Comparing Jane's Conversation In Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen

Similarly, Austen uses another one of the sisters’ conversations to compare Jane’s impartiality with Elizabeth’s skepticism and lack of compassion, foreshadowing the events that will result from this flaw in her character. While contemplating whether Mr. Wickham’s conflict with Mr. Darcy was entirely truthful, Jane, being Jane, hesitates to condemn either men as she prefers to see the best in people: “It is difficult indeed—it is distressing. One does not know what to think” (108). While Elizabeth on the other hand is quick to believe Mr. Wickham: “I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think” (108). Contrary to Elizabeth, Jane gives Mr. Darcy the benefit of the doubt because she had no indication to do otherwise: “It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side” (107).

Wickham who had wronged Mr. Darcy after all and Jane is completely taken aback as Austen describes: “What a stroke was this for poor Jane! Who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind, as was here collected in one individual” (279). Despite this discovery, Jane struggles to completely condemn Mr. Wickham much to Elizabeth’s displeasure: “you never will be able to make both of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Darcy’s; but you shall do as you choose” (279). So, although Elizabeth condemned Mr. Dacry at first, she changes her mind after learning the truth thus revealing her transformation, yet Jane statically cannot fathom to truly castigate either