Character Analysis of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice

Elizabeth Bennet is the most intriguing character that Jane Austen writes about to me. She covers every aspect of what it means to be a great main character of a novel/movie. Her charm and beauty are obviously the main things that draw you in at the beginning of Pride and Prejudice but as the novel goes on we find out she’s quit intelligent, cares about her family especially her sisters (more so then her own mother in some cases), and doesn’t want to marry a man for finical reasons, but rather for love and happiness. The main thing that draws me in about Elizabeth is her relationship with Mr. Darcy. Her first thoughts about Darcy are that he’s conceded and he cares too much about “class” or “rank” in society more than love or feelings when it comes to a relationship. While sitting down in between dances at the ball she overhears Darcy talking to Mr. Bingley about the girls at the ball and why he (Darcy) isn’t dancing with one of them. Darcy responds “I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.” (pg 12-13). Matters only get worse when Bingley asks if he’d like to have Jane introduce him to Elizabeth for a dance and when Darcy looks at Elizabeth he says “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.” (pg. 13). Elizabeth is so upset by Darcy’s words that for the better part of the first half of the novel she does everything in her power to insight angry in Darcy so that he will leave her alone. The relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is also incredibly interesting to me because I feel that they are almost mirror images of each other. Darcy knows that Lady Catherine wants him to marry someone who is a woman who has accomplishments and how he feels about her is secondary. This is much like Elizabeth’s relationship with her mother Mrs. Bennet who wants Elizabeth to marry a rich man who is of high status in society so she and more importantly Mrs. Bennet can live comfortably for the rest of their lives. The other area where Darcy and Elizabeth are alike is how hard headed they both are. When Darcy first proposes to Elizabeth he also makes back handed remarks about how he wants to marry her in spite of her family. Elizabeth doesn’t make any remarks about Darcy’s family but rather how she wouldn’t be able to marry him because of his remarks about her when they first meet and he’s comments about her family. They both love each other and make it clear that they do, but they also know that they aren’t the “ideal” couple so they try to talk themselves out of loving one another throughout the novel. Austen’s writing paints the picture for the readers so perfectly that you can feel the pain in Elizabeth’s words when she says the hateful things to Darcy to try and push him away, but at the same point you can tell she wants to be with him but her pride is stopping her. And when they finally do get together at the end of the novel you feel this release of joy not only because it’s a happy ending to the novel but also because Elizabeth is able to marry for love and not for money.