Elizabeth Bennet Pride And Prejudice Essay

180805
Brenda Brayko
Junior English, period 5
January 26, 2017
The Growth of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice
It’s not uncommon for an individual to make a judgment based on misconceptions. Whether it is social standing, appearance, arrogance or pride that leads to the bias, one will always be judged. The tendency to blindly prejudice one another is a problem that must be rectified. In Pride and Prejudice, the author Jane Austen demonstrates this through the protagonist Elizabeth Bennet and her dealings with morality and marriage among others in society. As with all girls her age during the 19th century, marriage is the only thing that is on Elizabeth's mind. Her individualistic views on marriage and unique characteristics enables

Darcy results in her rejection of him without conscious or doubtfulness. In the novel, Austen portrays how Elizabeth is offended by Darcy’s esteem because it is at the expense of her own pride. In this frame of mind, she is determined in her hatred for Darcy and that there is no possibility of finding an agreeable man. Through the contradiction of her way of thinking by others, Austen portrays that Elizabeth’s prejudices against Darcy are unreasonable. It also leads to the rejection of Darcy, which is cruelly based on a false claim made by Wickham. Because of her prejudice, she is held up on the opinion that Wickham is the one that should be trusted. She refuses to hear anything contradictory to her own opinion. When Jane doubts the credibility of Wickham's allegations toward Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth's pride prevents her to consider Jane’s predispositions. Jane characteristically hesitates to condemn Darcy, “Do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father’s favorite in such a manner. It is impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for his character, could be capable of it” (86). Austen suggests that Elizabeth's pride had prevented her from taking such advice from Jane. She also indicates that she must be less hastily judgmental like Jane before achieving her own personal happiness. Even though Jane is more sensible and confidante, Elizabeth doesn’t trust her,

It requires significant strength of personality for Elizabeth to overcome that barrier and psychologically quality for the marriage. Darcy’s aunt Lady Catherine provides her that occasion as she opposes Elizabeth and Darcy’s marriage. Lady Catherine’s imperialism, founded on the virtue of her wealth and status, is gratefully enjoyed or quietly accepted but never was challenged. In order to prevent Elizabeth from marrying Darcy, Lady Catherine threatens her for her own selfish needs. However, Elizabeth doesn’t obey for the sake of her aristocracy. Instead, she refused to not sacrifice her good sense or self-respect to please her: “Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great Lady’s attention, which could furnish her with any occasion of dictating others” (165). Austen uses Elizabeth’s newly formed courage against the formidable Lady Catherine to emphasize her strong individualistic personality and pragmatic views. It requires immense courage and strength for her to challenge a domineering personality of a higher social