Alice Pym English 19/09/12
How is Elizabeth Bennet Presented & How Does she Change in the Novel ?
Elizabeth Bennet is second eldest daughter of the Bennet sisters. Although the novel doesn’t have a specific narrator she is used more than any other character as a centre of consciousness, meaning she is the main focus of the reader’s interest. In the novel she is a heroine, however she does make a few mistakes and doesn’t have the characteristics of one. We can tell from how Mr. Bennet’s speaks of Lizzy that she is his favourite daughter, “I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy” and when Mrs. Bennet says he will not do such a thing, that she is less good looking than Jane and not half as good-humoured as Lydia, he replies “They have none of them much to recommend them… they are all silly and ignorant, like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.” She has many witty and tantalizing conversations, where she likes to drop in her strong and independent views. When Jane is ill at Netherfield, Lizzy goes to visit her, with Jane in bed, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Lizzy and the Bingley sisters are talking, Darcy and Bingley listing what makes up an ‘accomplished woman’ Elizabeth declares that she “never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe, united,” implying that Darcy is far too demanding. Most of the interactions between Darcy and Elizabeth take the forms of banter or agrument, with Lizzy’s words making Darcy’s admiration towards her stronger, once he moves past his initial prejudice.
