Pride and Prejudice Essay: The Character of Elizabeth -- Pride and Pre

The Character of Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen portrays Elizabeth Bennet as strong and intelligent, yet bewitching in a completely feminine way. Elizabeths possession of these attributes force play of character and moral integrity, great intelligence, and an attractive personality, make her an admirable person. Yet Elizabeth has faults, which makes her more human. Austens portrayal of Elizabeth is hard-nosed and masterful, often juxtaposing her with characters lacking her attributes to heighten our appreciation of her. The claim that Elizabeth is strong is indisputable. The strength of her personal integrity is highly evident in her refusal of Darcys first marriage proposal. At the time, she believed Darcy to be arrogant and selfish, based on Wickhams account of Darcys disgraceful behaviour towards him. She was also furious with him for ruining Janes chance of happiness (through marrying Bingley). Yet, it would have been prudent for her, a girl with only 1,000 and 4% interest annually from it, to marry Darcy, whose estate is worth 10,000 a year. She never wavers, though -- her intentions did not vary for an instant. The strength of her convictions and loyalty towards her sister made her reject his offer, and with it, probably all possibility of her every marrying well and securing a comfortable future. Also, she was not intimidated by Darcys riches and high social status, daring to tell him exactly what she thought of him and to risk his anger by offending him -- You could not have made me the offer of your mitt in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it. It is very clear that Elizabeths principles are uncompromisable. Elizabeth ... ...on & Company, 1966. 374-388. Litz, A. Walton, Jane Austen A Study of Her Artistic Development. Oxford University Press, 1965, p. 198. Moler, Kenneth. Pride and Prejudice A Study in Artistic Economy. Boston, MA Twayne Publishers, 1989. Mullane, Janet & Wi lson, Robert Thomas, Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Detroit, MI Gale Research Inc., 1988, Vol. 19, pp. 2, 4-8, 14, 17, 32, 42, 55-6, 58, and 66-7. A Review of Pride and Prejudice, Critical Review, Vol. 3, No. 3, March, 1813, pp. 318-24. Southam, B.C., (ed.), Jane Austen The Critical Heritage. Landon, NY Routledge & Kegan Paul - Barres & Nobel Inc., 1968. Weldon, Fay. Readings on Jane Austen Taplinger publish Co. Inc, 1984 in. Ed. Wright, Andrew H. Feeling and Complexity in Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Donald Gray. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 1966. 410-420.