Mrs. Bennet is introduced as the parent more concerned of their daughters’ marriage than anything else. She seems particularly interested in Mr. Bingley being single, and therefore immediately suggests him as ‘a fine thing for our girls!’ The closing paragraph at the end of the first chapter also says, ‘The business of her life was to get her daughters married,’ which again shows how her daughters getting married is her main goal in life. The paragraph also describes her as ‘a woman with an uncertain temper.’ This is shown in chapter two when she jumps instantly from one mood to another. At first she is irritated at her husbands refusal to visit Mr. Bingley, however once she finds out he in fact did visit him, she has a sudden change of mood to thrilled. Her frustration is shown when she talks in an impolite style noting she is resentful towards Mr. Bennet’s actions, “‘ We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes,’ said her mother resentfully.” Mrs. Bennet’s vast mood change is then however shown when Jane Austin explains, ‘the astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest,’ presenting her mood jump from resentful to astonished and elated.
Jane Bennet is introduced as the most noticeable of her family. At the ball ‘she had been distinguished by her sisters.’ She is also distinguished as the prettiest, ‘every body said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful.’ Jane is then described as very kind hearted and has a positive judgement of people. She is perceived as a very honest and uniquely kind person, as Lizzy says to her, ‘you never see a fault in any body,’ ‘ I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life,’ and ‘to take the good of every body’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad – belongs to you alone.’ It was also evident that Jane was concerned over impressing Mr. Bingley, as she ‘grieved over such a number of ladies’ at the ball, worrying it would reduce her chances of being noticed.
Elizabeth Bennet is introduced in the third chapter while at the ball. She is first discussed by Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, and described as, ‘very pretty,’ and ‘very agreeable.’ She is then portrayed as a lively character. Although she is insulted by Mr. Darcy and is therefore immensely upset by this, she still succeeds in making a joke of such an insult as mentioned by Jane Austin, showing her lively, strong character, ‘Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him. She told the story however with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in any thing ridiculous.’ Elizabeth, like Jane, was also keen on finding a man at the party, as she too was distressed ‘over such a number of ladies.’
When Mr. Bingley’s character is introduced into the story, he is depicted as a gentleman who was kind and well mannered. He is expressed as, ‘extremely agreeable,’ and ‘gentlemanlike’ with ‘unaffected manners.’ Bingley is also very sociable, ‘Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room,’ and is also known as being kind hearted like Jane, ‘Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life.’ The reader is also reminded a few times of Bingleys good looks as Jane Austin refers to them plenty of times, such as ‘wonderfully handsome,’ ‘good looking,’ and being ‘so excessively handsome!’ When Mr. Bingley is introduced, as well as his good looks and kind heart we are also made aware of his great wealth, ‘his sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own,’ and ‘Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly an hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate...’
An introduction to Mr. Darcy is in chapter three at the ball. In the first introductory paragraph he attracts everyone by his ‘fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance of his having ten thousand a year.’ He is first portrayed as the perfect man, known as ‘much handsomer than Mr. Bingley’ and was ‘looked at with great admiration.’ However, there is an abrupt change in impressions when halfway through the evening ‘he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased.’ He is now known as ‘ill mannered’ and unsociable, ‘Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss. Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room.’ The contrast between him and Mr. Bingley also emphasises his conceit and pride. Darcy’s pride is highlighted throughout his introduction as Jane Austin constantly expresses him as ‘the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world,’ and ‘so high and so conceited that there was no enduring him!’
