Darcy, on the other hand, is to be blamed for his lack of prudence and his pride, which leads him to criticize Elizabeth most unfairly in that first encounter. This indeed, jeopardizes his prospects of a "lasting happiness" with Elizabeth, as he leaves an indelible first impression which colors Elizabeth's later judgments of his character.
Unfortunately, Elizabeth displays little of her prudent judgment and shrewd assessment with regard to Darcy. It is for this reason that her relationship with Darcy is fraught with difficulty. After her first meeting with Darcy, Elizabeth resolutely preserves her prejudice against Darcy, even after repeated incidents which attest to his credibility of character, displaying uncharacteristic lack of intelligence and careful judgment.
When Elizabeth meets Wickham, she is immediately won over by his appearance and suave charm, and is whole-heartedly inclined to believe his every word, simply because his "very countenance may vouch for [his] being amiable", and "there was truth in his looks". This rash inclination results in her being even more convinced of Darcy's unworthiness of character. In spite of the fact that Wickham sullies Darcy's family in front of a comparative stranger, after declaring himself "determined to honor the late Mr. Darcy's reputation, and that he purposely avoids Darcy at the Netherfield ball, after stating staunchly that he is not afraid of meeting Darcy, and would fear no confrontation with him, Elizabeth sees no reason to doubt him. Her rash inclinations to Wickham justify his mercenary pursuit of Mary King, even as she condemns Bingley for abandoning Jane for the socially advantageous Georgina Darcy. She discredits Bingley's opinion of Darcy and Miss Bingley's warning against Wickham, and refuses to temper her first impressions with any objectivity, even after Jane, who sees only good in everyone, has confessed, "I am sorry to say Mr. Wickham is by no means a respectable young man. I am afraid he has been very imprudent, and has deserved to lose Mr. Darcy's regard." It is then that she admits, "And yet, I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike to him, without any reason."
After his enormous revelation of truth, Elizabeth's former dislike of Darcy is reversed, and after a few more obstacles (Lydia's engagement-which ironically brings them together) they reveal their mutual affection for each other.
Austen's portrayal of the heroine of this novel with her down falls and flawed judgment, do not simply add to the intrigues of the plot. Elizabeth's ill-founded accusation, "formed on mistaken premises" towards Darcy, and his initial brash criticism are testament to the necessity of cautious judgment and flexibility for being together happily.
It is Jane's caution which is the sole reason for Bingley and the Netherfield party leaving the country, as he is so modest that her apparent lack of affection had led him to trust in Darcy's advice and to leave
Jane has completely hidden her inclinations of affection for Bingley beneath her prudent judgment and distance, such that his affection is not encouraged, but is crushed, and any prospect of marriage seems impossible. It is only after Elizabeth has revealed to Darcy her sister's feelings that Jane realizes her own fault in his leaving her: "he really loved me, and nothing but a persuasion of my being indifferent, would have prevented his coming down again." Thus, Jane's excessive prudence and caution would have ruined her lasting happiness had not Elizabeth revealed her affection.
Bingley, on the other hand, is not hampered by excessive prudent judgment in his following his inclinations and courting Jane, and it is his active approach in wooing Jane which eventually ends in a joyous marriage.
Through these two contrasting relationships, Jane Austen has skillfully drawn the fine line between too much judgment, because a rash, prejudiced approach towards feelings and suspicions, showing that a delicate balance of objective neutrality and strength of feeling under the appropriate circumstances must be demonstrated, in order to nurture any relationship, and to ensure its success.
