. After knowing the truth, Elizabeth’s reaction help build up the main themes of Pride and Prejudice which is to learn before making any judgments.

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Jane Austen wrote about two main characters that broke societal roles that should have been upheld. She put her personal beliefs of how Darcy broke out of this expectation when meeting the Bennets. Darcy was originally characterized as too prideful, based on his approachable manner at the dance, therefore giving a negative first impression to the Bennet family. Nonetheless, Elizabeth eventually chooses to let herself form her own opinion of Darcy. She also let herself open up to the idea of having a new perspective of him.

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Her spirited personality causes her to ignore the craziness and extreme behaviors that happen in her society. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth works through overcoming obstacles that come in the way of her romantic life. Not only does Darcy change her influence with the relationships she has with other characters, but Elizabeth’s family members also influence her relationship with characters as well as other characters in Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth 's relationship does not have the best relationship with her family members. Mrs. Bennet is not close to Elizabeth, or any of her daughters that well.

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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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Collins’s patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who is also Darcy’s aunt. Darcy calls on Lady Catherine and encounters Elizabeth, whose presence leads him to make a number of visits to the Collins’s home, where she is staying. One day, he makes a proposal “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” but Elizabeth refuses. She tells Darcy that she considers him arrogant, and admits that “I have not the pleasure of understanding you,” then scolds him for steering Bingley away from Jane and disinheriting Wickham. Darcy leaves her but delivers a letter to her—he admits that he urged Bingley to distance himself from Jane, but claims he did so only because he thought their romance was not

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