In her novel, “Pride and Prejudice”, Jane Austen narrates a story of love between a middle class Elizabeth Bennet, and an upper-class Fitzwilliam Darcy. However, their marriage was no consequence of love at first sight, nor an easy journey. It was an uneven road throughout most of the novel—a road with numerous obstacles. Such obstacles that initially prevented a relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy include the latter’s pride, and the former’s prejudice, and the actions of those around them.
Darcy’s pride throughout much of the novel was the first factor that prevented an earlier relationship between himself and Elizabeth. His pride is first displayed at the ball that took place in Meryton in the beginning of the story. Darcy was simply …show more content…
When she overhears Darcy’s comment about her appearance, she automatically links his rejection to his pride, and holds that opinion for majority of the story. This can be seen in a conversation with George Wickham, the godson of Darcy 's father. When discussing about Darcy, Elizabeth asks Wickham how he knows Darcy, who she describes as “He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Everybody is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by anyone.” (Chapter 16) In response, Wickham tells the story of how he knows Darcy. Wickham’s father was an employee of Darcy’s father. When the former passed away, Wickham fell under the care of the latter. When inheritance was to be distributed, Wickham stated: “He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given elsewhere.” According to Wickham, Darcy 's father left him a good amount of wealth. However, Darcy somehow took the money for himself. When Elizabeth replies by saying he should be publically ridiculed, Wickham says: ‘Some time or another he WILL be—but it shall not be by ME. Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose HIM.” (Chapter 16) Wickham is a suave character in this novel. Although it is revealed that this is not the case later on in the story, his humble refusal to scorn Darcy, out of respect for Darcy’s father, once again increases Elizabeth’s prejudice against …show more content…
These people are Caroline Bingley and Lady Catherine De Bourgh. Caroline Bingley wishes to have Darcy for herself, thus she makes it a point to degrade Elizabeth in front of Darcy. In one occasion, she indirectly recognizes Elizabeth as an unaccomplished woman, stating: “A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages,... she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions...” (Chapter 8) Although this did not completely stop and/or lessen Darcy’s admiration for Elizabeth, it certainly reminded him and reinforced the latter’s inferiority. Lady Catherine took a similar approach, except she stated her daughter, Miss Anne De Bourgh, was always intended to marry Darcy. She demanded that Elizabeth reject any proposal made by Darcy, going as far to say “You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.” (Chapter 56) Lady Catherine tells Elizabeth that if she were to accept a proposal for marriage by Darcy, she would not be acknowledged by any immediate family and/or friends of
Darcy’s pride throughout much of the novel was the first factor that prevented an earlier relationship between himself and Elizabeth. His pride is first displayed at the ball that took place in Meryton in the beginning of the story. Darcy was simply …show more content…
When she overhears Darcy’s comment about her appearance, she automatically links his rejection to his pride, and holds that opinion for majority of the story. This can be seen in a conversation with George Wickham, the godson of Darcy 's father. When discussing about Darcy, Elizabeth asks Wickham how he knows Darcy, who she describes as “He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Everybody is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by anyone.” (Chapter 16) In response, Wickham tells the story of how he knows Darcy. Wickham’s father was an employee of Darcy’s father. When the former passed away, Wickham fell under the care of the latter. When inheritance was to be distributed, Wickham stated: “He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given elsewhere.” According to Wickham, Darcy 's father left him a good amount of wealth. However, Darcy somehow took the money for himself. When Elizabeth replies by saying he should be publically ridiculed, Wickham says: ‘Some time or another he WILL be—but it shall not be by ME. Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose HIM.” (Chapter 16) Wickham is a suave character in this novel. Although it is revealed that this is not the case later on in the story, his humble refusal to scorn Darcy, out of respect for Darcy’s father, once again increases Elizabeth’s prejudice against …show more content…
These people are Caroline Bingley and Lady Catherine De Bourgh. Caroline Bingley wishes to have Darcy for herself, thus she makes it a point to degrade Elizabeth in front of Darcy. In one occasion, she indirectly recognizes Elizabeth as an unaccomplished woman, stating: “A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages,... she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions...” (Chapter 8) Although this did not completely stop and/or lessen Darcy’s admiration for Elizabeth, it certainly reminded him and reinforced the latter’s inferiority. Lady Catherine took a similar approach, except she stated her daughter, Miss Anne De Bourgh, was always intended to marry Darcy. She demanded that Elizabeth reject any proposal made by Darcy, going as far to say “You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.” (Chapter 56) Lady Catherine tells Elizabeth that if she were to accept a proposal for marriage by Darcy, she would not be acknowledged by any immediate family and/or friends of