Which of the characters
in Pride and Prejudice change? Choose two characters and explain their
flatness, roundness, or subsequent evolution that he or she undertakes in the
novel.
Elizabeth Bennet evolves throughout the novel in her feelings for Darcy, as well as her character. At the beginning of the novel, she learns about Darcy’s connection with Wickham and only listens to his side of the story. Soon after, Darcy himself tells her about the wrongness of her information. After reading the letter he writes, her feelings towards him begin to gradually change to feelings of love and affection as they meet on numerous occasions. Finally, at the end of the novel, she is utterly in love with him and accepts his proposal despite the wishes of his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Through the duration of the novel, Mr. Bennet acted as an indifferent father who left the parenting up to his wife and the children to figure out themselves. However, when Lydia gets taken up by Wickham through her choicey behavior, his parenting style dramatically changes. He shows his new revelation in this quote: “You go to Brighton!-- I would not trust you so near it as East Bourne for fifty pounds. No, Kitty, I have at last learned to be cautious, and you will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever to enter my house again, nor even pass through the village. Balls will be absolutely prohibited, unless you stand up with one of your sisters. And you are never to stir out-of-doors, till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner.” His demeanor dramatically changes to favor the viewpoint Elizabeth has had towards Lydia and Kitty since before she left for Brighton. It isn’t very clear to us if he actually follows through with his threats, but based on this, he seems pretty serious about his evolution in character.
I agree wholeheartedly with what Emma said. Elizabeth changes her feelings for Mr. Darcy greatly throughout the novel. She goes from despising him to marrying him. That shows how drastic a change of heart that Elizabeth goes through during the novel. Along with agreeing with Elizabeth's changes, I also agree with what Emma says about Mr. Bennet. At the start of the novel, he is barely mentioned. He is only mentioned with relation to Elizabeth. He hardly is involved in the daughter's lives at the beginning but at the end, he matures greatly at takes action in search for his run-away daughter Lydia. I think that Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth's changes are a vital part of the novel.
Mr. Darcy is transformed by the lack of Elizabeth’s sense of inferiority, and by her unwavering confidence and self- respect. In the beginning of the novel, he keeps to himself and sees the Bennets as undeserving and undesirable. Gradually, as interactions between he and Elizabeth continue and often times condescend him, he is able to see the ridiculousness of the pride he acquired as a result of being born into wealth. Elizabeth stands out from the average polite and superficial women that surround him, and Mr. Darcy’s pride unravels as a result of unintentionally falling in love with her refreshingly different mind that thinks for herself. Another character who undergoes change is Elizabeth, as her view of Mr. Darcy flip in extremities. His initial impression made on her is of a haughty, insolent kind that she writes off from the start. His arrogance causes her to believe the lies that Mr. Wickham tells her of him. When she visits in Pemberley, not long after she rejects his marriage proposal and reads his letter explaining the actual story with Mr. Wickham, she is astonished to find that he is a much more thoughtful and good than she could have ever expected. His quiet acts of kindness gradually transform her once hardened opinion of him, until she is unquestionably in love with him. This change in heart humbles Elizabeth as well at the realization that she was all along capable of loving Mr. Darcy.
Kailey, I completely agree with everything you said in your post. Over the course of the novel I don't think that any characters changed more than Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. In the beginning of the book Darcy was very egotistic and looked down upon the Bennets. During the early chapters Darcy was easily one of my least favorite characters in the book, but as the situation with Mr. Wickham progressed and how Mr. Darcy handled himself with Elizabeth I gained a lot of respect for him and he actually turned out to a pretty stellar guy. In regards to Elizabeth I think she really scored. The wealthiest guy she'll ever meet, whom she despised off the bat, actually turned out to be a sensitive, sweet man who falls madly in love with her. Wow, that's the kind of action that you can only find in a book written by a woman. But in all seriousness Elizabeth's change in her opinion of Darcy was very warranted and the fact her love for Darcy was not based off money was very refreshing.
Mr. Darcy changes drastically throughout Pride and Prejudice. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Darcy is seen as a pompous self centered man, who sees everyone as being drastically less than him. However, as the novel progress, he starts to soften up and becomes are more compassionate man. Starting with his declaration of love for Elizabeth. Along with that, you learn that he cares for his friend, Mr. Bingley, and that is why he broke up Jane and his relationship. Mr. Darcy’s positive progression throughout the novel, is for the best, and becomes the center of the novel. Without the moral change in Mr.Darcy, his relationship with Elizabeth would have possibly never occurred, leaving the center relationship of the novel, unfinished. Along with Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet underwent a change during the novel as well. Throughout most of the novel, Mr. Bennet was a bystander parent, who seemed to care little for any of his daughters besides Elizabeth. He seemed to pay little attention to them, unless dragged into the midst of an argument by Mrs. Bennet. This however, changes at the end of the novel, when Lydia runs away, and Mr. Darcy asks to marry Elizabeth. When the Bennet’s learn about Lydia’s elopement, Mr. Bennet takes a hands on approach and goes to look for her. Mr. Bennet does not seem like the father who would go search for his daughter, however, he takes initiative to protect her. Also, in the case with Darcy’s proposal, he approves of his daughter’s marriage because he knows that she is in love with him. Despite the preconceived notion of Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet outwardly supports their marriage.
Helen I agree with all you said in your post. Mr. Darcy does allow Elizabeth as well as anyone else to believe that he is a very self-centered and proud fellow, which is only multiplied with his meddling in the affairs of Jane and Bingley's relationship. He is at first easy to hate, but through the book it is revealed that all he had done was for the sake of his dear friend, and everything else also had good intentions as well. Mr. Bennet's transformation is also apparent, as shown through his rigor in finding Lydia, and also the careful approval he gives Elizabeth and Darcy for them to be wed.
I completely agree with the remarkable change that both Darcy and Mr. Bennet went through over the course of the novel. I hadn't really even thought about how much of a change Mr. Bennet underwent until I read your post and noted the accuracy of it. He truly did prove that he was able to step in and protect his daughters when push came to shove. Looking back on my original perceptions of Mr. Bennet I would have expected him to simply hunker down in the library while the family was in a tizzy over Lydia's elopement. This was clearly not the case as he spent several days in London trying desperately to track her down. The same goes for Elizabeth, although if he would prove to be involved it would likely be for her because she is his favorite. I would have expected him to brush it off with a, "whatever makes you happy." when her and Darcy ask for permission to be wed. The questioning that followed showed that he really did want her to be happy.
One of the biggest character changes in Pride and Prejudice comes from Darcy. A man who originally seeked for a woman that had affluence and a high-class reputation is now a man who dropped all of his pride and his conflicted feelings of superiority to be with his true love, Elizabeth. The man who used to look down upon everyone as his social inferiors matures into a contrasting role. Darcy turns into a new and transformed man after a self-revelation comes upon him. All of the characteristics he was looking for into a woman with the qualities of Elizabeth’s personality were simply unattainable and he came to a realization that the appreciative qualities of a woman’s disposition is much more important than the social standing of a woman in choosing a virtuous wife. A growth in character is shown through Darcy near the ending of the book as shown through his selfless actions. An example of this is shown through his actions with a man he dislikes. Despite his distaste towards Wickham, he pays off his debt in order to protect the Bennett’s reputation.
Another pretty big character change in the novel comes from Elizabeth. One thing she comes to realize upon herself is her quick judgments and how they can lead to be obsolete after getting to actually know the person. This is especially evident through her thoughts and interactions with Darcy. While Darcy’s prejudice consisted mainly of people who were ‘second-class’ or people who had no class, Elizabeth’s prejudice stood mainly against Darcy and how she prides herself in stubbornly forming judgments on intricate characters. Elizabeth will believe any negative story or rumor that is told about Darcy because of her prejudice against his attitude as shown through Wickham’s sneering story about his past with him. "How despicably I have acted!" she cried; "I, who have prided myself on my 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 mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery! Yet, how just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind! 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 reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself."
The two most obvious character changes in "Pride and Prejudice" are that of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. In the first several chapters Mr. Darcy is viewed by most as a very standoffish, wealthy man. In chapter eight he states, "All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading." This shows his impossibly high standards for women. But as the novel continues and his interactions with Elizabeth become more and more meaningful he sees the foolishness of his former belief system. He changes his views not only of Elizabeth and the Bennets, but of the class system that were currently in place during the time of the novel.
The second very obvious transformation of a character in this novel is Elizabeth. Initially her views of Mr. Darcy are very negative. She believes him to be a very self-absorbed, rich jerk. She never really sees the real him until she reads the letter that he wrote about what happened with Mr. Wickham. This is a big turning point in her feelings for him. She then pays closer attention to him and the good things he does, rather than focus on her initial impression of him. By the end of the book she is madly in love with him, and him with her. Woohoo!
Hey Casey! I agree wholeheartedly on everything you said. Especially the part regarding Darcy's former belief system. As Darcy and Elizabeth interacted more meaningfully, Darcy's set beliefs and standards gradually altered, It's interesting to note that Darcy and Elizabeth's first impressions was what hurt their relationship in the first place. The man who Elizabeth thought she disliked, was actually a man she loved after she dropped her pride and prejudice. The exact same could be said for Darcy. Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy's 'standoff' personality and Darcy's preconceived opinion on social inferior people shows why forming beliefs on first impressions and judgement is a horrible mindset. Luckily, it all worked out in the end because like the one and only Chuck Bass says, "If two people are meant to be together, eventually they'll find their way back." Go Darcy and Elizabeth!
Casey, Overall, I agree with your evaluations of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth's changes of character. I especially liked how you used the word "standoffish" to describe the initial character of Mr. Darcy. It perfectly encapsulates the aura that Mr. Darcy emitted, especially around the Bennets. I also agree with your analysis of the dynamics of his actual change. As for Elizabeth, I agree with everything except her initial view of Mr. Darcy. She did see him in a negative light, but very negative is a stretch. I sensed a feeling of intrigue mixed with the disgust.
In the novel, Mr. Darcy undergoes a pivotal character transformation. The first introduction to his character reveals him as extremely pompous and self-centered, most specifically caught in the throws of "pride and prejudice". At the ball where he has his first encounters with the Bennets, he chooses his own solitude over the risk of interacting with those inferior to him. It is here that he interacts with Elizabeth for the first time. Her unique confidence and spirit ignites the flames of change within him and he sets out to change his character and civility as his infatuation for her grows. At Pemberely, Elizabeth witnesses his transformation in place with this civil and kind demeanor to her Aunt and Uncle. After learning of the great efforts he underwent to pay off Wickham and above all- ensure her own happiness, Elizabeth realizes the full evolution of Darcy's character and she succumbs to his love. Darcy is truly the Matthew McConaughey of English Literature.
Mr. Bennet also exhibits many changes for the duration of the novel. In the beginning, his character serves as the comic relief to the neurotics of Mrs. Bennet. He retreats to the safety of his library and remains incredibly aloof for the majority of the novel, choosing never to interfere in the lives of his daughters. As the weight of indifference and detachment slowly engulfs him, Lydia's rash elopement serves as the final straw in his inattentive role as a father. He forbids Kitty from going to Brighton and prohibits Mrs. Bennet from sending money to Lydia or encouraging her lifestyle. Above all, he is a martyr for love and encourages Elizabeth to follow her heart and pursue Darcy.
I totally agree your analysis on the transformations of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet. I like that you pointed out that Elizabeth's unique confidence and spirit is what captivated Mr. Darcy and essentially lead him to transforming into the the more caring, altruistic character that he becomes. His financially rooted pride is undermined by his fascination with Elizabeth's bold, uncensored personality that doesn't coincide with societal norm. I also agree that Mr. Bennet becomes more involved and serious rather than the detached, factious comic relief that you referred to him as being initially in the novel. The event of Lydia's elopement and rushed marriage served as a wake up call to him, and he tells Elizabeth that he feels that he has failed as a father because of it. Both of these characters undergo transformations, and I completely agree with your analysis.
Elizabeth in the beginning of the novel sees things very one-sidedly. In an instant, under the trance of his charm she believes everything Mr. Wickham has to say about Darcy. Seeing Darcy at the ball being very cold and prideful further drives Wickham’s stories and she leaves no room for even the possibility of another side of the story. Later in the novel this shifts and she realizes how arrogant and naive she had been. Mr. Bennet also shows a change in the novel. At the start, he is very laid back and seems to long for nothing but to be left alone in his library. He does not have the energy or willpower to deal with his incessant wife and so she is left to raise her daughters as she pleases. She raises Kitty and Lydia to only long for marriage and attention and when Lydia elopes with Mr. Wickham, Mr. Bennet realizes the fault in his absence and takes charge. Kitty is not allowed to go to Brighton and Mrs. Bennet’s flow of money supporting Lydia and Mr. Wickham’s foolish lifestyle is stopped.
I had not considered Mr.Bennet's change throughout the novel and am glad you brought this up. It's very true how toward the beginning of the novel, Mr.Bennet is humorful and perhaps even lazy in regards to his children, but looking back now, he really has changed as a character. As you pointed out, he takes charge of the situation, but more than that he really shows that he has been paying attention to everything going on. It's not even so much that the character totally shifts attitudes, more that another side of his character is revealed. The Mr.Bennet shown at the end of the novel has always been there, but the lack of conflict with the girls has made it seem as though that side never existed.
I had not considered Mr.Bennet's change throughout the novel and am glad you brought this up. It's very true how toward the beginning of the novel, Mr.Bennet is humorful and perhaps even lazy in regards to his children, but looking back now, he really has changed as a character. As you pointed out, he takes charge of the situation, but more than that he really shows that he has been paying attention to everything going on. It's not even so much that the character totally shifts attitudes, more that another side of his character is revealed. The Mr.Bennet shown at the end of the novel has always been there, but the lack of conflict with the girls has made it seem as though that side never existed.
Overall, the two characters who change the most throughout the course of Pride and Prejudice are Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy. In Mr. Bennet's case, his change wasn't as much of an alteration of his character as it was his attitude. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Bennet was usually more focused on work or his studies than his daughters, and even his own wife. As the story line progresses through Elizabeth and Jane's relationships and into specific events such as the Lydia scandal, Mr. Bennet begins to take more interest in the interests and well being of his daughters. Therefore, Mr. Bennet's change is through his relationship with his family, not himself. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, goes through a character change that brings him down from his pedestal of arrogance. Mr. Darcy's developing love for Elizabeth forces him to set aside some of his more proud traits and become the right man for Elizabeth. Throughout the novel, both Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy's changes in character are in the progressive form, as they are becoming more positive overall.
I agree with everything you said about Mr. Darcy. Although I don't think it's expressed enough in the novel, his change is the most remarkable one of all. Like you said, he was very arrogant at the beginning of the book, but changed to be much more caring, especially to Elizabeth's relatives when they visit Pemberly. He also changes his viewpoint on Jane and Bingley's relationship because he discovers how much Elizabeth is affected by their sudden split. He purposefully brings them back together and gives him his blessing because instead of looking out for Bingley's reputation like he did before, he looks out for his feelings and comfort.
The most apparent and notable character shift in Pride and Prejudice is that of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. To begin the book, Darcy acted as a proud and arrogant aristocrat. His status as a bachelor attracted many different ladies, but his nature and incredibly high standards left him always unsatisfied. However, when he began to spend more time with Elizabeth Bennet, he developed a deep affection for her, a feeling that he never knew he could possess. When confronted by her, his emotion clearly showed, as his shell of indifference slowly cracked into the more sensible and kind man that Elizabeth would then marry. Another very noticeable change over the course of the book is that of Mr. Bennet. To begin the story, Mr. Bennet was a very passive father, growing tired of his wife's incessant chattering and fussing, taking to locking himself in his study at almost all times. It seems fitting that his absence as a father would give way to his daughter Lydia's elopement scandal with Mr. Wickham. This serves as a wake up call for Mr. Bennet, as he realizes that his dormancy as a force in the household has allowed for his daughter to run away with a man. He immediately takes charge and goes searching for them, and once it was all said and done, he assumed a tighter hold on his younger daughters affairs as they should be raised correctly.
Perhaps no two characters change more drastically or obviously than Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Towards the beginning of the novel, Mr.Darcy is seen almost as a central antagonist. When he's first introduced, it's as an arrogant and rude socialite. While later he and Elizabeth fall in love, towards the beginning, their hatred is mutual and seemingly justified. While later it is revealed his attitude is the product of insecurity and suspicion, he still maintains this demeanor for the entire first portion of the book. It's not until he begins speaking regularly to Elizabeth, that his personality begins to become more amiable. Elizabeth on the other hand is much more of a relatable and good natured character towards the beginning of the story. While it may appear that she is entirely without faults, it's not revealed she truly has any until she comes in contact with Darcy who has many. When it comes to Mr.Darcy all mercy and kindness seem to go out the window. She becomes a far less pleasant person in regards to him whenever they interact. However, the important and seemingly paradoxical lesson she learns is that just because someone seems to fit a mold of a bad person, that does not inherently make it true. Every act of kindness or cruelty is justified in some way by someone who is only acting how they've learned to act. It is in this way that Elizabeth learns to not judge, while Mr.Darcy learns to not be so prideful.
It can be said with a fair amount of certainty that the most drastic of evolutions over the course of the novel occur in Darcy and Elizabeth. Few other characters experience as great of a change in heart as these two and no one else’s transformations are as detailed at the pair. When the novel commences, Elizabeth is wanting of a partner, but is less than committed to the processes that it requires; the flirting, the courting, and the idea of competing with her sisters for a man. There is clear evidence of this at the first ball that was detailed in the novel; while her sisters dance, Elizabeth resigns herself to sitting and watching as she is not nearly as eager to find a husband as Lydia or Kitty. It can also be seen that Elizabeth is very quick to make her judgments about Darcy as he makes thoughtless comments about her and does not ask her to dance. Many moons later, after her visit to Pemberly, it can be noted that Elizabeth is much more thoughtful about the true character of Darcy. For a while it seemed that she and the whole family had held that first encounter against Darcy, but suddenly Elizabeth seemed to find both the ability to look past it and the ability to forgive him for the misdeeds he had done prior. As for Darcy, he began the novel as a rather isolated man of high esteem and wealth. He was not interested in troubling himself with people that did not appear at first glance to be true contenders in the quest for marriage. He also seems to be less than polite to these people as he rarely acknowledges them. By the end of the novel, he is asking for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage, the very girl that he had ignored at the ball some time earlier. Here we see that he has come to understand that there is more to people and to marriage than the wealth and connections that they have with other wealthy people. It is also worth noting that Kitty made a pretty drastic change within the last two pages of the book. In minimal detail we find out that she spends very little time at the Wickham residence and much more with the Bingley’s and the Darcy’s. Perhaps it is because she came to realize that Elizabeth and Jane were in much better situations when they let their love grow organically, than the chaos that followed the rather forced love that Lydia experienced.
The most obvious characters to change throughout the book are Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth's change came earlier due to her realization of Mr. Darcy's actions. Elizabeth is an inflated character living in a more fanatical environment of dreams. She meets Darcy and gives him a prejudiced notion in her mind about him. After realizing that Darcy’s letter was true she took on a different mindset about him and started to attract to him. This attraction made her realize that she was wrong and had wronged him. In Elizabeth’s mind Mr. Darcy appears to be a strict, reserve, cold man that enjoys nothing but his own wealth. Mr. Darcy doesn’t realize that she had this notion about him until their private conversation at Rosings. His pride had taken over his mindset up until this point instead of being warmer, less hypercritical, and more gentle. After this conversation he is made aware of the incorrect information and revives his honesty and becomes a more aware person. He is changed such that he now stresses less importance on his pride and being politically correct, and more attention to improving lives.
Elizabeth Bennet evolves throughout the novel in her feelings for Darcy, as well as her character. At the beginning of the novel, she learns about Darcy’s connection with Wickham and only listens to his side of the story. Soon after, Darcy himself tells her about the wrongness of her information. After reading the letter he writes, her feelings towards him begin to gradually change to feelings of love and affection as they meet on numerous occasions. Finally, at the end of the novel, she is utterly in love with him and accepts his proposal despite the wishes of his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
ReplyDeleteThrough the duration of the novel, Mr. Bennet acted as an indifferent father who left the parenting up to his wife and the children to figure out themselves. However, when Lydia gets taken up by Wickham through her choicey behavior, his parenting style dramatically changes. He shows his new revelation in this quote: “You go to Brighton!-- I would not trust you so near it as East Bourne for fifty pounds. No, Kitty, I have at last learned to be cautious, and you will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever to enter my house again, nor even pass through the village. Balls will be absolutely prohibited, unless you stand up with one of your sisters. And you are never to stir out-of-doors, till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner.” His demeanor dramatically changes to favor the viewpoint Elizabeth has had towards Lydia and Kitty since before she left for Brighton. It isn’t very clear to us if he actually follows through with his threats, but based on this, he seems pretty serious about his evolution in character.
I agree wholeheartedly with what Emma said. Elizabeth changes her feelings for Mr. Darcy greatly throughout the novel. She goes from despising him to marrying him. That shows how drastic a change of heart that Elizabeth goes through during the novel. Along with agreeing with Elizabeth's changes, I also agree with what Emma says about Mr. Bennet. At the start of the novel, he is barely mentioned. He is only mentioned with relation to Elizabeth. He hardly is involved in the daughter's lives at the beginning but at the end, he matures greatly at takes action in search for his run-away daughter Lydia. I think that Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth's changes are a vital part of the novel.
DeleteMr. Darcy is transformed by the lack of Elizabeth’s sense of inferiority, and by her unwavering confidence and self- respect. In the beginning of the novel, he keeps to himself and sees the Bennets as undeserving and undesirable. Gradually, as interactions between he and Elizabeth continue and often times condescend him, he is able to see the ridiculousness of the pride he acquired as a result of being born into wealth. Elizabeth stands out from the average polite and superficial women that surround him, and Mr. Darcy’s pride unravels as a result of unintentionally falling in love with her refreshingly different mind that thinks for herself.
ReplyDeleteAnother character who undergoes change is Elizabeth, as her view of Mr. Darcy flip in extremities. His initial impression made on her is of a haughty, insolent kind that she writes off from the start. His arrogance causes her to believe the lies that Mr. Wickham tells her of him. When she visits in Pemberley, not long after she rejects his marriage proposal and reads his letter explaining the actual story with Mr. Wickham, she is astonished to find that he is a much more thoughtful and good than she could have ever expected. His quiet acts of kindness gradually transform her once hardened opinion of him, until she is unquestionably in love with him. This change in heart humbles Elizabeth as well at the realization that she was all along capable of loving Mr. Darcy.
Kailey, I completely agree with everything you said in your post. Over the course of the novel I don't think that any characters changed more than Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. In the beginning of the book Darcy was very egotistic and looked down upon the Bennets. During the early chapters Darcy was easily one of my least favorite characters in the book, but as the situation with Mr. Wickham progressed and how Mr. Darcy handled himself with Elizabeth I gained a lot of respect for him and he actually turned out to a pretty stellar guy. In regards to Elizabeth I think she really scored. The wealthiest guy she'll ever meet, whom she despised off the bat, actually turned out to be a sensitive, sweet man who falls madly in love with her. Wow, that's the kind of action that you can only find in a book written by a woman. But in all seriousness Elizabeth's change in her opinion of Darcy was very warranted and the fact her love for Darcy was not based off money was very refreshing.
DeleteMr. Darcy changes drastically throughout Pride and Prejudice. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Darcy is seen as a pompous self centered man, who sees everyone as being drastically less than him. However, as the novel progress, he starts to soften up and becomes are more compassionate man. Starting with his declaration of love for Elizabeth. Along with that, you learn that he cares for his friend, Mr. Bingley, and that is why he broke up Jane and his relationship. Mr. Darcy’s positive progression throughout the novel, is for the best, and becomes the center of the novel. Without the moral change in Mr.Darcy, his relationship with Elizabeth would have possibly never occurred, leaving the center relationship of the novel, unfinished. Along with Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet underwent a change during the novel as well. Throughout most of the novel, Mr. Bennet was a bystander parent, who seemed to care little for any of his daughters besides Elizabeth. He seemed to pay little attention to them, unless dragged into the midst of an argument by Mrs. Bennet. This however, changes at the end of the novel, when Lydia runs away, and Mr. Darcy asks to marry Elizabeth. When the Bennet’s learn about Lydia’s elopement, Mr. Bennet takes a hands on approach and goes to look for her. Mr. Bennet does not seem like the father who would go search for his daughter, however, he takes initiative to protect her. Also, in the case with Darcy’s proposal, he approves of his daughter’s marriage because he knows that she is in love with him. Despite the preconceived notion of Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet outwardly supports their marriage.
ReplyDeleteHelen I agree with all you said in your post. Mr. Darcy does allow Elizabeth as well as anyone else to believe that he is a very self-centered and proud fellow, which is only multiplied with his meddling in the affairs of Jane and Bingley's relationship. He is at first easy to hate, but through the book it is revealed that all he had done was for the sake of his dear friend, and everything else also had good intentions as well. Mr. Bennet's transformation is also apparent, as shown through his rigor in finding Lydia, and also the careful approval he gives Elizabeth and Darcy for them to be wed.
DeleteI completely agree with the remarkable change that both Darcy and Mr. Bennet went through over the course of the novel. I hadn't really even thought about how much of a change Mr. Bennet underwent until I read your post and noted the accuracy of it. He truly did prove that he was able to step in and protect his daughters when push came to shove. Looking back on my original perceptions of Mr. Bennet I would have expected him to simply hunker down in the library while the family was in a tizzy over Lydia's elopement. This was clearly not the case as he spent several days in London trying desperately to track her down. The same goes for Elizabeth, although if he would prove to be involved it would likely be for her because she is his favorite. I would have expected him to brush it off with a, "whatever makes you happy." when her and Darcy ask for permission to be wed. The questioning that followed showed that he really did want her to be happy.
DeleteOne of the biggest character changes in Pride and Prejudice comes from Darcy. A man who originally seeked for a woman that had affluence and a high-class reputation is now a man who dropped all of his pride and his conflicted feelings of superiority to be with his true love, Elizabeth. The man who used to look down upon everyone as his social inferiors matures into a contrasting role. Darcy turns into a new and transformed man after a self-revelation comes upon him. All of the characteristics he was looking for into a woman with the qualities of Elizabeth’s personality were simply unattainable and he came to a realization that the appreciative qualities of a woman’s disposition is much more important than the social standing of a woman in choosing a virtuous wife. A growth in character is shown through Darcy near the ending of the book as shown through his selfless actions. An example of this is shown through his actions with a man he dislikes. Despite his distaste towards Wickham, he pays off his debt in order to protect the Bennett’s reputation.
ReplyDeleteAnother pretty big character change in the novel comes from Elizabeth. One thing she comes to realize upon herself is her quick judgments and how they can lead to be obsolete after getting to actually know the person. This is especially evident through her thoughts and interactions with Darcy. While Darcy’s prejudice consisted mainly of people who were ‘second-class’ or people who had no class, Elizabeth’s prejudice stood mainly against Darcy and how she prides herself in stubbornly forming judgments on intricate characters. Elizabeth will believe any negative story or rumor that is told about Darcy because of her prejudice against his attitude as shown through Wickham’s sneering story about his past with him. "How despicably I have acted!" she cried; "I, who have prided myself on my 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 mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery! Yet, how just a humiliation! Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind! 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 reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself."
The two most obvious character changes in "Pride and Prejudice" are that of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. In the first several chapters Mr. Darcy is viewed by most as a very standoffish, wealthy man. In chapter eight he states, "All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading." This shows his impossibly high standards for women. But as the novel continues and his interactions with Elizabeth become more and more meaningful he sees the foolishness of his former belief system. He changes his views not only of Elizabeth and the Bennets, but of the class system that were currently in place during the time of the novel.
ReplyDeleteThe second very obvious transformation of a character in this novel is Elizabeth. Initially her views of Mr. Darcy are very negative. She believes him to be a very self-absorbed, rich jerk. She never really sees the real him until she reads the letter that he wrote about what happened with Mr. Wickham. This is a big turning point in her feelings for him. She then pays closer attention to him and the good things he does, rather than focus on her initial impression of him. By the end of the book she is madly in love with him, and him with her. Woohoo!
Hey Casey!
DeleteI agree wholeheartedly on everything you said. Especially the part regarding Darcy's former belief system. As Darcy and Elizabeth interacted more meaningfully, Darcy's set beliefs and standards gradually altered, It's interesting to note that Darcy and Elizabeth's first impressions was what hurt their relationship in the first place. The man who Elizabeth thought she disliked, was actually a man she loved after she dropped her pride and prejudice. The exact same could be said for Darcy. Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy's 'standoff' personality and Darcy's preconceived opinion on social inferior people shows why forming beliefs on first impressions and judgement is a horrible mindset. Luckily, it all worked out in the end because like the one and only Chuck Bass says, "If two people are meant to be together, eventually they'll find their way back." Go Darcy and Elizabeth!
Casey,
DeleteOverall, I agree with your evaluations of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth's changes of character. I especially liked how you used the word "standoffish" to describe the initial character of Mr. Darcy. It perfectly encapsulates the aura that Mr. Darcy emitted, especially around the Bennets. I also agree with your analysis of the dynamics of his actual change. As for Elizabeth, I agree with everything except her initial view of Mr. Darcy. She did see him in a negative light, but very negative is a stretch. I sensed a feeling of intrigue mixed with the disgust.
In the novel, Mr. Darcy undergoes a pivotal character transformation. The first introduction to his character reveals him as extremely pompous and self-centered, most specifically caught in the throws of "pride and prejudice". At the ball where he has his first encounters with the Bennets, he chooses his own solitude over the risk of interacting with those inferior to him. It is here that he interacts with Elizabeth for the first time. Her unique confidence and spirit ignites the flames of change within him and he sets out to change his character and civility as his infatuation for her grows. At Pemberely, Elizabeth witnesses his transformation in place with this civil and kind demeanor to her Aunt and Uncle. After learning of the great efforts he underwent to pay off Wickham and above all- ensure her own happiness, Elizabeth realizes the full evolution of Darcy's character and she succumbs to his love. Darcy is truly the Matthew McConaughey of English Literature.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bennet also exhibits many changes for the duration of the novel. In the beginning, his character serves as the comic relief to the neurotics of Mrs. Bennet. He retreats to the safety of his library and remains incredibly aloof for the majority of the novel, choosing never to interfere in the lives of his daughters. As the weight of indifference and detachment slowly engulfs him, Lydia's rash elopement serves as the final straw in his inattentive role as a father. He forbids Kitty from going to Brighton and prohibits Mrs. Bennet from sending money to Lydia or encouraging her lifestyle. Above all, he is a martyr for love and encourages Elizabeth to follow her heart and pursue Darcy.
I totally agree your analysis on the transformations of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet. I like that you pointed out that Elizabeth's unique confidence and spirit is what captivated Mr. Darcy and essentially lead him to transforming into the the more caring, altruistic character that he becomes. His financially rooted pride is undermined by his fascination with Elizabeth's bold, uncensored personality that doesn't coincide with societal norm.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Mr. Bennet becomes more involved and serious rather than the detached, factious comic relief that you referred to him as being initially in the novel. The event of Lydia's elopement and rushed marriage served as a wake up call to him, and he tells Elizabeth that he feels that he has failed as a father because of it. Both of these characters undergo transformations, and I completely agree with your analysis.
Elizabeth in the beginning of the novel sees things very one-sidedly. In an instant, under the trance of his charm she believes everything Mr. Wickham has to say about Darcy. Seeing Darcy at the ball being very cold and prideful further drives Wickham’s stories and she leaves no room for even the possibility of another side of the story. Later in the novel this shifts and she realizes how arrogant and naive she had been.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bennet also shows a change in the novel. At the start, he is very laid back and seems to long for nothing but to be left alone in his library. He does not have the energy or willpower to deal with his incessant wife and so she is left to raise her daughters as she pleases. She raises Kitty and Lydia to only long for marriage and attention and when Lydia elopes with Mr. Wickham, Mr. Bennet realizes the fault in his absence and takes charge. Kitty is not allowed to go to Brighton and Mrs. Bennet’s flow of money supporting Lydia and Mr. Wickham’s foolish lifestyle is stopped.
I had not considered Mr.Bennet's change throughout the novel and am glad you brought this up. It's very true how toward the beginning of the novel, Mr.Bennet is humorful and perhaps even lazy in regards to his children, but looking back now, he really has changed as a character. As you pointed out, he takes charge of the situation, but more than that he really shows that he has been paying attention to everything going on. It's not even so much that the character totally shifts attitudes, more that another side of his character is revealed. The Mr.Bennet shown at the end of the novel has always been there, but the lack of conflict with the girls has made it seem as though that side never existed.
DeleteI had not considered Mr.Bennet's change throughout the novel and am glad you brought this up. It's very true how toward the beginning of the novel, Mr.Bennet is humorful and perhaps even lazy in regards to his children, but looking back now, he really has changed as a character. As you pointed out, he takes charge of the situation, but more than that he really shows that he has been paying attention to everything going on. It's not even so much that the character totally shifts attitudes, more that another side of his character is revealed. The Mr.Bennet shown at the end of the novel has always been there, but the lack of conflict with the girls has made it seem as though that side never existed.
DeleteOverall, the two characters who change the most throughout the course of Pride and Prejudice are Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy. In Mr. Bennet's case, his change wasn't as much of an alteration of his character as it was his attitude. At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Bennet was usually more focused on work or his studies than his daughters, and even his own wife. As the story line progresses through Elizabeth and Jane's relationships and into specific events such as the Lydia scandal, Mr. Bennet begins to take more interest in the interests and well being of his daughters. Therefore, Mr. Bennet's change is through his relationship with his family, not himself. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, goes through a character change that brings him down from his pedestal of arrogance. Mr. Darcy's developing love for Elizabeth forces him to set aside some of his more proud traits and become the right man for Elizabeth. Throughout the novel, both Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy's changes in character are in the progressive form, as they are becoming more positive overall.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said about Mr. Darcy. Although I don't think it's expressed enough in the novel, his change is the most remarkable one of all. Like you said, he was very arrogant at the beginning of the book, but changed to be much more caring, especially to Elizabeth's relatives when they visit Pemberly. He also changes his viewpoint on Jane and Bingley's relationship because he discovers how much Elizabeth is affected by their sudden split. He purposefully brings them back together and gives him his blessing because instead of looking out for Bingley's reputation like he did before, he looks out for his feelings and comfort.
DeleteThe most apparent and notable character shift in Pride and Prejudice is that of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. To begin the book, Darcy acted as a proud and arrogant aristocrat. His status as a bachelor attracted many different ladies, but his nature and incredibly high standards left him always unsatisfied. However, when he began to spend more time with Elizabeth Bennet, he developed a deep affection for her, a feeling that he never knew he could possess. When confronted by her, his emotion clearly showed, as his shell of indifference slowly cracked into the more sensible and kind man that Elizabeth would then marry.
ReplyDeleteAnother very noticeable change over the course of the book is that of Mr. Bennet. To begin the story, Mr. Bennet was a very passive father, growing tired of his wife's incessant chattering and fussing, taking to locking himself in his study at almost all times. It seems fitting that his absence as a father would give way to his daughter Lydia's elopement scandal with Mr. Wickham. This serves as a wake up call for Mr. Bennet, as he realizes that his dormancy as a force in the household has allowed for his daughter to run away with a man. He immediately takes charge and goes searching for them, and once it was all said and done, he assumed a tighter hold on his younger daughters affairs as they should be raised correctly.
Perhaps no two characters change more drastically or obviously than Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Towards the beginning of the novel, Mr.Darcy is seen almost as a central antagonist. When he's first introduced, it's as an arrogant and rude socialite. While later he and Elizabeth fall in love, towards the beginning, their hatred is mutual and seemingly justified. While later it is revealed his attitude is the product of insecurity and suspicion, he still maintains this demeanor for the entire first portion of the book. It's not until he begins speaking regularly to Elizabeth, that his personality begins to become more amiable. Elizabeth on the other hand is much more of a relatable and good natured character towards the beginning of the story. While it may appear that she is entirely without faults, it's not revealed she truly has any until she comes in contact with Darcy who has many. When it comes to Mr.Darcy all mercy and kindness seem to go out the window. She becomes a far less pleasant person in regards to him whenever they interact. However, the important and seemingly paradoxical lesson she learns is that just because someone seems to fit a mold of a bad person, that does not inherently make it true. Every act of kindness or cruelty is justified in some way by someone who is only acting how they've learned to act. It is in this way that Elizabeth learns to not judge, while Mr.Darcy learns to not be so prideful.
ReplyDeleteIt can be said with a fair amount of certainty that the most drastic of evolutions over the course of the novel occur in Darcy and Elizabeth. Few other characters experience as great of a change in heart as these two and no one else’s transformations are as detailed at the pair. When the novel commences, Elizabeth is wanting of a partner, but is less than committed to the processes that it requires; the flirting, the courting, and the idea of competing with her sisters for a man. There is clear evidence of this at the first ball that was detailed in the novel; while her sisters dance, Elizabeth resigns herself to sitting and watching as she is not nearly as eager to find a husband as Lydia or Kitty. It can also be seen that Elizabeth is very quick to make her judgments about Darcy as he makes thoughtless comments about her and does not ask her to dance. Many moons later, after her visit to Pemberly, it can be noted that Elizabeth is much more thoughtful about the true character of Darcy. For a while it seemed that she and the whole family had held that first encounter against Darcy, but suddenly Elizabeth seemed to find both the ability to look past it and the ability to forgive him for the misdeeds he had done prior. As for Darcy, he began the novel as a rather isolated man of high esteem and wealth. He was not interested in troubling himself with people that did not appear at first glance to be true contenders in the quest for marriage. He also seems to be less than polite to these people as he rarely acknowledges them. By the end of the novel, he is asking for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage, the very girl that he had ignored at the ball some time earlier. Here we see that he has come to understand that there is more to people and to marriage than the wealth and connections that they have with other wealthy people. It is also worth noting that Kitty made a pretty drastic change within the last two pages of the book. In minimal detail we find out that she spends very little time at the Wickham residence and much more with the Bingley’s and the Darcy’s. Perhaps it is because she came to realize that Elizabeth and Jane were in much better situations when they let their love grow organically, than the chaos that followed the rather forced love that Lydia experienced.
ReplyDeleteThe most obvious characters to change throughout the book are Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth's change came earlier due to her realization of Mr. Darcy's actions. Elizabeth is an inflated character living in a more fanatical environment of dreams. She meets Darcy and gives him a prejudiced notion in her mind about him. After realizing that Darcy’s letter was true she took on a different mindset about him and started to attract to him. This attraction made her realize that she was wrong and had wronged him.
ReplyDeleteIn Elizabeth’s mind Mr. Darcy appears to be a strict, reserve, cold man that enjoys nothing but his own wealth. Mr. Darcy doesn’t realize that she had this notion about him until their private conversation at Rosings. His pride had taken over his mindset up until this point instead of being warmer, less hypercritical, and more gentle. After this conversation he is made aware of the incorrect information and revives his honesty and becomes a more aware person. He is changed such that he now stresses less importance on his pride and being politically correct, and more attention to improving lives.