Elizabeth realises the importance of appropriate etiquette, and displays this during her vain attempts to apologise for her mother’s rude remarks towards Darcy. Though unsuccessful, she takes great responsibility in upholding her family name in the presence of those who think otherwise. Elizabeth is also keen about nature, using her perceptive eye to marvel at its beauty. Her fondness for reading is great, and she is always able to “amuse herself…with a book”. Her ability to sing and play the piano is most “pleasing”, as the “entreaties” of “several” would suggest.
Though she parallels her female acquaintances in many ways, Elizabeth still possesses a unique spirit, portraying her to be a woman ahead of her time. For instance, when she arrives at Netherfield house, Elizabeth astounds her sister’s hosts. Covered in several inches of mud, she arrives at the household to visit her elder sister Jane. The Bingley sisters, shocked by her appearance, perceive Elizabeth to lack decorum, and judge her to have “nothing, in short, to recommend her”. Darcy, however, feels otherwise. He is “divided between admiration-“ purely because of the effect such exercise has had on Elizabeth’s complexion, “and doubt”, because such a minor illness would not have aroused such urgency in most women. Elizabeth’s surprising visit isolates her from other women in society, thus revealing her independent mind.
After a short stay at the Bennet household, Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth. Although flattered by his proposal, Elizabeth cannot agree to marry him, simply put because she finds him to be such a “conceited, pompous, narrow minded silly man”. Despite being suitable for marriage, Elizabeth finds Mr. Collin’s long-minded speeches greatly annoying and he appears to her nothing but repulsive. As a result of her feelings towards Mr. Collins, Elizabeth rejects him, and is “perfectly serious in” her “refusal”. This does not, however, penetrate Mr. Collins’ thought. He feels that, like all women in society, it is “custom” for Elizabeth “to reject” him “on the first application”. However, the tedious game fails to interest Elizabeth, therefore detaching her from other women in society. Eventually, Mr. Collins withdraws his proposal, much to the dismay of Mrs Bennet. She talks to “Elizabeth again and again”, though to no avail, Elizabeth’s “determination” not to marry Mr. Collins “never” wavers. For it to do so would mean for Elizabeth to compromise her principles, something she will not consider. Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins’ proposal identifies her independent mind, her strong morality, and the fact that her thought cannot be influenced, even by the likes of her pleading mother.
Such is the nature of Elizabeth that she does not regard marriage as other women of her society do. She does not want to be married to “a single man in possession of a good fortune”, but rather to a man whom she loves. She believes marriage to be a unification of love and friendship, and therefore differentiates herself from other women, such as her good friend Charlotte Lucas. Unlike Elizabeth, Charlotte marries the first man to propose to her. She does not love Mr. Collins, but rather sees him as a convenience preventing her from becoming “an old maid”. Charlotte’s desperation proves to disappoint Elizabeth, mainly because she “could not” consider Charlotte to “sacrifice” her feelings for “worldly advantage”. Therefore, unlike most women of society, Elizabeth chooses to marry out of love, thus separating her from the conventionalism of her society.
When Elizabeth arrives at Rosings to call upon Charlotte, she is warmly greeted. Amongst Sir William and Maria Lucas, Elizabeth becomes acquainted with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, an intimidating and patronizing figure, who happens to be Darcy’s aunt. Despite Lady Catherine’s tendency to successfully intimidate those of lesser wealth than her, she has no apparent affect on Elizabeth. Although Sir William and Maria Lucas are awed by Lady Catherine’s affluence, Elizabeth, on the other hand, uses her intellect to overlook her insulting comments. Due to Elizabeth’s inability to give a straightforward answer when asked about her “age”, “Lady Catherine” becomes “astonished” to be present with Elizabeth, a person who “dared trifle with so much dignified impertinence”. Elizabeth’s ability to challenge Lady Catherine’s insulting comments with her witty replies is evidence that she is not easily intimidated. It also signifies that she is able to witness “money and rank…without trepidation”, unlike the conventional Maria Lucas, who is shocked “out of her senses”. Through Elizabeth’s encounter with Lady Catherine, Austen voices her principles on the conventions of rank and affluence.
Mr Bennet’s perception of Elizabeth holding “something more of a quickness than her sisters” highlights her individuality amongst her siblings, especially Lydia. Unlike Elizabeth, Lydia is loud, indiscreet and has no sense of propriety. She openly flirts with officers from Meryton, causing embarrassment to her sisters and family. Before Lydia leaves for Brighton, Elizabeth forewarns her father about the dangers of the trip, and urges him to see how their “respectability in the world” may be “affected by the wild volatility…which” marks “Lydia’s character”. Elizabeth’s concern for her family’s respectability is shrugged off by her father, causing her independence to be shown as she blames herself for Lydia’s elopement. She feels that had she “been less secret”, and “told what” she “knew of” Wickham, the elopement “could not have happened”.
As her relationship with Darcy develops, Elizabeth shows much patience and self-control. When they first meet, Darcy remarks that “she is…not handsome enough to tempt” him. Aware that she is in the company of others, Elizabeth composes herself and refuses to feel intimidated. Her independence is shown when she dismisses Darcy’s comment, while others would have reacted. A similar situation occurs at Netherfield, where Elizabeth discovers her true self. She judges Darcy’s default to be a “propensity to hate everybody”, and he replies with a smile knowing hers to be to “wilfully…misunderstand them”. Elizabeth’s new grounded sense of self doesn’t allow her to feel intimidated by Darcy, as most would do, but rather enables her to readily converse with him.
As the storyline develops, Elizabeth’s views about Wickham and Darcy transform. Earlier on she enjoys Wickham’s company, and muses over what he is like. At the same time she considers Darcy to be “the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world”. However, her encounter with Darcy at Hunsford changes her perception of both men instantaneously. She feels “absolutely ashamed” of her behaviour towards Darcy, and concludes that she has been “blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd” for not realizing Darcy to be the “one with all the goodness”, and Wickham “the other with all the appearance of it”. After reflecting over her prejudice, Elizabeth shows herself to be more humble than proud by accepting she must personally apologise to Darcy.
To conclude, Elizabeth is the independent minded heroine of Pride and Prejudice. Her morals and good sense distinguish her from other women in society. Able to redefine and challenge gentility, Elizabeth is Austen’s image of a female protagonist who challenges the conventionality of her day, and stills inspires the admiration of all readers.
