Knowledge and pride are both tools of the young and the developed. However, one may mature by exchanging their vanity for wisdom. Elizabeth Bennet is a character who prides herself on her discernment of character. This ability gives her arrogance that often leads to strong prejudices against individuals, such as Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham. In Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, Elizabeth’s revelation from her skewed judgment reveals that maturity occurs when self-awareness illuminates one’s faults. Elizabeth’s faults are easily masked when compared to her family’s. Gifted with “more… quickness than her sisters”, Elizabeth utilized her intellect as a “studier of character”, while her mother barely owned a “mean understanding” (Austen, pg.2-3,28).
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While being “blinded by prejudice”, Elizabeth dreamt of exposing Mr. Darcy’s “real character” that oozed “abominable pride” (Austen, pg. 64, 119, 134). Although Elizabeth was mentally mature because of her watchful eye, it was hypocritical of her to allow her emotions to exaggerate someone’s character. She proves that she is determined enough to punish pride, yet this is done in vain due to her un-clean motives. Mr.Wickham was able to overwhelm Elizabeth with the “grossest falsehood” by being in “possession of every virtue”, which “[rescued] him from the attacks if Mr. Darcy” (Austen, pg. 138-139). The fact that Elizabeth was almost in love with a charlatan shows that her intelligence was not a match for deceit. Elizabeth was not the psychological master that she hoped to be, instead, she presented herself as Wickham’s victim. Elizabeth’s mindset of superiority is her downfall because she allows for her heart to be her …show more content…
Elizabeth, the woman who “prided [herself] on [her] discernment”, “grew absolutely ashamed of herself ” because she “courted… ignorance” (Austen, pg. 141). Mr.Darcy’s note is the catalyst for Jane’s self-judgment because she is forced to face the truth. Her intuition proved to be wrong, which illustrates to her that she could no longer assess others without doing so to herself. “The justice of [her] charge” caused her to “overthrow every cherished opinion of” her own judgment because she had been “wretchedly blind” to her own vanity (Austen, pg.139, 141). By acknowledging her own vanity, Elizabeth was finally capable of realizing that she too suffered from pride. Her own opinionated worth had to be devalued so that she could enter full maturity without childish pride. Therefore, Elizabeth needed humility to become
While being “blinded by prejudice”, Elizabeth dreamt of exposing Mr. Darcy’s “real character” that oozed “abominable pride” (Austen, pg. 64, 119, 134). Although Elizabeth was mentally mature because of her watchful eye, it was hypocritical of her to allow her emotions to exaggerate someone’s character. She proves that she is determined enough to punish pride, yet this is done in vain due to her un-clean motives. Mr.Wickham was able to overwhelm Elizabeth with the “grossest falsehood” by being in “possession of every virtue”, which “[rescued] him from the attacks if Mr. Darcy” (Austen, pg. 138-139). The fact that Elizabeth was almost in love with a charlatan shows that her intelligence was not a match for deceit. Elizabeth was not the psychological master that she hoped to be, instead, she presented herself as Wickham’s victim. Elizabeth’s mindset of superiority is her downfall because she allows for her heart to be her …show more content…
Elizabeth, the woman who “prided [herself] on [her] discernment”, “grew absolutely ashamed of herself ” because she “courted… ignorance” (Austen, pg. 141). Mr.Darcy’s note is the catalyst for Jane’s self-judgment because she is forced to face the truth. Her intuition proved to be wrong, which illustrates to her that she could no longer assess others without doing so to herself. “The justice of [her] charge” caused her to “overthrow every cherished opinion of” her own judgment because she had been “wretchedly blind” to her own vanity (Austen, pg.139, 141). By acknowledging her own vanity, Elizabeth was finally capable of realizing that she too suffered from pride. Her own opinionated worth had to be devalued so that she could enter full maturity without childish pride. Therefore, Elizabeth needed humility to become