P&P Essay

Andy Medina

AP English

Mr. George

Pride and Prejudice Essay

4/14/09

First Impressions vs. Pride and Prejudice

First impressions can be everything.  They are a major factor in how a person will be remembered.  In the novel Pride and Prejudice, first interactions between people are key to their future relationship.  In this novel there are many times when these first impressions turn out to be inaccurate.  First impressions in this novel are major factors in how the story plays out, and that is why the original title of First Impressions is more appropriate for this novel.  This title relates more to the characters than the title Pride and Prejudice, and is more fitting for the story.

Making a good first impression is hard, and the novel it proves this.  Many characters struggle with making good first impressions.  Jane is a good example of a character that makes a bad first impression which is very different from her true personality.  Mr. Darcy is close friends with Mr. Bingley who has seemingly fallen in love with Jane Bennet.  Mr. Darcy examines Jane at a ball, and the first impression she gives him is not good.  Mr. Darcy says that Jane’s “look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard” (Austen 195).  Mr. Darcy went on to say that Jane “received [Bingley’s] attentions with pleasure, [but] she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment” (195).  He thinks he is looking out for Mr. Bingley’s best interests and breaks up the intended marriage that Jane and the rest of the Bennet family were hoping for.  Mr. Darcy’s first impression of Jane was that she was not fully interested in Bingley, but in reality she loved him.  This event leads to Mr. Darcy stopping the marriage, for the time being, of Jane and Mr. Bingley.  This is not the only case of misleading first impressions in this novel as similar situations arise as the plot plays on.  

Mr. Darcy himself does not avoid a bad first impression.  He comes off as a proud, as many note: “‘His pride,’ said Miss Lucas, ‘does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. […] he has a right to be proud’” (21).  Mr. Darcy’s place at the top of the societal ladder makes him come off as haughty to those who are below his status, and this hurts his relationships with many, especially Elizabeth Bennet.  Elizabeth is told, by Mr. Wickham, that Mr. Darcy is an overcome with pride.  Mr. Wickham says these things about Mr. Darcy just a few minutes after he says that “It gives [him] pain to speak ill of a Darcy” (82).  Elizabeth already had been having ill feelings toward Mr. Darcy, and this created a prejudice against him.  Elizabeth believed that Mr. Darcy was an abominable man, but Mr. Darcy is far from that, he is almost perfect.  

Mr. Darcy is truly a kindhearted man, willing to give up a variety of things for Elizabeth, but she was blinded by the prejudice that was created by the bad impressions that Darcy had left with her.  This prejudice would lead to her rejecting his marriage proposal because she thought that he was such a debauched individual who cared for no one but himself.  Her prejudice blinded her to all the good deeds that Mr. Darcy had done and when the truth is revealed to her through Mr. Darcy’s letter she is humiliated and says, “Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind” (205).  The first impression of Mr. Darcy led Elizabeth to believe the worst about him, but luckily his love for her was not deterred by the cruel things that she said to him.  They are eventually married, but the poor first impression and the prejudice created from that, almost stopped that from happening.

In some cases, first impressions are not always bad.  In Mr. Wickham’s case his first impression is very beneficial to his public image.  He is a man who goes after girls for money and is in debt in many cities, but his strong first impressions make people believe that he is a respectable man.  Mr. Wickham is described as the “happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned” (77).  Elizabeth is attracted to him and she was the “happy woman by whom he finally seated himself” (77).  Mr. Wickham shows interest in Elizabeth out of mercenary needs only.  Elizabeth is unaware of this, and it is not until Mr. Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth that the truth about Mr. Wickham is revealed.  Mr. Darcy told Elizabeth that Mr. Wickham had taken the money that Mr. Darcy had given him, wasted it, and then came back for more.  When Mr. Darcy refused, Mr. Wickham tries to elope with Georgiana Darcy to get her money, but he fails.  Elizabeth is humiliated that she was deceived: “She grew absolutely ashamed of herself.  Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudice, absurd” (204).  Impressions can blind a person with prejudice, and decisions should not always be based on those feelings.

Pride and Prejudice is an appropriate title for this novel.  Pride and Prejudice is an exclusive title to the book and only is relevant to two characters, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.  The title First Impressions relates to more characters and the different relationships between them.  The prejudice amongst the characters is hard to avoid and is derived from the first impressions that people make.  The prejudices created from these initial meetings are important throughout the novel and are an integral part to the development of the relationship between the characters.  These impressions can be misleading, but in the end the true nature of the characters are unveiled, and things are made right.  The first meetings between characters in the story are important and are major factors in the novel, and that is why First Impressions would be the more appropriate title.  As everyone knows you can never have a second chance at making a first impression, so make it a good one, but do not let it misconstrue who you really are.  

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice New York: Barnes & Noble Books 2004

Character Analysis- Darcy

Andy Medina

AP English

Mr. George

Character Analysis

4/12/09

Darcy

Mr. Darcy is the perfect man; he is rich, handsome, and would do anything for the woman he loves.  

Mr. Darcy is a unique character.  He is a man of great stature, and many have a lot of respect for him.  Through his actions others see him as a haughty, prideful individual, but there are times where he is depicted as a caring man, especially in his interactions with Elizabeth.  Throughout the novel opinions on Darcy change, but his mannerisms do not change.  As the novel continues, Darcy proposes to Elizabeth only to be turned down.  She thinks that his pride is overwhelming and that he only cares for himself, but she could not be more wrong.  Elizabeth thought badly of Darcy because she misinterpreted his actions.  He broke up her sister’s marriage because he believed it was in the best interests for his friend.  Darcy did not give Wickham the money he asked for because he had already given him extra money before, not because Darcy hated him.  Darcy did things in the interests of others, and that is truly the individual that he is.  

Mr. Darcy is like a pineapple.  When you first look at a pineapple you see a thorny object that looks like it could never be a fruit.  Darcy was mistaken for a man who only cared for himself.  When you get past the thorns on a pineapple you get to the delicious fruit that many love.  As the novel went on people saw Darcy for who he really was, and not the pompous man they first thought he was.  

Mr. Darcy can be compared to George Clooney because of they are both very handsome, rich men who are also very caring.  

Character Analysis- Jane

Jane Bennet

Jane Bennet is a very sweet young woman who cares for everyone that she meets, as long as they have good manners.

Jane is the oldest of the Bennet sisters.  She is very kind and beautiful.  Everyone takes notice of her beauty.  “Jane united with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and an uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent” (22).  Jane is an optimistic person, and always gives a positive spin on negative situations.  She defends people, like Wickham, when others think very poorly of them.  The only way for someone to end up on her bad side is if she realizes their faults, like she did with Miss Bingley.  When Jane realizes Miss Bingley’s insincerity she does not look for a positive in her negative actions.  She does not make excuses for her, but when they become sister-in-laws Jane’s kindheartedness makes it so she accepts Miss Bingley again.  Jane is a good natured human being, and many other characters within the novel see that in her.  

Jane is a positive character and her feelings toward people stay the same like the needles on an evergreen tree.  There are times where her feelings toward others change, just as there are some needles of the tree fall off and become discolored.  For the most part Jane remains as a positive person, like an evergreen tree stays green all year round.  

Jane Bennet is comparable to Juliette Noonan, or really any of the Noonan girls, because they are very positive people, and try to see the best in people even if it is a bad situation.  

Pride and Prejudice 15: ch 16-END

“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances” (354).

• In this quote Darcy tells Elizabeth that his feelings for her have not changed since he proposed to her.  He still is in love with her and he wants to know if her feelings have changed.  He says that if her feelings have not changed then he will not bother her with this subject again.  Elizabeth is so happy that she accepts his offer “not very fluently” which is surprising because she is very well spoken.  She is so happy that he is still in love with her and she now knows that she is in love with him.  She is probably excited because this also proves everyone else wrong.  Many said that Darcy’s societal status was too great for Elizabeth, and this proves all of them wrong.  
  

Elizabeth standing up to Lady Catherine is surprising because:

A.) Elizabeth is younger

B.) Lady Catherine’s position in society

C.) Elizabeth loves Lady Catherine

D.) Lady Catherine does not care about Elizabeth

Pride and Prejudice 13: ch 10-12

“She was even sensible of some pleasure, though mixed with regret, on how finding how steadfastly both she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted between Mr. Darcy and herself” (316).

• Elizabeth’s love for Darcy has been steadily growing over the last few chapters.  In this section we see that Darcy bribed Wickham to marry Lydia.  The reason for why Darcy did that is unknown, but her aunt speculates, and drops hints, that it may be because he has feelings for Elizabeth.  Her aunt even goes out and says, “Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him?” (315).  Her aunt is speaking of how she likes Darcy and this relates to the part a few sections ago after the Gardiners met Darcy.  Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner both wanted to talk about Darcy and did not know how to go about it.  Now she feels comfortable speaking about it.  Elizabeth is dwelling on the fact that she spoke ill of Darcy and rejected him.  She feels stupid for doing it, and wishes it could be different, but she also realizes she may not get another chance with Darcy. 
  

“I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character after all” (313).  The word obstinacy most closely relates to:

A.) Stubbornness

B.) Pride

C.) Selfishness

D.) Stupidity 

Pride and Prejudice 12: ch 7-9

“She wanted to hear of him, when there seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet” (301).

• This quote is very interesting.  Elizabeth is saying that if Darcy were to propose to her now she would say yes.  There is only one problem with that… she doesn’t know if Darcy will propose to her again.  Lydia’s marriage to Wickham was a huge controversy and it would deter Darcy from making another proposal.  Elizabeth is falling for Darcy head over heals.  It is possibly because she has experienced her younger sister marrying a man before her, and quite possibly the man she had thought would be a suitable husband.  There are many possible reasons for this, but none for sure.  It is most likely that she is finally realizing how Darcy is a good man.  She should have said yes before, but she did not understand him like she does now.  
  

Why did Mr. Darcy attend the wedding?

A.) He hoped to see Elizabeth there

B.) He felt obligated to go

C.) He forgave Wickham

D.) He has a secret love for Lydia

Pride and Prejudice 11: ch 3-6

“But that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance” (264). 

This interaction between Darcy, Miss Bingley, and Elizabeth is very interesting.  Miss Bingley knocks down Elizabeth in front of Darcy like she usually does, but there is a difference this time.  This time her words are harsher.  She attacks Elizabeth more directly than before.  It is most likely due to the fact that Darcy’s love for Elizabeth is growing, and Miss Bingley knows this.  She tries to make Darcy sound like he did not appreciate before, but in this quote Darcy avoids Miss Bingley’s attack.  I believe that Darcy is growing on Elizabeth.  She is beginning to fall for him more than she had before and her interaction with her aunt at the end of chapter 3 shows this: 

“The looks and behaviour of every body they had seen were discussed, except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention. They talked of his sister, his friends, his hous, his fruites, of every thing but himself; yet Elizabeth was longing to know what Mrs. Gardiner thought of him, and Mrs. Gardiner would have been Highly gratified by her niece’s beginning the subject” (264).  

They both are interested in Darcy, but neither knows what to say about him.

Why does Elizabeth not speak about Darcy to Mrs. Gardiner?

A.) She is afraid of her

B.) She does not like Darcy

C.) She still has feelings for Wickham

D.) She is nervous of the opinion her aunt holds