Feeling Accomplished: Reflections of Judgement in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

When one's accomplishments are held under scrutiny, there are varying standards that they may be considered against, depending on the judge. However, the criteria that one evaluates others with speak volumes to the critic's own character. In the passage of Pride and Prejudice, where Darcy, Caroline, Elizabeth, and Bingley discuss the definition of an "accomplished woman", the requirements that each character considers ideal reveal the stark contrast between their personalities; Jane Austen's variation in each characters' tone, irony, and diction suggests that the way one critiques others is a reflection of their own innate nature.

The tension that is laced into the tone of the passage underscores the differences that lie between the characters and their contrasting opinions. Bingley is the only one who describes women with kindness, in his belief that he "scarcely knows anyone" (lines 10-11) who is not accomplished. However, his generosity can also be interpreted as a sense of naivety, which is a truthful portrayal of Bingley's nature of seeing the best in others. Elizabeth, on the other hand, speaks with a rational voice; she is very logical in her "wonder at [Darcy and Caroline] knowing any" (line 37) accomplished women. Her responses to Caroline demonstrate both Elizabeth's fearlessness in speaking of her own opinions and desire to speak her mind. Bingley and Elizabeth's tones are contrasted by Caroline and Darcy's manners. Caroline is vitriolic in her comments, not only on the whole but particularly toward Elizabeth when she describes her opinions as "paltry" (line 52) and "mean" (line 52). Caroline's tone reveals her lack of respect for others who are below her in social standing. Darcy appears frank for speaking his thought...

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...mely kind and Elizabeth is rational, contrasting the sever candour of Darcy's character and the sheer superciliousness of Caroline. In particular, Caroline's verbal irony and often contradictory words highlight the disregard for one's own character when they judge the actions of others. Furthermore, the diction that is utilized in the passage, principally the recurrence of words such as "deserve" and "severe" by Darcy and "I" by Elizabeth, further exhibits the divergences in their character. Finally, each character's own benchmarks for accomplishment are pivotal to the expression of their innate temperament, for their expectations towards others are insightful in their perception of themselves. In the passage, the various characters argue their distinct opinions about accomplished women; in actuality, much more is unveiled about their own disposition in the process.