Elizabeth is a lively: “She told the story however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.”(Chapter three), quick witted: “Only this: that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me.”(Chapter fifty-six), therefore she is also sharp tongued, bold and intelligent.
Elizabeth is also good-looking: “I remember, when we first knew her in Hertfordshire, how amazed we were to find that she was a reputed beauty.”(Chapter forty-five), and is distinguished by her fine eyes: “and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called fine…”(Chapter forty-five). The importance of her eyes may be the symbol of her abilities of perception.
She is the “Pride” as well as the “Prejudice” of this novel, as she has pride in her abilities to perceive the truth of situations and of peoples’ characters: “these offences might have been overlooked, had not your pride been hurt.”(Chapter thirty-four) as this quote tells us her perceptive abilities fail her frequently because she is influenced by vanity and judges people rashly, as when Mr Darcy says: “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”(Chapter three), she decides that he is proud and says to her mother: “I may safely promise you never to dance with him.”(Chapter four), and is therefore prejudiced against him.
Elizabeth is a very caring sister: “do you think any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?”(Chapter thirty-four), she at first blamed Caroline Bingley with this accusation: “she had always attributed to Miss Bingley the principal design and arrangement of them.”(Chapter thirty-three) however new information lessened her hates for Miss Bingley and increased it for Mr Darcy.
However Elizabeth’s character develops as she overcomes her prejudice judgements: “She explained what its effect on her had been, and how gradually all her former prejudices had been removed.”(Chapter fifty-eight)
Because she is ashamed of her ill judgements, her pride is also removed: “For herself, she was humbled, but she was proud of him.”(Chapter fifty-two)
Another way Elizabeth develops is towards the letter that Mr Darcy gave her. At first she is totally against the contents: “with a strong prejudice of what he might say.”(Chapter thirty-six) but she later understands Mr Darcy’s motives and exclaims: “I, who have prided myself on discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have often disdained the generous candour of my sister, and gratified my vanity in useless or [blameable] distrust… but vanity, not love has been my folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven them away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself.”(Chapter thirty-six) so she admits all her faults which she could not do before and after a week of being at home, she begins to make amends to what Darcy had said and written, and tells her father to forbid Lydia’s trip to Brighton: “secretly advising her father not to let her go.”(Chapter forty-one) and therefore Elizabeth’s character development in chapter fifty-eight brings her to accept Mr Darcy’s proposal.
Mary is the third daughter of Mr and Mrs Bennet. Mary is strangely solemn and pedantic; “Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner.”(Chapter six)
She dislikes to go out into society, however she enjoys showing off her talents: “She was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.”(Chapter six)
Mary always has an opinion and gives it, even though nobody is willing to hear it: “This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much talked of. But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation.”(Chapter forty-seven)
In conversation, Mary is constantly moralising or trying to make profound observations about human nature and life in general: “Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we must draw from it this useful lesson…”(Chapter forty-seven)
Mary fancies herself to Mr Collins: “Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him.”(Chapter twenty-two) however she is too prod of her intelligence she thinks Mr Collins as “though by no means as clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself by such an example as hers, he might become a very agreeable companion.”(Chapter twenty-two)
Mary’s character does not develop throughout the events that occur because, like her father, is mostly engaged in the solidarity of her books, however she is forced by her mother to partake in social events: “Mary was obliged to mix more with the world.”(Chapter sixty-one) and this chapter also tells us that she wished to change: “She submitted to the change without much reluctance.”
The youngest of the Bennet sisters but one is Catherine Bennet, mostly called “Kitty” by her family members. Catherine seems to have little personality of her own, but simply to act as a shadow to Lydia, following Lydia’s lead in whatever she does: “In this danger Kitty is also comprehended. She will follow wherever Lydia leads.”(Chapter forty-one)
When Lydia is invited to go to Brighton, Catherine is in uproar as she feels she should have a right to go: “though I am not her particular friend. I have just as much right to be asked as she has…”(Chapter forty-one)
I learned that Catherine “is slight and delicate”(Chapter forty-seven) because she cries just because Lydia is to go to Brighton without her: “Kitty was the only one who shed tears.”(Chapter forty-one)
When the cataclysm concerning Lydia occurs, Catherine knows about it: “To Kitty, however, it does not seem to be wholly unexpected.”(Chapter Forty-Six) therefore I know that Catherine is a secretive person and that she is Lydia’s confidante, however this act had made her condition worse as her father is now overprotective of her and she is to feel the consequences of Lydia’s actions: “No Kitty, I have at least learnt to be cautious, and you will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever to enter my house again…” Kitty who took all these threats in a serious light, began to cry.”(Chapter forty-eight)
The end of the novel provides hope that Catherine’s character will improve by being removed from the society of her mother and Lydia and being taken care of primarily by Jane and Elizabeth: “Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time with her two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she has generally known, her improvement was great. She was not of so ungovernable a temper as Lydia: and, removes from the influence of Lydia’s example, she became, by proper attention and management, less irritable, less ignorant, and less insipid.”(Chapter sixty-one)
The youngest Bennet is Lydia. She is fifteen years old and is married by the age of sixteen, which tells us that she is foolish and flirtatious: “Her character will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever made herself and her family ridiculous-a flirt, too, in the worst and meanest degree of flirtation.”(Chapter forty-one)
She is Mrs Bennet’s favourite daughter: “Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age.”(Chapter nine) because the two have very similar characters: “this invitation was so far from exiting in her the same feelings as in her mother and Lydia.”(Chapter forty-one)
Lydia is constantly obsessed with officers: “She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the officers, to whom her uncle’s good dinners and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased assurance.”(Chapter nine) and sees no purpose of life beyond entertainment and diversion: “Good Heaven’s what is to become of us? What are we to do?”(Chapter forty-one)
She lacks any sense of propriety, virtue or good judgement. Lydia does not care for anyone but herself, because when she is to elope with Wikham, she does not know what pain her family is going through. The letter that she wrote to Mrs Forster in chapter forty-seven proves this: “You need not send word at Longbourn of my going, if you do not like it, for it will make the surprise greater, when I write to them and sign my name “Lydia Wikham.” What a good joke it will be!”
Lydia is a thoughtless girl, as seen in her elopement with Wikham and her complete lack of remorse afterwards: “Lydia was Lydia still, untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy and fearless.”(Chapter fifty-one)
Lydia’s character does not change, as her lack of sense and shame remains the same from the beginning of the novel till the end.
Mr Charles Bingley is much like Jane. He is an amiable and good tempered man: “sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! – so much easy, with such perfect good breeding!”(Chapter four)
He is not overly concerned with class differences as he takes a liking to Jane and does not suppress his feelings for her: “the want of connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me.”(Chapter thirty-five)
Mr Bingley is very modest and easily swayed by the advice of his friends as he does not propose to Jane because Darcy directs him not to: “Bingley has great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence of my judgement than on his own. To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself, was no very difficult point.”(Chapter thirty-five)
Mr Bingley is liked by everyone because of his easy character: “Mr Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room; ha was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves.”(Chapter two)
Like Jane, Bingley lacks serious character faults and is thus static throughout the novel. His character and his love for Jane remain constant: “and a wish of saying more than might lead to mention her, had he dared. He observed to her, at a moment when the others were talking together, and in a tone which had something of real regret, that it “was a very long time since he had the pleasure of seeing her.”(Chapter forty-four)
He only proposes to Jane when Darcy approves of their marriage: “I told him, moreover, that I believe myself mistaken in supposing, as I had done, that your sister was indifferent to him, and I could easily perceive his attachment to her was unabated, I felt no doubt of their happiness together.”(Chapter fifty-eight)
Overall Mr Bingley’s character does not develop, however, like Jane, he grows tiresome of Jane’s mother and moves away from Netherfield, and also when Mr and Mrs Wikham outstay their welcome “that even Bingley’s good humour was overcome.”(Chapter sixty-one)
Miss Caroline Bingley is Mr Bingley’s sister. She is superficial and selfish: “Had Miss Bingley known what pain she was causing her beloved friend…”(Chapter forty-five)
She has all of Mr Darcy’s class prejudice: “That his two sisters and Mr Darcy, however, should have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations.”(Chapter eighteen) but Miss Bingley does not have any honour or virtue: “How very ill Eliza Bennet looks this morning, Mr Darcy.”(Chapter forty-five)
Throughout the novel, she panders Darcy in attempt to win his affections, but to no avail: “He then went away, and Miss Bingley was left to all the satisfaction of having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself.”(Chapter forty-five)
She also pretends to be Jane’s friend and is uncivil to her in London: “She made a slight formal apology, for not calling before, said not a word of wishing to me again, and was in every respect so altered a creature, that when she went away I was perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer.”(Chapter twenty-six)
Miss Bingley enjoys ridiculing Elizabeth and her family to prevent Darcy’s attachment to her: “you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue…”(Chapter ten)
Nevertheless Miss Bingley had to change her character at the end of the novel because Mr Darcy marries Elizabeth and Miss Bingley has no other option but to accept it: “She dropped all her resentment…and paid off every arrear of civility to Elizabeth.”(Chapter sixty-one)
Mrs Hurst is another of Mr Bingley’s sisters. She is exactly like her sister and does not seem to have much affection for her husband, who is only concerned with eating and playing cards.
They do not develop throughout Pride and Prejudice, as they do not have any important parts to play.
Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is an extremely wealthy aristocrat: “of his having ten-thousand a year.”(Chapter three) First impressions are that he is an agreeable man: “Mr Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien…”(Chapter three) however this view of him soon changes: “he was looked at with great admiration for about half of the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity.”(Chapter three)
In the very same chapter I found that Mr Darcy “was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased.” He is very conscious of class differences: “Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? – to congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose conditions in life is so decidedly beneath my own?”(Chapter thirty-four) but he does have a strong sense of honour and virtue: “But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and just.”(Chapter thirty-four)
Mr Darcy’s pride in his position in society leads him initially to scorn anyone outside of his social circle: “At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would be a punishment it me to stand up with.”(Chapter three) therefore I know that Mr Darcy is also the “Pride” of Pride and Prejudice. He is also given the title “Prejudice” as his “Pride” is based on social “Prejudice.” Mr Darcy likes to take matters into his own hands as he does with Bingley’s acquaintance with Jane and Lydia’s acquaintance with Wikham.
Mr Darcy’s character develops enormously, because he realises after the first refusal from Elizabeth that he needs to change his conduct: “And his behaviour, so strikingly altered.”(Chapter forty-three), he becomes more civil to Elizabeth and her relations and thus consents to Bingley marrying Jane.
Even though Mr Darcy knows that Elizabeth’s connections are low, he still wishes to be acquainted with her and after her refusal he does not give up hope and instead of becoming haughtier he is humbled. He also admits to Elizabeth that he was brought up to have certain qualities: “I was spoiled by my parents, who, though good themselves, allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing.”(Chapter fifty-eight)
He also says that it took him a while to change: “though it was some time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to do them justice.”(Chapter fifty-eight) and that he was too proud at first to change: “You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first…”(Chapter Fifty-eight)
Mr Darcy’s character developed for the better as Elizabeth’s heart was touched and they got married with a strong bond of love between them.
Mr Darcy has but one sister, Georgiana, whom he thinks the world of. Georgiana is ten years Mr Darcy’s junior. She is quiet and shy but amiable and good natured: “she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy.”(Chapter forty-four)
Georgiana was also partial to Wikham’s good countenance, however her brother rescued her in time. Miss Darcy is not included in the novel a lot, so it is unknown whether her character developed or not.
It is known that she and Elizabeth become good friends after Elizabeth’s marriage to Mr Darcy: “The were able to love each other, even as well as they intended.”(Chapter sixty-one), this chapter also tells us that Elizabeth teaches Georgiana that “a woman may take liberties with her husband.” So it may be that Georgiana develops into a strong woman who knows her rights.
Colonel Fitzwilliam is Mr Darcy’s cousin. He is a pleasant gentleman: “Colonel Fitzwilliam who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman.”(Chapter thirty)
He does not have a huge role to play in the novel, but he does enlighten Elizabeth on the fact that it was Darcy who prevented Bingley’s attachment to Jane: “What he told me was merely this: that he congratulate himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage.”(Chapter thirty-three)
Colonel Fitzwilliam is the sort of man who Elizabeth enjoys to be in the company of: “It was plain to them all the Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him still more; and Elizabeth was reminded by her satisfaction in being with him…”(Chapter thirty-two)
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is Mr Darcy’s maternal aunt and she is Mr Collins patroness. She is extremely wealthy and likes to know and let others know of their inferiority to her: “She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.”(Chapter twenty-nine)
She loves to give people advice about how to conduct their lives down to the minutest details: “The very last evening was spent there; and her Ladyship again inquired minutely into the particulars of their journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing, and was so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns the right way.”(Chapter thirty-seven)
Lady Catherine loves to be flattered and Mr Collins fulfils these needs. She hates to be contradicted as she thinks that she is always right: “ But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to all his family. You may have drawn him in.”(Chapter fifty-six)
She blames Elizabeth for Darcy’s love for her and makes sure that Elizabeth does not consent to her marrying him if he proposes which shows that she is a very domineering woman.
Lady Catherine is the reason why Elizabeth and Darcy are united, because the company from Hunsford Parsonage receives the invitation to dinner at Rosings, where Elizabeth impresses Darcy in chapter thirty-one. Similarly, Lady Catherine’s attempt to bully Elizabeth into promising not to marry Darcy (Chapter fifty-six) is the reason for his second proposal.
Lady Catherine is still the same person at the end of the novel, however is forced to accept Mr Darcy’s marriage: “after a little further resistance on the part of his aunt, her resentment gave way.”(Chapter sixty-one)
Lady Catherine has one daughter called, Anne, who is a frail, weak and sickly child: “She looks sickly and cross.”(Chapter twenty-nine)
She speaks little in the novel and so her character is unknown to develop. Miss de Bourgh is expected by her mother to marry Mr Darcy: “My daughter and my nephew are made for each other.”(Chapter fifty-six)
Mr Wikham is an officer in the regiment stationed at Meryton. Wikham’s first appearance shows that he is a friendly, amiable man: “Mr Wikham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned.”(Chapter sixteen), he also shows a preference for Elizabeth: “and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself.”(Chapter sixteen)
She begins to like him and enjoys his attentions. Mr Wikham readily tells Elizabeth of his relationship to Mr Darcy and Elizabeth is equally interested in hearing it: “Mr Wikham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him.”(Chapter sixteen)
Mr Wikham is a cunning character and his countenance adds to it: “One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.”(Chapter forty)
His reputation is soon diminished as he elopes with Lydia for wealth: “All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months before, had been almost an angel of light.”(Chapter forty-eight)
Mr Wikham’s character does not develop at all because even chapter sixty-one mentions that he “was not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on to make his fortune.”
Mr Collins is a clergyman and is responsible for adding humour to this novel. He likes to make long, silly speeches and stating formalities, which have absolutely no meaning themselves.
He is to inherit Longbourn after the death of Mr Bennet and therefore stays there in search of a wife among Mr Bennet’s daughters: “Having now a good house and very sufficient income, he intended to marry, and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters.”(Chapter fifteen)
Mr Collins has his eye on Jane but is told she is soon to be engaged and so he changes his mind to Elizabeth: “Mr Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth.”(Chapter fifteen)
When he proposes, he refuses to believe that Elizabeth is rejecting him (Chapter nineteen), this suggests that he is a pompous and proud man. He thereafter proposes to Charlotte Lucas who readily accepts his proposal. He does this merely to find a companion and please Lady Catherine de Bourgh and not for love.
Even so, Mr Collins still portrays to Elizabeth, that he would have been an agreeable companion to her: “as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost I refusing him.”(Chapter twenty-eight)
Mr Collins lacks consideration, as when Lydia elopes, he expresses his condolences by writing: “The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison to this.” And also: “to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever.”(Chapter forty-eight)
Mr Collins is also the same character at the end of the novel because he still gives a long speech to Mr Darcy on his marriage to Elizabeth: “Mr Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of her [charlotte’s] husband.”(Chapter sixty)
Elizabeth’s close friend is Charlotte Lucas. She has opposite views on marriage to Elizabeth’s and therefore marries Mr Collins for financial security, rather than marry for love: “I am not a romantic, you know, I never was. I only ask a comfortable home; and considering Mr Collins character, connections, and situation in life…”(Chapter twenty-two)
Charlotte is very clever because she notices that Jane is not showing much affection to Mr Bingley and warns Elizabeth to advise Jane to do something about it: “Jane should therefore make the most of every half-hour in which she can command his attention. When she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses.”(Chapter six)
Charlotte also discovers that Mr Darcy shows an interest in Elizabeth as she tells her: “I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me.”(Chapter thirty-one)
She also notices that Elizabeth likes Colonel Fitzwilliam and therefore “she sometimes planned her marrying Colonel Fitzwilliam.”(Chapter thirty-two)
Charlotte does not play a major role in this novel, so there is no need for her character to change.
Other members of Charlotte’s family include: her mother, her father; who is not intellectual, her sister; Maria, who is also as empty headed as her father and other young Lucases.
Mrs Gardiner is an intelligent, caring woman. She is Mrs Bennet’s sister-in-law but acts as a mother to Jane and Elizabeth, filling in for the inadequacy of Mrs Bennet: “Her aunt assured her that she was, and Elizabeth having thanked her for the kindness of her hints, they parted; a wonderful instance of advice being given on such a point, without being resented.”(Chapter twenty-six)
She warns Elizabeth of Wikham’s deceitful nature and she also realises that Darcy takes a liking to Elizabeth: “Mrs Gardiner looked at her niece, desirous of knowing how she, whom the invitation concerned…”(Chapter forty-one)
In the last chapter, it is mentioned that it was the Gardiners “who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them both.”(Chapter sixty-one)
Mr and Mrs Gardiner’s characters do not develop, as they are still kind and loving to Jane and Elizabeth as they were at the beginning of the novel right to the end.
Mrs Phillips is Mrs Bennet’s sister and is equal in character to Mrs Bennet. Her character does not change.
Colonel Forster and Mrs Forster are responsible for looking after Lydia in Brighton, however they fail in observing her conduct. Colonel Forster helps in trying to find Lydia and knows Wikham’s unfortunate character. Their characters do not develop in Pride and Prejudice, as they do not have major roles to play in the novel.
The characters that undergo the most serious changes are of course the two main characters, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. They realise their faults and amend them. Their pride is humbled and their prejudices are corrected and they become better and more clear-sighted people.
Their character development is the reason why they both get married in the end.
From this novel an important lesson is learnt, that we should not be prejudiced against those who are proud, because then it is we who are in the wrong.
BY
JANE AUSTEN
MARIAM HAJAT
ENGLISH COURSEWORK
ENGLISH COURSEWORK
Analyse and explain how the characters develop throughout Pride and Prejudice.
