“Pride and
Prejudice” was
first written in 1797 under the title “First Impressions”. It was later revised and published
under the title “Pride and
Prejudice” in 1813.
First impressions do play an important role
in the novel. Elizabeth is misled in her judgment of both Darcy and Wickham.
Her attitude towards both the characters is only a result of the First
Impressions. But if we study the novel deeply, we find that “Pride and Prejudice” is an apt
title. The first impressions only last for the first few chapters of the novel
while pride
and prejudice permeate the soul of the novel. The novel is about the
pride of Darcy and the prejudice of Elizabeth caused by their mutual
misunderstanding.
Earlier in the novel, Mary describes Pride as “…a common failing. Human nature is
particularly prone to it”. Mr. Darcy stands as the most obviously proud
character. Wickham tells Elizabeth that he has a ‘filial pride’ and we tend to agree with Mrs. Bennett’s complaint
that “He walked here and he walked there, fancying himself so very great”.
His haughty manners at the ball gave people a very bad
impression of his personality, especially Elizabeth, whom he considered as “tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt
(him)”. Lady Catherine, Miss Bingley and even Elizabeth Bennett constitute
the other proud characters. While Lady Catherine’s patronizing behavior and
Miss Bingley’s rudeness are due to their social class, Elizabeth can be deemed
proud on the account that she has high respect for herself and this is best
displayed when Elizabeth refers to Darcy:
“And I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.” Being
rejected by him at the ball, her prejudice mounts up and from the start; she
willfully misinterprets all his utterances and actions.
Darcy’s
pride stemming from the superiority of intellect, his noble ancestry and his
enormous riches prejudices him strongly
against Elizabeth’s family and her low connections. Although “he had never been bewitched by any woman
as he was by her”, Darcy feels beneath his dignity to admit to his love for
her. Even when he can repress his feelings no longer and does propose to
Elizabeth, “he was not more eloquent on
the subject of the tenderness than on pride”. He is considerably humbled when he is rejected without ceremony,
and Elizabeth’s words “had you behaved
in a more gentlemanlike manner” and her criticism of his self-conceit affect
him deeply.
Elizabeth’s
refusal initiates a process of introspection and self analysis in Darcy.
Consequently, he emerges as a man who
has gone through a considerable transition. This is revealed by his long
explanatory speech to Elizabeth towards the end of the novel. The greatest
proof of this transition is in his remaining firm in his choice of Elizabeth
even after Lydia-Wickham elopement which draws from Elizabeth the acknowledgement-
“indeed he has no improper pride. He is
perfectly amiable.”
In
Elizabeth, the intelligent and self-assured young woman too we see the
interesting compound of Pride and Prejudice. Her initial prejudice against
Darcy arises from injured pride. At the Natherfield ball she overhears Darcy
calling her, “tolerable; but not handsome enough to
tempt(him)”. From that
evening Elizabeth is left with no cordial feeling towards Darcy. In addition,
Elizabeth is prejudiced in favour of Wickham, charmed by her fine countenance,
pleasing addresses and his flattering attentions.
Elizabeth's
judgments about other characters' dispositions are accurate but only half of
the time. While she is correct about Mr. Collins and how absurdly
self-serving and sycophantic he is and about Lady Catherine de Bourgh and how
proud and snobbish she is, her first impressions of Wickham and Darcy steer her
incorrectly. When
Charlotte tries to show Elizabeth the agreeable side of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth
cries out in a disdainful manner: “To
find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an
evil”. It is only when she reads Darcy’s
letter that her eyes are opened to the true characters of both Darcy and
Wickham.
In
fact Darcy’s letter introduces in Elizabeth the same self-criticism that Darcy
too undergoes. Thus Elizabeth realizes her folly in trusting
her first impressions and states, "how
despicably have I acted. I, who have prided myself on my discernment! - I, who
have valued myself on my abilities."
In sum,
the title,
“Pride and Prejudice” very aptly points to the theme of the novel. The two protagonists
have been tangling with pride and prejudice throughout the novel. They also
struggled to put down their pride and get rid of their prejudice. However, to
say that Darcy is proud and Elizabeth is prejudiced is to tell but half of the
story. The fact is that both Darcy and Elizabeth are proud and prejudiced. The
novel makes clear the fact the Darcy’s pride leads to prejudice and Elizabeth’s
prejudice stems from a pride in her own perceptions.
In
a nut-shell, the appropriateness of the title, Pride and Prejudice is indeed
unquestionable and it bears immense significance to the plot, thematic concerns
and the characterization in the novel.