British Literature seminar paper

Pride and Prejudice

Elizabeth Bennet- Character analysis

Student: Olaru Elena-Izabela

Specialization: Romanian English
Year: II
Semester: I
The first part of the nineteenth century brought the British Literature a well-
known novel whose story is still ‘alive’ alive today because of the complexity of
the plot, actions and characters. ‘Pride and Prejudice’, by Jane Austen outlines
the emotional story of development of protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, who
discovered the consequences of making judgement without known, a highlighted
fact in title, using the term ‘pride’.
Elizabeth is a complex character that gradually matures and changes
throughout the novel by interacting with other characters.
When Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy at the Merynton ball, Mr. Darcy doesn't
want to dance with Elizabeth because he thinks that she is not pretty enough.
Elizabeth is offended. Later she says, “I could easily forgive his pride, if he had
not mortified mine” . This quote and event is important because it is the
beginning of Elizabeth's character development. This shows how much she
hated Mr. Darcy. At this point she is prideful and has prejudice against Mr.
Darcy just because of a wrong first impression.
Another episode when Elizabeth grow as a character and is better defined is
when she visits Jane at Netherfield. This visit, shows how loyal is Elizabeth to
Jane. Here, she notices that Mr. Darcy is interested in her, but because of pride
and her prejudice, doesn’t care, her prejudice making her misunderstand people
even when she analysis new people.
When Elizabeth meets Mr. Wickham, is attracted because of his look and
his behavior. When Mr. Wickham talks about Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth says, “I have
spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable" .
Elizabeth is judging Mr. Wickham based on his look. She is not able to see Mr.
Wickham and Mr. Darcy's true character. She believes Mr. Wickham's lie that
Mr. Darcy refused to give him the heritage left by Mr. Darcy's father. This just
makes Elizabeth's hatred and prejudice against Mr. Darcy stronger.
The episode when Elizabeth refuzes Mr. Collins proposal, she says ’I thank
you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to
accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can
I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant female, intending to
plague you, but as a rational creature, speaking the truth from her heart."
This shows that Elizabeth is opinionated and speaks her mind. She is also
smooth because she handles Mr. Collins proposal in a calm, respectable way.
We also see that Elizabeth is interested in good character. She doesn't want
to marry Mr. Collins just because of his social status. She wants to have a happy
marriage based on love instead of wealth.
The second time she is proposed, this time by Mr Darcy, she says :“You are
mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected
me in any other way, than as it spared me the concern which I might have felt in
refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentleman like manner" .
This quote shows that Elizabeth still judges Mr. Darcy. She judges his
behavior because he was not a gentleman. At this point, we see how stubborn
Elizabeth is to change and notice how Mr. Darcy actually feels about her.
Elizabeth was so angry with Mr. Darcy for proposing. She is filled with the most
pride and prejudice at this point in the story.
The moment when Mr. Darcy give her a letter is an important event in her
developement. She declares : "How despicably I have acted! I, who have prided
myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who
have often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified my vanity
in useless or blameable mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery! Yet, how
just a humiliation!".
Darcy's letter explains the true character of Mr. Wickham. Darcy explains
his intentions on separating Jane and Mr. Bingley. This event is an important
turning point for Elizabeth. She realizes that she was misjudging Mr. Darcy and
Mr. Wickham. She realizes her own pride in being able to judge people. She
sees that she had prejudice against Mr. Darcy and is ashamed of how she acted.
Before the letter, she was too blind to realize that she was prideful. She starts to
recognize Mr. Darcy's intentions and feelings for her.
Accepting Mr. Darcy’s marriage request shows the Elizabeth’s growth as
character. She realizes how much she loves him and is also thankful for all he
did for her sister, Jane.
In conclusion, in the end of the novel we meet a different character, a more
moral one, who do not judge people before her get to konw them very well and
who fell in love and let the feelings be free.
Bibliography:
 Claudia Durst Johnson, ed. Social Issues in Literature: Issues of Class in
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Farmington Hills, Greenhaven Press,
2009.
 McCann, C. . Setting and Character in Pride and Prejudice. Nineteenth-
Century Fiction, 1974
 Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, ed.Wordsworth Classics, 2002