Pride And Prejudice Character Analysis

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The socioeconomic status of a man determines his eligibility in eighteenth century English society rather than his character. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, searches for love in a society concerned solely on the financial and social aspects of marriage. Conflicts arise when Elizabeth encounters the proud, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as she develops strong complex emotions towards him. When Lydia, Elizabeth’s youngest sister, weds the captivating Mr. Wickham, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth 's relationship further complicates. Through comparing the second eldest and the youngest Bennet daughters, Lydia’s childish qualities foil Elizabeth 's mature sensibility.
Lydia’s fiscal irresponsibility depicts her overall immaturity; …show more content…

Wickham highlights Elizabeth’s regretful attitude in her misjudgments of character. Lydia’s disappearance with Mr. Wickham results in chaos in the Bennet family. In a letter to her aunt, Lydia explains her motives for leaving, revealing when she returns “[she will] sign [her] name Lydia Wickham. What a good joke it will be!”(530). The exclamatory syntax of “what a good joke it will be!” indicates Lydia’s apathetic views on her family’s reputation. Her joking manner emphasizes her immaturity which prevents her from facing the consequences of her elopement. By allowing her family to fret about her lost dignity, Lydia demonstrates her lack of responsibility as a daughter and her disregard for feelings other than her own. Compared to her adolescent sister, Elizabeth regrets her prejudices towards the formidable Mr. Darcy. Once Mr. Darcy confesses his misjudgements of Jane and the truth in firing Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth “[grows] absolutely ashamed of herselfㅡOf neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd” (382). Jane Austen stresses“ashamed” which reveals Elizabeth’s resentment in her judgemental actions. Unable to see through Mr. Darcy’s pride, Elizabeth becomes shielded by her assumptions from Mr. Darcy’s genuine personality; however, once Lizzy’s alters her perception, she discovers her romantic feelings towards him. Elizabeth comprehends her error in judgement and explains to Mr. Darcy “how gradually all her former prejudices had been removed” (670). By using the past tense, Jane Austen illustrates the transformation in her preconceptions of Mr. Darcy. The maturity Elizabeth exhibits manifests her ability to recognize her mistakes and fix the distress she causes. This maturation in Elizabeth’s response to Mr. Darcy intensifies Lydia’s

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