The Significance of 'First Impressions' in 'Pride and Prejudice'

Pride and Prejudice

The novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was originally titled First Impressions. This is significant because it reflects the values and attitudes of 19th century England, and portrays the main themes of the novel. It is set in England during the 1800’s and Austen focuses on a society whose opinions are based on first impressions.

This is achieved through cultural context, characterisation, narratorial commentary, and methods/techniques.

During the 19th Century, first impressions were very important. The reader is presented with Meryton, a highly structured class society which judges people on superficial qualities, such as physical appearance, social status, clothes, possessions, behaviour, dialogue. The message Austen positions the reader to understand, is that a society which makes its judgements based on first impressions is immoral and unjust. (-She uses ‘humour’ to help convey this in a less-serious tone.)

For example, Mrs Bennett’s first impressions of Mr Bingley were based upon his behaviour and physical appearance.

“Oh! My dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome!” (Page 16)

Mrs Bennett has a driving force in her behaviour to marry her daughters to wealthy men, who were financially stable and socially accepted, so her liking to Mr Bingley is reinforced by his interest in her eldest daughter Jane.

“Mr Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice. Think of that my dear; he actually danced with her twice; and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time!” (Page 15)

In contrast, Mrs Bennett’s first impression of Mr Darcy was that he is cold, abrupt, and proud. This is established because of his manner and behaviour. The narrator describes Darcy’s behaviour in chapter 1;

‘Mr Darcy danced only once with Mrs Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady and spent the rest of the evening walking about the room speaking occasionally to one of his own party. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs Bennett, whose dislike of his general behaviour, was sharpened into particular resentment, by his having slighted one of her daughters.’ (Page 12)

Mr Darcy judges Elizabeth and the Bennett family on soc...

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... have prided myself on discernment! –I who have valued myself on my abilities.”

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Pride and Prejudice is written in 3rd person omniscient, which allows the reader to delve into the minds of more than one character. The narrator can be persuasive and influential, (this is most common during passages of large summary) although at other times a ‘silent observer’/goes without commentary, (During character dialogue) however the ‘point of view’ becomes more focused through the character of Elizabeth. The narrator has control of selection of detail, and chooses what the reader is entitled to see. (Eg selects the incidents we see, and finds the words to describe them.)

The title ‘First Impressions’ is very significant, because the novel revolves around issues which are based on judgemental people, who make and break first impressions.

Characterisation and cultural context are used to portray this, and the reader is positioned to understand that relationships based on first impressions have no substance.

Both characters develop throughout the novel, and their first impressions of each other gradually change. Darcy’s pride diminishes, as does Elizabeth’s prejudice.