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The character of pride and prejudice
The character of pride and prejudice
Discuss characterization in wuthering heights by Emily Bronte
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Does pride lead to destruction? Pride and prejudice are prevalent in Austen’s novel of the same name, but pride is by far the more detrimental of the two. According to Austen pride is people’s opinion of themselves. In the novel, the protagonists’ pride almost ruins their pending engagement. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, the protagonists, are actually very unlikely to be married because of their different social classes. Mr. Darcy is a very affluent young gentleman who earns ten thousand pounds per year. He also owns a fine property called Pemberley. Pemberley is a beautiful estate with a grand park, woody hills, and a natural stream. Mr. Darcy’s late mother and his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, arranged Mr. Darcy and Lady Catherine’s daughter, …show more content…
They face eviction due to a tricky entreaty that states that their cousin, Mr. Collins, will inherit Longbourn when Mr. Bennet dies. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy meet on numerous occasions. This includes the balls at Meryton and Netherfield. During this time, soldiers were lodging in the area. Elizabeth met with a soldier named Mr. Wickham. He is an awful man but Elizabeth does not know this yet. Mr. Wickham portrays Mr. Darcy as a wretched rich guy who took away his opportunity to become a priest like his father, late Mr. Darcy, has promised. In truth, Wickham pleaded with Mr. Darcy to give him the money that was supposed to go towards his chaplain training so he could be a lawyer instead. Wickham continued his young adult life in the army gambling his money away, creating expensive tabs with nearby businesses, and fleeing instead of paying his debts. Elizabeth originally sees Mr. Darcy in a repulsive light because Mr. Darcy called her not tempting to look at and that he should not dance with her because no one else wants to dance with her. Mr. Darcy was prideful all because he was too shy to socialize with other people. He was too prideful to admit that he was shy, so he decides to degrade Elizabeth’s
Mr. Darcy is a character who represents moral ambiguity throughout most of the novel. His wealthy social status can make him be discriminatory and be patronizing to those who he believes are inferior to him, however, those characteristics slowly fade away as he becomes more acquainted with Lizzy in the final chapters. He is prideful yet noble and honorable to those who have a chance to know him personally. Mr. Darcy’s character allows for Jane Austen to reveal the effects pride can have on
At the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth Bennett’s first meeting with Mr. Darcy was marred by Mr. Darcy’s pride to which, “Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him.” At the end of the novel, after Elizabeth learns the truth and unravels her prejudice against Darcy, she begins to realize that she does have feelings for him. During their first meeting
After everyone has left for Rosings, Elizabeth is still fuming from the news that Darcy was the cause of Jane and Bingley's break up. Elizabeth is then startled by the arrival of Darcy. After a few minutes of silence, Darcy shocks Elizabeth with a sudden declaration of love for her and a proposal of marriage. In the beginning Elizabeth is flattered in spite of her deeply rooted prejudice against Darcy. Elizabeth's feelings soon turn to rage as Darcy catalogs all the reasons why he did not pursue his feelings earlier. These reasons include her inferior social class and her family obstacles.
nice a person as Bingley, but both are wealthy. Mr. Collins, the cousin and heir to the
Wickham. Upon being introduced to Mr. Wickham by Denny, Elizabeth is immediately impressed by him. She praises that he has “the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure…very pleasing address and a happy readiness of conversation, …” (Ch. 15) Elizabeths high opinion of Wickham demonstrates her prejudice already beginning to form, she is basing how she perceives him on his appearance alone without attempting to see beyond it. The contrast between Elizabeths meeting of Wickham, and Darcy also shows Elizabeth’s reliance on first impressions to judge character. During dinner at Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, “Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he [Mr. Wickham] finally seated himself…”, (Ch. 16) this shows how Elizabeth has become infatuated with Wickham in a short amount of time, she is flattered by his attention to her, and therefore, is inclined to think highly of him. When Wickham tells Elizabeth about how he knows Mr. Darcy, and what wrongs had been done to him by Darcy, “Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings,” she even “thought him handsomer…” (Ch. 16) for expressing them in such a way. Elizabeth never thinks to doubt Mr. Wickham 's story, this is because Elizabeth’s prejudice leads her to believe that Mr. Darcy is a bad person, and Wickham is not, thus she was more likely to trust what Mr. Wickham says because she already believed Darcy to be guilty of faults.
Darcy’s, Mr. Wickham is received well by Elizabeth when they first encounter one another. Wickham seems to embody what any and every eligible young woman should desire in a partner, except for wealth. “Mr. Wickham…was happy to say he had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best parts of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation – a readiness at the same perfectly correct and unassuming…” (Austen 49). Mr. Wickham shows traits that make him appear to be a good, well-mannered man. He exudes a confidence and likability that allows him to be met with positive impressions and left with an affirmative encounter.
Mr. Darcy is very proud and vain man. Darcy’s pride occurs because his family allows him to follow his principles “in pride and conceit” (Austen 310). Elizabeth decides soon after meeting him that he is a despicable man, much too abrupt and overweening, and obsequious to be liked by anyone, and lacking even the most basic social skills of the time he is very laconic with everyone
The reader is first acquainted with Mr. Darcy's arrogance at the Meryton Ball. Speaking of Elizabeth Bennet, he so snobbishly says that she was, " tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me" (Austen 9). His feelings of superiority to the people of the town lend Mr. Darcy to be judged as a man with a repulsive and cruel personality. The women, who had found him dashingly attractive at first glance, deemed him a man unworthy of marriage because he offered no positive qualities other than wealth. Not only did Darcy refuse to dance with Elizabeth, but he makes it clear that no woman in the room was worthy or met his standards of a suitable partner stating that, " there is not another woman in this room, whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with" (Austen 8). In the beginning of the novel, Mr. Darcy is only concerned with the wealth and social standing of the people in the town. Because of their lesser social rank, he feels they are un-deserving of his presence and refuses to communicate with them. As the novel progressed, however, Darcy became more and more accepting of the Bennet family. Growing most fond of Elizabeth Bennet, the straightforward, clever daughter, he finally breaks and confesses his true feelings of love for her. "In vain...
Mr. Bingley is often accompanied by Fitzwilliam Darcy, who is a very proud man. Elizabeth Bennet, who is proud of herself, and Mr. Darcy are not fond of one another from the start, these two characters pose the central conflict in the novel. As the novel progresses, Elizabeth receives a marriage proposal from her cousin, Mr. Collins, and turns him down. Mr. Collins then proposes to Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s best friend, who accepts. Elizabeth then leaves home to stay with, the Collins’ who live near Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy’s aunt.
Mr. Darcy, the leading male character in the novel, possesses an ancient family name, magnificent estate, and a sizable fortune which may seem to contribute to his pride. But later on in the book, we learn that he is a generous master to his servants and tenants and a loving brother to his young sister Georgiana. He is responsible for so much: his sister, his family name, and his estate, Pemberley. Although seen as excessively proud in a negative way, Charlotte Lucas defends Darcy by saying that a man of his wealth and family background has a right to be proud.
Darcy carries the persona of a snobbish, arrogant, and self-assured man who assumes that he can get everything he wants. He explains his attitude by stating, "I was spoiled by my parents, who thought good themselves – allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing." However, his arrogance is challenged when he is faced to deal with the fact that his wealth and class cannot catch Elizabeth's eye.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Darcy’s feelings towards Lizzie begin to change at the second ball, and again when she visits Jane at Netherfield. It is almost as if the hatred has sparked an interest, one that turns to love. Due to social norms, Darcy believes he cannot be with Elizabeth. He refers to it as a “handicap,” she does not belong to the aristocratic class of society and wealth as to which Darcy belongs. This social pressure puts a strain on the possible relationship. Despite this obstacle, the two continue to get to know one another. Darcy admits to avoiding weakness, which includes vanity but no pride. This is another problem in the relationship, Darcy is a prideful man and sees nothing wrong with it. They continue to feel drawn to each other, no matter the differences in
Elizabeth is introduced as the second eldest and prettiest of the five Bennet daughters. Towards the beginning of the novel, the Bennet daughters attend a ball in Netherfield with hopes of finding a man that they could perhaps end up marrying. At this ball, Elizabeth is briefly introduced to a man named Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy is a rich and prideful man who is misunderstood by main characters throughout most of the novel. Upon becoming acquainted, Elizabeth uses first impressions and opinions taken from others to form her own opinion of Mr. Darcy as a prideful, pretentious snob with whom she wants nothing to do with. Elizabeth cites his arrogance as Mr. Darcy's major flaw after others influence her opinions. One of Elizabeth's closest friends says of Darcy, "I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed by such ill treatment; for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him" (pg 18). This statement shows that Elizabeth was influenced by others to make negative opinions of Darcy, without taking the time to get to know him herself. One of t...
Darcy is widely perceived as the “proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (13). In the beginning of the novel, Darcy exhibits bad pride by putting his reputation in front of Elizabeth’s feelings. For instance, Darcy says to Bingley at the Netherfield ball, “[Elizabeth is] not handsome enough to tempt me” (13). Darcy does not only unveil his arrogance, but he also offends Elizabeth by calling her too ugly for his satisfaction. Although Elizabeth “remained with no very cordial feelings towards [Darcy]” (14) after his rude remark, Darcy’s comment holds the potential to lower Elizabeth’s self-esteem and pride in her beauty. In this example, Darcy favors his pride, consequently revealing a harmful trait that can negatively affect Elizabeth, or in fact anybody, which ultimately makes Darcy seem narcissistic and vain. Although Darcy originally shows bad pride, his character reveals later that he, as a matter of fact, obtains mostly good pride. In a conversation between Elizabeth and Wickham, Elizabeth asks, ‘“can such abominable pride as [Darcy’s], have ever done him good?”’ (80). Wickham responds, ‘“Yes... brotherly pride, which with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind
Elizabeth was her father’s favorite child. Being twenty years old she possesses brains, beauty, confidence, and independence. A lot like her father, Elizabeth knew that society was all about money and rank. By being prejudice against society, she attacks Mr. Darcy's pride (Moore). Her pride comes from discriminating against others by believing she knows everything.