Essay on Pride and Perception in Pride and Prejudice by...

Pride and Perception in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Jane Austens society values impressions, and considers them an important aspect of their culture. A first impression determines the entire perception of that person. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet learns a hard lesson by basing her perception of other characters completely on their first impressions. The comedy is concerned with a heroine who must be educated out of a condition of self-deception brought on by the shutters of pride into a condition of perception when that pride had been humbled through the exposure of the errors of judgement into which it has led her (Watt, 98). Through occurrences within the novel Pride and Prejudice, the perception based on†¦show more content†¦She begins to take a general interest in their friendship, and in turn her opinion of Darcy becomes more atrocious. Elizabeth learns that all his [Darcys] actions may be traced to pride; and pride has often been his best friend (Austen 71). Wickham continues his conversation and eve ntually tells Elizabeth that Darcy threw him from his household into a life of poverty. Most important, of course, is Elizabeths misjudgement of Darcys character: the overreaction to his pride and reserve that makes her unable to see what lies beneath it (Moler, 26). Wickhams actions and words lead Elizabeth to a harsh perception of Darcy and a kind perception of himself. This same perception of Darcy eventually leads her to confront him about his abuse of Wickham. He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship, and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life (Austen 80). At this point Elizabeths original perceptions of both Darcy and Wickham reach their climax, and slowly begin to decline. Now, the second perception of Darcy and Wickham begins to alter the first. A letter written to Elizabeth by Darcy reveals the real intentions of Wickham. Mr. Wickhams chief object was unquestioningly my sisters fortune, but I cannot help supposing that the hope of reveng ing himself on me was a strong inducement (Austen 172). After discovering this information Elizabeth slowly ceases her relationship with Wickham. The major ‘action of theShow MoreRelatedComparative Study: Letters to Alice and Pride and Prejudice1502 Words   |  7 Pagesportrayed in Pride and Prejudice are creatively reshaped in Letters to Alice. The two texts, Letters to Alice and Pride and Prejudice, mirror and contrast the central values shared and explored by evaluating them; presenting them against Jane Austens context and that of Fay Weldon. Mirroring Austens novel, Weldon presents the central values for women such as the social values of moral behaviour, independence, and, literary values of reading and writing, from Pride and Prejudice and adapts themRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1697 Words   |  7 PagesElizabeth Bennett: Outspoken in an Oppressive Society Jane Austen once said, â€Å"it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife† (Austen 1). In other words, women of the nineteenth century were deemed dependent on men. They were to join an advantageous marriage to remain respectable and achieve a higher social class. 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