The Character of Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice

The Character of Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen, like her most beloved heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, is a

keen observer of the nature of man in society. To simplify her

studies, and to give her readers a better understanding of the concept

of Pride and Prejudice, Austen does not focus our attention on the

larger social structure as a whole, but skilfully directs our

consideration only to a small, isolated segment of the society. In

Pride and Prejudice, Austen scrutinizes a microcosm, people dwelling

within similar cultural and social backgrounds, but representatives of

the larger human community. Austen demonstrates in Pride and

Prejudice through Elizabeth and Darcy that in man's perennial pursuit

of the joys in life, those who conform too strictly or not at all to

the existing social norms face the danger of never finding their place

in life nor ever finding personal happiness.

Elizabeth Bennet is a person worthy of our imitation. She is a model

because she is different from all the other characters, except Darcy,

and because she does not adhere rigidly to the standards set forth by

society, "where the family and the community...tend to coerce and even

predetermine the volition and aspirations of the self" She is

self-reliant and independent, while "contemptuous of all the

conventions that restrict the individual's freedom.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession

of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. The first sentence of the

novel Pride and Prejudice highlights the importance of marriage within

the world of the novel. The sentence suggests that the sole purpose

for marriage was to increase the characters social and financial

ranking. The quote m...

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...nging from "She had a lively, cheerful

disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous", to "hardly a

good feature in her face..." We can see that different people have

varying views on her. Her observations lead us through the story,

meaning that we see everything through her eyes, and her intelligence

and wit mean we enjoy her commentary. At first I was unsure if the

title statement was accurate to Elizabeth’s personality. But, like

Elizabeth, my views changed, “Till this moment I never knew myself”,

Elizabeth becomes a rational creature speaking the truth from her

heart. Without neither family wealth nor wisdom to aid her,

Elizabeth's success is an attribute to her inner strength. She is by

far the most fascinating character in the book, and I believe all the

reasons mentioned prove her to be an independent, unconventional and

passionate heroine.