'Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” Appearance vs. Reality Essay\r'

'In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the theme of manner versus realism is recurrent. Austen seeks to prove that oft cartridge holders one’s get onance hides one’s true use. This thematic construct is unfastenedly evident in the case of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham and how they appear to Elizabeth Bennett. From her origin impressions of both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth comes to misguided closes about their true role. Elizabeth spends most of the novel reevaluating her stance regarding both of these characters. She later comes to realize that her respective judgements of Mr.Darcy and Mr. Wickham ar profoundly wide of the mark and incorrect. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Austen demonstrates that realism of an somebody’s true character can often be transcendental by appearances.\r\nElizabeth’s first impressions of Mr. Darcy are based on an appearance of his character rather that a realistic assessment of his decorum , background, and history. The in truth first time Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy she becomes prejudiced toward him. Elizabeth is introduced to Darcy at the Meryton fictionalization and although the general impression is that he is quite handsome, her assessment suddenly changes to an un privilegeable disposition towards him. She perceives his behavior as cold and uninte shacked in her friends and family. Along with the rest of the people in Hertfordshire, she decides that he is ” the proudest, most vexatious man in the world” (41). His air of transcendency does non impress Elizabeth and she observes that he does not confabulation with anyone who is outside his party. She grows accompanimentity contrasted towards Darcy when she overhears him say,” She [Elizabeth] is tolerable, unless not handsome enough to tempt me” (42). Elizabeth comes into signature save again with Mr.\r\nDarcy when Jane Bennett becomes tired of(p) while visiting Mr. Bingley and Eli zabeth goes to bear with her at Netherfield. Elizabeth’s dislike of Darcy’s unemotional person and unfriendly manner increases; while spending time with the Bingley party. Elizabeth believes every single move of Darcy to have ill intentions. She notices Darcy frequently gazing at her and concludes â€Å"she drew his notice because there was something about her more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right” (86). Elizabeth is blinded of Darcy’s true character, which is hidden by his appearance. She is unable to sense Darcy’s real feelings because his introvert demeanor does not allow him to express them. Elizabeth’s blindness is blatantly obvious when Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance and she denies by saying:\r\nâ€Å"You wanted me, I k promptly, to say ‘yes,’ that you capability have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing the large-minded of scheme, and cheating a person of t heir premeditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you, that I do not want to dance a reel at all- now despise me if you take for granted (86). At this point in the novel, any contact Darcy attempts to make with Elizabeth is brutally rebuffed because of her strong prejudice towards him.\r\n cussed of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth’s first impressions of Mr.Wickham are favorable. Mr.Wickham differs from Mr.Darcy in many a(prenominal) ways. When Elizabeth first takes notice of Wickham at her Aunt Phillips’ house, she believes him to be â€Å"far beyond” the other officers in the militia ” in person, countenance, air, and walk” (115). Wickham is outgoing, lively, and eager to fall into conversation. Wickham’s outgoing and polite mannerisms are quite the mated of Darcy’s, and Elizabeth takes an immediate interest to him. Compared to Darcy, Wickham appears to Elizabeth as one of England’s finest gentlemen. A further exam ple of how Elizabeth is blind to reality is her firm belief in Mr. Wickham’s claims against Mr. Darcy. Wickham’s appearance as a stately human race and Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Darcy cause her to believe Mr. Wickham’s slander against Darcy even though she knows nothing of Darcy’s past.\r\nShe regards Mr. Darcy as a proud, pompous brute, so she is voluntary and eager to find interruption in him. Wickham provides this fault and justifies her already hostile feeling towards Darcy. This aggressively hostile behavior of Elizabeth toward Darcy is intensified at the Netherfield Ball. Elizabeth feels anger towards Darcy because she believes him to be the cause of Wickham’s absence. Elizabeth’s predisposition to favor Wickham is noted by Mrs. Gardiner who warns Elizabeth that she has heard rumors of Wickham’s greedy character and to be careful of placing too frequently trust in him. At this point in the novel Elizabeth regards Wickham as a friendly and resourceful man who confirms her bitter feelings towards Darcy.\r\nDarcy’s proposal to Elizabeth is perhaps the grandest example of how Elizabeth is blinded by appearances. When Darcy proclaims his love for Elizabeth, he opens up his heart the scarcely way he knows how, only to see Elizabeth take offense to his offers and turns him down. Elizabeth is asleep of Darcy’s history and doesn’t understand his particular social status. She thinks his reasons for debating over marrying her are inconsequential. She also does not understand what sort of shame he is risking in seeking her as his wife and takes offense to Darcy’s words about her family. Elizabeth is unaware of the outside forces, such as Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Miss Bingley, acting upon Darcy. His report â€Å"In vain I have struggled. It willing not do. My feelings will not be repress” (236) appears rude to Elizabeth, when in actuality it is admirable and valiant. Elizabeth sees the proposal as an insult when in actuality it is Darcy sacrificing his pride and proclaiming his utmost obedience to her.\r\nThe turning point in the novel in which reality begins to override appearance occurs when Elizabeth reads Darcy’s letter. In this letter Darcy tells his side of the story regarding his relationship with Wickham and provides objective information to substantiate his character. Not only does he prove that he did not act maliciously towards Mr. Wickham, but he also explains that he neer had any intent to hurt Elizabeth’s sis Jane. He explained that he was not confident that Jane in truth loved Mr. Bingley and was only looking out for a good friend. After reading and rereading this letter, Elizabeth reevaluates her previous feelings of both Darcy and Wickham and her opinion of both men gradually changes.\r\nWith the all-important(a) knowledge she gained from the letter, she pieces the puzzle together. Elizabeth now beg ins to admire Darcy when she visits his comely home and takes notice of Darcy’s affection when she meets him at Pemberly. Wickham is proven to be fraudulent and Elizabeth sees now that his intentions were unworthy and his actions not proper when telling her lies about Mr. Darcy. She sees now that Wickham is a greedy and ungrateful man who has repeatedly taken advantage of Darcy financially. His deceitful character is only confirmed by his scandalous affair with Lydia Bennett.\r\nBy the end of the novel, the true character of these gentlemen is evident to all. Elizabeth Bennett regrets ever having admired Wickham, and embraces\r\nDarcy as her true love. It is clear to Elizabeth that Wickham’s smooth manners and outward style conceals a shallow, superficial, and greedy soul, while Darcy’s bungling behavior hides a generous, caring heart. Elizabeth learns many lessons from her fundamental interaction with these two men. She learns the possible dangers of jumpi ng to a conclusion based on an individual’s character and looks that may be deceiving. Through Elizabeth’s realizations, Jane Austen offers a universal theme that can be link up to any society in that premature judgements are more often than not a misconception of individual’s true personality. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen efficaciously exhibits that reality can often be hidden by appearance.\r\n'