Elizabeth Bennet certainly has problems with formulating her opinion

818 Words2 Pages

Elizabeth Bennet certainly has problems with formulating her opinion

of people rather abruptly.

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, is a romantic novel about

the problems amongst different social classes in England during the 18th

century. The novel centers on Elizabeth Bennet, who despite having an

intolerable family, is a vivacious, smart, and agreeable person.

Elizabeth, however much an agreeable person, judges people rashly and

lets other people's stories cloud her view of people. Elizabeth does

have prejudices towards certain people, mostly to people of the higher

social class, to which she views them as proud, arrogant, and

selfish. Elizabeth at the beginning of the novel quickly formulates

her opinion of a certain Mr. Darcy; she believes him to be

ungentlemanly and bestows her prejudices onto him. Although Elizabeth

has these prejudices, her character matures, and she learns to

overcome her judgments in the end through her love for Mr. Darcy.

Elizabeth Bennet certainly has problems with formulating her opinion

of people rather abruptly without getting to know them well at first.

Consistently Elizabeth believes what others tell her, "Since being at

Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud (217)."

Since Elizabeth has heard of Miss Darcy as being proud she naturally

assumes that this is the truth, and Elizabeth goes into meeting Miss

Darcy with a negative opinion already set upon her. Elizabeth also

sets her opinion on Mr. Darcy quickly, "From the very beginning, from

the first moment, I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your

manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your

conceit, and your selfish disdain and ...

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...ld, she must have received benefit of greater importance

(261)." Mr. Darcy's deeds did not stop there, as he ensured the

marriage of 2 of Elizabeth's sisters, and donated a large sum of money

to ensure the "happiness" of Elizabeth's sister Lydia. In the end

Elizabeth accepts Darcy's hand in marriage, and now she is changed and

is happy. "I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other

people have said so before, but not one with such justice (321)."

Elizabeth's character has matured greatly nearer the end of the novel,

as she learns much about the people she usually labels negatively.

She also finds that her new husband Mr. Darcy, to which she once

thought to be detestable, is most agreeable and a great person. The

development of Elizabeth Bennet in this novel is tremendous, a once

prejudice and judgmental girl is now a changed and happy woman.

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