The main character Elizabeth is the second daughter of Mr. Bennet, who was a country gentleman. Jane was the oldest among the 5 daughters. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley were friends who owned higher wealth and social status. Mrs. Bennet was a typical mother at that time. The most important thing she worried about was the marriage of her daughters. Therefore, balls were her opportunities to “promote” her daughters.
Elizabeth’s first impression of Mr. Darcy was terrible. His silence and pride made Elizabeth disagreeable. To make things even worse, his description of Elizabeth appearance “tolerable” was heard by her, building an invisible barrier between their relationship. However, far from his words, Mr. Darcy got a crush on Elizabeth, attracting by her beautiful eyes. Meanwhile, at the ball, Jane and Mr. Bingley fell in love with each other. Jane would not like to show her affection of Mr. Bingley too much, because of the manner binding the ladies at the time.
Not long after the ball ended, Jane was invited to Netherfield to have dinner with the Bingleys. In order to provide Jane a chance to spend much time with Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet refused to provide Jane a carriage. The rainstorm make Jane caught a cold. Elizabeth then came to the Netherfield to take care of her. During the days Elizabeth spent here, the admiration from Mr. Darcy increased. He instinctively tried to draw her attention, but the esteem forced him to be calm. Ms. Bingley was fond of Mr. Darcy. She could not win Mr. Darcy’s heart and gradually became impatient of the visiting of the Bennets. They soon went back their house.
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Mr. Collins, who was the one to entail the estates of Mr. Bennet. Because of the law, girls could only receive some money as their own property. Mr. Collins respected Lady Catherine de Bourgh very much, who was the aunt of Mr. Darcy. With her help, he became a clergyman of the community. He wanted to choose one of the Ms. Bennet to marry so that they can live a harmonious life. Knowing Jane’s heart, he changed his bride to Elizabeth. After Elizabeth’s rejection, he chose her best friend Charlotte as his wife.
Elizabeth met Mr. Wickham. Out of the hatred of Mr. Darcy. He made up lies to describe Mr. Darcy as a deceptive man who give his position in church to others. Elizabeth became more dislike Mr. Darcy. On the ball, Mr. Darcy invited Elizabeth to dance, showing his affection of her.
Ms. Bingley sent Jane a letter, saying that they would not back to Netherfield, which indicate a break-up with her. Jane was full of sadness and then came to London with their aunt and uncle. Elizabeth pay a visit with Charlotte and Mr. Collins to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. There she also met Mr. Darcy again. Knowing his involvement of destroying her sister’s marriage, she was irritated.
Mr. Darcy visited Elizabeth at the personage alone. He proposed her but with arrogant manner. The way he expressed his proposal made Elizabeth think offended. Therefore, she refused him. The next day, Mr. Darcy handed her a letter, explaining his thoughts of Mr. Bingley and Jane. What’s he also told Elizabeth the truth of Mr. Wickham, who was a despicable man wanted to seduce the younger sister of Darcy after running out of the money old Darcy gave.
Elizabeth went on a vocation to Pemberley, where stood Mr. Darcy’s estate. She met Mr. Darcy as well as his younger sister Georgiana. Elizabeth received a letter from Jane which said that Mr. Wickham seduced Lydia, urging her to go back immediately.
Mr. Wickham agreed to marry Lydia if the Bennets offer him some money. Knowing his debts, Mr. Bennet thought it was their uncle that paid the cost. However, Elizabeth didn’t know that Mr. Darcy helped them until Lydia and Mr. Wickham paid a visit to them. Not long after that, Mr. Bingley proposed Jane. Jane happily accepted it. Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy set off for a trip to London. During the days, Lady Catherine came to the village and forced Elizabeth not to marry Mr. Darcy. She refused and confirmed her feelings towards Mr. Darcy.
After his return, she finally accepted his proposal.
About the Title Pride and Prejudice
Before I read the book, my understanding to the tittle was that pride represents Mr. Darcy and Prejudice represents Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy owned high social status and wealth, which provided him “capital” to have pride. His showing up “for he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.” (Austen, 6) seems has given him a tag of “pride”. I would like to define the concept “pride” as people look at others with setting themselves on a higher position. And after reading the book, I think the villagers are also the representatives of pride. They possessed a higher position to make comments on a man their meet for the first time. Their “capital” to be pride, was the mediocrity. Mr. Darcy was isolated from their group because his wealth and status.
The lower social status and wealth made the villagers formed a group with special pride towards him. “He never speaks much, unless among his intimate acquaintances.” (Austen, 11) it was the words from Jane, which describes Mr. Darcy’s performance in the ball. I think it was common for a person to do so if he or she was not that outgoing. However, it was Mr. Darcy’s wealth and status made it uncommon. As a “celebrity” at that time, Mr. Darcy’s movements were more easily to be concerned and misunderstood. He seemed need to be friendlier to win people’s heart, because people already have the stereotype of a young and rich man. Elizabeth was also one of the people with pride and held prejudice to Mr. Darcy. She was a special and specific character among the others.
As for the prejudice, Darcy and Elizabeth are classic representatives of it. Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Mr. Darcy was shown everywhere in this book. Because of the prejudice, she believed Mr. Wickham’s stories. Mr. Darcy also held prejudice towards Elizabeth. His first proposal “but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.” (Austen, 124) was a presenting of his prejudice to Elizabeth’s families and status. Even if he didn’t mean to do that, he hurt Elizabeth’s feeling, which led a failure of their combination.
About the Female Characters
The main character Elizabeth was the one against the female image at that time. The courage of her was very precious in the time that woman rely on man’s property to make a living, especially when she could not inherit the estate of her father. She rejected Mr. Collins, who was shallow and a bit of silly to her. What she pursued was quite different from Charlotte. Charlotte was realistic and real, she represented many woman’s choice even at modern times. However, Elizabeth was kind of ideal. She cared less about the reality but her feelings. Besides, she also ignored some of the binding customs towards woman. In order to take care of his sister Jane, she even walked to the Netherfield, which made her dress full of mud.
Jane was also a character I am fond of. She was always friendly and kind. Without the huge courage like Elizabeth, her choice was always to accept, which also made her the most ladylike girl among the five. She pretended to be indifferent about her own feeling but failed.
Ms. Bingley was the character that is arrogant but miserable to some extent. She grew up in an abundant family. Her appearance and manner were not bad, but still cannot win Mr. Darcy’s heart. Her effort to please Mr. Darcy was all in vain. The conversation between she and Mr. Darcy even made me feel a little sympathy for her. “How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!” He made no answer. “You write uncommonly fast.” “You are mistaken. I write rather slowly.” (Austen, 30) She held a quite different attitudes towards the person she loved with Elizabeth and Jane, which is humble and miserable.
Conclusion
Pride and prejudice is a outstanding novel showed romantic love and English society in 19th century. I love the movie so much and then read this book. The book presents the characteristic more clearly and exactly. It made me experience the different kind of beauty of the love between Darcy and Elizabeth.
