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| Sunday, 8 January 2006 |
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A/L English Literature Made Easy - Novel Pride and prejudiceby Jane Austen Characters Elizabeth is Jane Austen's heroine and the most appreciated character in Pride and Prejudice. The whole story is built up to highlight the strong and appealing characteristics instilled in Elizabeth's character. Elizabeth is twenty one years old, the ideal age for a girl to get married. She is quite attractive.
Elizabeth is the second in the family. Her intelligence is reflected in her bright eyes and she possesses wit and humours and was capable of detecting unscrupulous behaviour patterns of her neighbours. She admires independence and freedom of thought. As Elizabeth matures and is able to adopt herself to suit the person and the situation. Elizabeth's remarks to Lady Catherine, reveals her judgement and opinion (refer to her encounter with Lady Catherine). Elizabeth's emotional attitudes and her will power shines and her strength of character is far above other members of her family. Though her contrasting opinions regarding love, wealth, prestige and lifestyle remained unshaken, her love for her family outshines and she rises on this count. far above her family members and associates. --with three younger sisters grown up said Elizabeth smiling "your ladyship can hardly expect me to own it". "Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence." Elizabeth's father's comments "Lizzy I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable unless you truly esteemed your husband, unless you looked up to him as a superior, your lovely talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage." Elizabeth's assurance of her wise selection made her father really happy and contented. (Ch LIX) She has her weaknesses too. She clashes with others who are disagreeable. Her mother treats her as "wild"; and Collins is of the opinion that she is "head strong" (When Elizabeth refused Collin's offer) Elizabeth laughing at others who disagree reveals her self-esteem. She ridicules Darcy's behaviour pattern (Chapter II) That is a failing indeed! "Implacable resentment is a shade in a character.." Elizabeth's prejudice is clearly revealed. (in chapter II) Her judgement about Darcy, prejudiced for Wickham. Her desire to reject what is unreasonable depicts clearly her thoughts "A woman of the head than of the heart". Her opinion of Charlotte's marriage to Collins, a possible venture and her own consent to marry Darcy changing her views of marriage. Not only love but "financial and social consideration" too are important facts in marriage. Elizabeth's and Darcy's characters matching in a distinctive manner. Darcy seems to be a man "guided by his reason" and Elizabeth's character matches Darcy's making Darcy and Elizabeth the true partners in life at Pemberly. Darcy Though Darcy is the hero of the story Pride and Prejudice, his behaviour pattern, ulterior motives, his perceptions regarding social values sometimes bring him down to the "level of a rascal". His judgement and personal views of others make him subjected to merciless criticism, by others. For instance at the 'meryton Ball' he refrains from mixing up with the others, with 'self appraisal', he thinks Elizabeth is far below the social standard expected of him. The reader is made to understand that Darcy is disdainful, too reserved and looks down upon others. His indifference to Elizabeth creates the conflict in Elizabeth's mind disliking him all the more when Bingley is influenced against Jane by Darcy. Nearing the end of the story (chapter 33) when Darcy's Portrait takes a different hue" his proposal to Elizabeth and after trivial quarrels they reach a mutual understanding and the writer places Darcy on a different pedestal fine, tall person with handsome features and noble mien, "intelligent and clear sighted" and Elizabeth choosing him as her partner in life. Appreciating his "judgement, information and knowledge of the world". His kind and generous attitudes towards his sister Georginia and being a good friend of Bingley he stretches a helping hand to Wickham and Lydia too. Darcy symbolizes "pride" but he is able to change his attitudes in a radical manner. At first Elizabeth is rejected by Darcy and later he succumbs to his feelings towards Elizabeth accepting her as his partner in life, though he is aware of her 'inferior connections' Darcy is far above the status and intelligence and 'superior to Elizabeth' (In Ch 10 it is clearly stated that) "Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as was by her". Jane Austen has presented a different view of her hero, in Pride and Prejudice, as the story ends. The character of Darcy is easily recognised by the reader towards the end of the story, ie through his conversations with his friends and with Elizabeth. Darcy controls his pride and with intelligence selects Elizabeth as his wife. Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng lit, St. Anne's
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