First Impressions in Pride and Prejudice Essay -- essays research pape

Pride and Prejudice was originally and appropriately titled â€Å"First Impressions.† This romantic and philosophical novel demonstrates to its readers how first impressions can drastically get in the way of romantic relationships. First impressions are generally inaccurate, as in the case of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, and also the case of Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley. The first impressions can, however, be accurate, such as in the case of Elizabeth Bennet and William Collins. In this so-called â€Å"relationship,† Elizabeth understood all along that Mr. Collins was a particularly disgusting man who liked to fawn over everyone he met. Mr. Collins, however, thought at first that Elizabeth was exactly like all of the other girls of her time period: submissive and unintelligent. Readers of Jane Austen’s novel can easily gain knowledge of the fact that Mr. Collins was completely wrong about her. The majority of the novel Pride and Prejudice centered around the conflict between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. The two first met at a ball in Meryton, and both decided that they hated each other before even getting to know one another. This is one example of how first impressions can ruin potential relationships. for instance, before Mr. Darcy even knew what Elizabeth was like, he concluded from seeing her that she was not particularly pretty, and that she was â€Å"slighted by other men.† (Austen, 10) On the other side of the situation, when Elizabeth overheard this insulting comment, she also jumped to conclusions. She deduced that Mr. Darcy was a selfish, rich snob. These first impressions caused them to spend most of the novel hating each other. Even when Mr. Darcy finally got over his first impressions about Elizabeth herself and propos... ...e fond of a person just by looking at them, or even by their place in society. For instance, just because you think that a person is a rich snob, that does not mean that they are a rich snob in all actuality. In the defense of Mr. Darcy, for example, the person you are judging might just be reserved and introverted. In Elizabeth’s defense, however, it is also not appropriate to criticize people because of their external appearance. It is also unwarranted to write people off as â€Å"slighted by other men.† (Austen, 10) To cut a long story short, the development of the plot demonstrates to readers that everyone makes mistakes. Particularly selfish mistakes, on the other hand, can demolish and devastate potential relationships until the problem is worked out, and both opposing parties resolve to set their extremely selfish desires free and give each other a fair chance.