She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me'
Because of his pride, he misjudges Elizabeth at first by failing to recognise other aspects of her personality such as her liveliness and intelligence. He is prejudiced against Elizabeth as he judges her according to her mother and sisters, whom he sees as ignorant.
Mr Darcy's pride not only causes Elizabeth to misjudge him, but many of the townspeople to become prejudiced against him. The prejudice of many towards Mr Darcy is shown in chapter 24, 'by everybody else Mr Darcy was condemned as the worst of men'
Darcy's prejudice is in the form of social prejudice, as he is extremely class conscious. He acknowledges his admiration for Elizabeth, yet is against showing it due to her inferior social status. This is shown when he thinks to himself:
'were it not for the inferiority of (Elizabeth's) connections, he should be in some danger.'
Elizabeth's prejudice prevents her from seeing Darcy's admiration towards her. As a result she is mystified when meeting Darcy several times on her walking path. It never crosses her mind he is there on purpose with the intention of meeting her.
The pride and prejudice of both Elizabeth and Mr Darcy presents an obstacle in the development of their relationship and results in disastrous meetings such as the Meryton and Netherfield ball.
It is not only until Elizabeth hears the generous side of Mr Darcy from his housekeeper and Mr Darcy's assistance in Lydia's situation that they begin to understand each other and come to realise their judgements have been previously clouded by pride and prejudice. Elizabeth realises this is so when saying:
'How despicable have I acted, I, who have prided myself on my discernment'
She is ashamed of herself because she has misjudged both Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham.
The attributes of pride and prejudice of both cause both Elizabeth and Darcy to misjudge each other as well as other people. Elizabeth prides herself at judging people, yet she is inaccurate when judging those close to her such as Mr Wickham and Charlotte. Mr Darcy is proud of his social status and becomes prejudiced against Elizabeth. It is not until later in the novel that his true character can be seen by Elizabeth and others such as Mr and Mrs. Gardiner. From these events it is evident that the attributes of pride and prejudice cause people to misjudge each other.
The first chapter opens with the ironic generalisation: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.' The central concerns of the novel are established immediately to the reader throughout this sentence.
Marriage is one of many central concerns which is encountered by the reader throughout the course of the novel. Emphasis is put upon the importance of marriage from the opening chapter, in which we learn its full concepts. Jane Austen, the author adds interest to the affairs of the Bennet family by introducing a series of obstacles to their happiness.
In the time period of Jane Austen, women of the gentry were almost dependent on men. The only profession they were likely to receive was that of a governess and this was viewed of life of low status. Most women who ceased to marry remained financially dependent on their male relatives. One of the first problems faced by the Bennet family is that of Mr Bennet’s estate; it is entailed to Mr Collins and cannot be inherited by any of the daughters. Therefore it was essential for a woman to marry, both for financial survival and to gain a higher position in the social class circle.
We then learn of the arrival of Mr Bingely through the preposterous exhilaration of Mrs Bennet. It is clear to the reader that Mrs Bennet agrees with the opening sentence and this was also a stereotypical view of the society surrounding her. However through the authorial comments in the later part of the chapter it becomes apparent that Jane Austen clearly disagrees. Mrs Bennet thinks it is "a fine thing" for her "girls." Mr Bennet teases and mocks her about her scheming for the young man to marry one or other of her daughters. Her only ambition is for her "girls" is "a single man of large fortune" and that he is a man of acceptable social status or a man of "rank."
Mr Bennet was captivated by Mrs Bennet's "youth and beauty" and her "appearance of good humour" and passion was the foundation of their marriage. Mr Bennet however, would prefer to have his daughters married to a wealthy and "agreeable man," but he doesn't care as much about it as Mrs Bennet. To close the opening chapter, Austen reveals that Mr and Mrs Bennet have been married for "three-and-twenty years" and that, even this long time hasn't been enough for Mrs Bennet to understand Mr Bennet's character. He "was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve and caprice." "Her mind was less difficult to develop," as she was more interested in getting her own way, rather than gaining knowledge and understanding. Mrs Bennet's "weak understanding" and "illiberal mind" prevents any "lasting affection". The matrimony succeeds on the grounds that they keep out of each other's way.
The marriage of Lydia and Wickham is also one of little “understanding of one another’s character” and as we later realise there is no “financial security” either. The initial attraction between the two characters was based on appearances and first impressions. However after initial attraction, Mr Wickham becomes disinterested in Lydia and this adds to the problems. A condemned Lydia fails to comprehend the shame she has brought upon the Bennet family.
However the convenient marriage of Charlotte Lucas and Mr Collins collaborates well. The first marriage seen in the novel is that between Mr Collins and Miss Charlotte Lucas and is probably the most typical marriage of the time. As Jane Austen states in the novel, 'It was the only honourable provision for well educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want.' The marriage is not based on any physical attraction or true love between either party but different requirements from both sides. At twenty-seven and with little beauty or money to recommend her, Charlotte sees marriage as her best chance of securing a reasonable standard of living, good marital status and attaining financial security. 'Miss Lucas accepted him solely from the pure desire of an establishment' (page 103). As we had already learnt from Mr Collins's proposal to Elizabeth, he only has three reasons for matrimony; he would like to set a good example as a clergyman to his parish, he is confident it would add to his happiness and Lady Catherine advised him that he should marry ('twice'!). It is obvious Mr Collins does not care about beauty or love, since we are told Charlotte has little beauty and only three days before his proposal to Charlotte was his request of the hand of Elizabeth. The marriage is convenient to Charlotte and Mr Collins and the requirements of both are satisfied. It is therefore more of a business arrangement than anything else.
The reader finds out how Charlotte deals with the marriage through Elizabeth's visit to her friend. Charlotte attempts to ignore her husband's silliness, 'in general Charlotte wisely did not hear' and she also encourages him to do the gardening in order to keep him out of the way - this shows how she learns to cope with her husband. We additionally learn that she is tolerably happy in the marriage, 'when Mr. Collins was forgotten there was really a great air of comfort throughout' (page 131). At this point Charlotte could be compared to Mr Bennet. By reading alone in his library, Mr Bennet keeps apart from his barely endurable partner and obtains some peace just as Charlotte does by supporting Mr Collins's gardening pastime.
In many ways this marriage was successful because the couple fulfil each other's requirements. Also they can be accepted in society, they are financially stable and, (especially in Mr Collins's opinion,) they have good connections. The lack of love does not seem too important in this case because even before the union, Charlotte, not being particularly romantic, was not expecting this emotion to be part of the marriage equation.
The third marriage is probably the first genuinely positive one, giving a sense of happiness to the reader. After meeting both Miss Jane Bennet and Mr Bingley, it is instantly obvious that they are well suited to each other because they are both
good, kind, optimistic people and as soon as they meet at the Meryton Assembly, he shows a lively interest in Jane, dancing with her twice. Throughout the novel it becomes apparent there is a base of true love (not lust) and affection between them. Jane is the perfect example of what a young woman was expected to be during the 18th Century; polite, rational, conservative, social and beautiful (in fact the most beautiful of the five Bennet sisters) and all this would have attracted Mr Bingley to her. What is special about this relationship is the simplicity of it. Although others see faults in it such as Mr Darcy, due to a misunderstood belief that Jane is indifferent to him, and Mr Bingley's sisters disparaging view of Jane's low connections, the strong affection between the couple is constant. When adversity faces the relationship and Jane and Mr Bingley are kept apart for many months, neither of them rush into another marriage and the other is never forgotten. Elizabeth notes how Jane seemed slightly different and obviously missed Bingley during this time, whilst later on he remembers exactly when he last saw her, 'It is above eight months. We have not met since the 26th of November when we were all dancing together at Netherfield' (page 214). This shoes true love and affection between the couple.
Mr Bingley proposes to Jane almost instantly after he returns to Netherfield and we are told it was a happy marriage. I feel this was an exceedingly successful marriage because they both have the same optimistic and kind attitude towards everything and the couple are financially secure. You can be confident they will be sensible with their fortune when Jane reassures her father 'imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be unpardonable to me,' (page 280). In addition, the marriage is acceptable to society and not as unusual as Elizabeth and Darcy's because the economic and social gap is not as large - the Bingley's had 'new money.' What lastly makes the marriage particularly successful is the way Jane and Mr Bingley manage to overcome an obstacle (being apart for so long) with love and affection for each other that should last throughout their relationship. The marriage is much more preferable to that with the false happiness of Mr and Mrs Collins.
Probably the most successful marriage is the one between Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy. At the beginning of the novel this union seems the most unlikely because Elizabeth has a sincere dislike towards Mr Darcy; this is reinforced when she hears what Mr Wickam has to say about the proud man. In the same way, at the Meryton Assembly Mr Darcy isn't particularly keen on Elizabeth either, she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,' (page 13). However, one could compare Elizabeth and Mr Darcy at the beginning of the novel to Shakespeare's Beatrice and Benedick from the opening of Much Ado About Nothing. Although both Elizabeth and Beatrice claim to detest Mr Darcy and Benedick respectively and the same can be said for the men; similarly to Shakespeare, Jane Austen shows Elizabeth to be very conscious of Mr Darcy's opinions and the reader knows this would not be the case is she truly despised him.
What is so important about the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is the way they learn to respect each other. When Elizabeth finds out the truth about Mr Darcy (which differs radically to the story Mr Wickam offered) from his letter; and builds a different, improves picture of him from the housekeeper when she visits Pemberley with her aunt and uncle, the reader can see how she begins to love him. In the same way as Mr Darcy overcomes his pride against her
family and connections which he had at the beginning of the novel, 'and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger.' (page 46), Elizabeth realises her prejudice against him was wrong and looks at him in a new light. Both acknowledge their own errors, conquer their prejudices and recognize the truth about each other.
In addition, Darcy's protective attitude to Bingley (not wanting him to marry Jane because he thought she's indifferent) is the mirror image of that of Elizabeth's over Jane (upset about hearing from Colonel Fitzwilliam that Mr Darcy was boasting about his having rescued Bingley from an unsuitable match - Jane). They both share their temperaments, assumptions about life, and core values making them a good match. Also making the marriage successful is the fact that it is for true love. There are many situations during the novel that insinuate Elizabeth will only marry for true love. She turns down both Mr Collins and Mr Darcy when they propose, both of whom (in particular Mr Darcy) offer financial security and social acceptance yet Elizabeth refuses because she is not partial to either (- at the time anyway.) Elizabeth is perhaps mindful of her father's mistake in marrying her mother - another reason why her only incentive for marrying may be love. The reader of the novel can tell that Mr Darcy too, wants to marry Elizabeth solely for affectionate reasons. One would expect him to marry a wealthy lady of high class, with many accomplishments, with excellent connections, etc. He has a large choice of women that would marry him yet explains to Elizabeth during his first proposal that he cares for her despite her awful family and the large drop in society. This shows he must truly love her.
Society's rules cause many barriers for Elizabeth and Mr Darcy and Lady Catherine De Bourgh specifically reproves of the marriage. She has difficulty accepting it, visiting Elizabeth in person and questioning, 'Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?' (page 288), thus implying Elizabeth and her connections are so low they will contaminate the wonderful building only fit for those of a much higher class.
It is possible that overall the marriage between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy is the most successful. When at last they are together they are financially secure and are accepted by most of society - eventually by Lady Catherine as well. The couple triumph over many original misunderstandings and conquer all their pride and prejudices against each other - in Mr Darcy's case also against her social class. The victory over numerous obstacles seem to have brought them closer together and genuinely in love, 'They were able to love each other, even as well as they intended.' Elizabeth and Mr Darcy are both straightforward characters that are intelligent and honest as well as caring and loving and they make an extremely compatible couple.
Additionally, they continue to have equality within the relationship (it was often common at the time for the male to have a more dominant role) and as Georgiana is astonished to find, the couple constantly get along, always having something to discuss, 'she [Georgiana' often listened with astonishment . . . at her [Elizabeth's] lively, sportive manner of talking to her brother.'
This marriage turns out to be the strongest and Jane Austen leaves nothing that could be criticised about the union.
