Thursday, March 15, 2007
Pride and Prejudice Question #8
Elizabeth Bennet says, ". . . people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever."Do any of the characters in the book change substantially? Or do they, as Elizabeth says of Darcy, "in essentials" remain much as they ever were?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
For the most part, I really don't think that any of the characters drastically change. Both Jane and Elizabeth remain the same through the entire novel. Jane with her polite, proper manner and Elizabeth with her sassy, independent ways. The Bennet's still live their lives entirely dedicated to the marriages of their daughters. There was however one change that stands out to me. Darcy changed, but not drastically. In the beginning, "Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes." Darcy's opinions and attitude later changed when he realized how great of a woman Elizabeth really was. So, I suppose his change was fairly important.
I agree with Katie's post. Most of the characters stay essentially the same. Life goes on the same as always except that a few more people were married than 900 pages earlier. Darcy, of course, changes from someone who cares incrediably about social status like Lady Catherine to someone like Elizabeth who doesn't really give a damn. He also learns to accept more in a person than their physical attractiveness; he comes to love Elizabth for her free-spirit and stubborness. He goes from saying "She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me" (Chapter 3) to thinking "...in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness." (Chapter 6)
I suppose the Wickham could count as a change, since he goes from being a nice guy that could have possibly been a romantic lead for Elizabeth to a jerk who runs off with her sister just to make a few bucks. But those qualities existed from the beginning of the novel; they were just hidden from Elizabeth, so I'm not sure if that would really be considered a change
In Pride and Prejudice, I actually believe it is more Elizabeth’s opinions about people that change, not the people themselves. For example Darcy, I do not think he changed at all throughout the novel, but instead was always a humble man who has strong feelings for Elizabeth. However, I think Elizabeth’s views on him changed dramatically. Another example is Mr. Wickham, he never changes, but is always a deceiving, greedy man. However, Elizabeth’s opinion about him definitely changes throughout the novel, especially after she learns the truth about his past. As Elizabeth says herself, "It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly at first" (Ch. 18). To me, this is an ironic statement because I feel Elizabeth is the one in the novel who judges people the most without giving them a chance. Therefore, I believe it is her opinion about people that changes the most throughout the novel, not the people themselves.
I believe that out of all of the characters in the novel, Mr. Darcy is the one that changes the most. In the beginning of the novel, he is arrogant and acts as if he will have nothing to do with the people at the ball. He acts as if he is much superior to them. As the novel goes on, his feelings of love and respect change.
"Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. TO this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifiying." (Ch 6)
To me, it is incredible that love could change someones opinion in such great ways. I believe that Mr. Darcy is able to humble himself because of Elizabeth's influence upon him. To go from thinking that your 'poo' doesn't stink to realizing that there are people in the world who need to be respected--especially if you plan on marrying them--is remarkable.
In regards to changes among other characters in the novel, I do not believe that any others change in a way that can be compared to Mr. Darcy's change.
I agree with Sara's comment. I think that for the most part, no one really changes, but opinions of different people change. Elizabeth's first impression of Mr. Darcy was that he was a pride filled, condescending man.Later, Elizabeth finds herself respecting him and falling in love with him. However, whether Mr. Darcy actually changed is up to the reader. He certainly became more amiable towards Elizabeth, however he still remained the same, quiet and unfriendly man to the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet changes her opinion of Mr. Darcy when she realizes his interest in her daughter. For example, one day when Mr. Darcy goes walking with Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet tells her,"I am quite sorry, Lizzy, that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself" (354). Later, after Elizabeth tells her mother she is engaged to Darcy, Mrs. Bennet says to Elizabeth, "How rich and great you will be! Such a charming man, so handsome, so tall!" (355)
I think that of any of the characters, it is Elizabeth who has changed. She realizes that it is not her duty to judge nor to be judged. The better Elizabeth got to know certain people, the more her opinions changed of them, for better or for worse.
Throughout the novel, Jane and Bingley seem to play a constant in the novel, always boring, always predictable and at the end we barely see a change in either one. I agree with everyone in that I think the two most significant changes that we see are in Darcy and in Elizabeth's sometimes harsh opinions of others.
At the beginning Darcy is a hardheaded man who is not easily pleased or pleasant to be around. The most important criteria in his wife is her status in society. Charolette states about him, "every body says he is ate up with pride" (20). However, as the novel progresses he begins to realize that status isn't everything and "OH DANG" he's really falling for this girl. "Though he had deteted with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness" (24).
As well as Darcy and his attitude toward the lower classes, we see a change in Elizabeth's quick to judge attitude. At the beginning she says, "I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine" (21), showing that she initially thought Mr. Darcy was a pompous butthead. And she even admits later in the novel to Jane that, "the more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense" (135). However as the novel moves along we see a change in Elizabeth, how she feels about Darcy, and how she feels about judging people in general.
I can see how people think that it was just Elizabeth’s opinions that changed, but I personally think that Mr. Darcy did change. In the beginning of the novel Mr. Darcy is too proud to dance with anyone at the ball. Later Mr. Darcy describes his type of woman, an accomplished woman. He said that “a woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and all modern languages” and “she must posses a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone in her voice, her address and expressions” (29). Mr. Darcy has such high expectations of what a woman should be. He later changes his thoughts when he falls for Elizabeth. He learns to look past society’s standards and status ladder.
Throughout the novel I don't think that any of the characters really change. Although I can see why some people might think Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy change I think that the only thing that happens with them is that they realize what they really want and let their real feelings shine through. Throughout the novel Elizabeth plays a stubborn, independent lady, and Mr. Darcy plays a stubborn, arrogant man. The only major change we see in Darcy are his feelings for Elizabeth, and this change is evident at the beginning of the novel. For example, at the end of chapter 11 Mr. Darcy first realizes his feelings and begins "to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention." (chptr 11). And the only thing that changes about Elizabeth is her feelings towards Mr. Darcy. At the beginning of the novel Elizabeth only has feelings of hatred towards Mr. Darcy, but as the novel goes on she starts to see Mr. Darcy not as arrogant, but instead charming. All of the other characters have the same disposition throughout the novel. Mr. Bingley and Jane are both quite predictable with their feelings for one another almost always being obvious. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett also keep the same character throughout the novel.
My classmates have answered this question very well, I must say. But I think that the people that change the most would be Darcy and Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet is nosy throughout the novel, Mr. Bennet isn't that interesting in the changing department. Bingley and Jane remain the same, for the most part throughout the novel, nothing too exciting there. The changes that take place are between the two most hard-headed characters in the book. You think with how stubborn they both are that they wouldn't change, but it wasn't until they fell for each other that they found someone worth changing for.
You would've never thought that Mr. Darcy would fall for a woman like Elizabeth because of her lack of beauty and status.
"'You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,' said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet." (p. 13)
But for some reason, this not typical girl caught his attention. For once a woman could be his equal intelligence wise. He almost softens in character to accomodate her.
"In spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness." (Chapter 6)
Elizabeth, as was mentioned before, doesn't change but her opinions of people certainly do. Meaning that she doesn't necessarily change, but something had to alter for her to change her mind on people's character, such as Darcy and Wickham.
So I was reading through the comments and all of them are pretty much like my opinion about Darcy being the only one to truly make a noticable change. But what Sara said really made me think. Maybe it is just Elizabeth's stubborn opinion opening up and seeing how humble of a man Darcy really could be. But then I got to thinking more, and in the beginning, Darcy was even more stubborn than Elizabeth. He refused to dance with her, and looked at her in disgust. And she felt the same. "Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentle man, and he was thinking over her with some complacency. (19)" But once they both got past their stubborness, it turned out that they really did have strong feelings for each other. DUH!
I agree with Laura LEU. I think that maybe elizabeth’s perceptions of certain people may have changed.. not so much the actual people. The bennet’s as a whole are the exact same, marriage obsessed people. Jane is just as polite and good mannered as ever and Elizabeth is just a sassy. I think that Mr. Darcy DID change. Like at the ball when he was so condescending, and I don’t know if this is the word but uppity?? He thought he was so much better. At the end he threw away societies standards and love Elizabeth, despite her social and physical shortcomings.
....like a true lover, loving the unlovable
I don't think that any of the characters really changed at all either. I think that the way that they look on life and view others has changed. Most of the people actually stayed the same. The Collins still focus on being so perfect even with their faults. The Bennets focus on getting the girls married into decent families. Jane is still meek as ever. Bingley changed a little in that he made is own decision to marry Jane, even when his sisters didn't like it. But I think that the two people that change the most in their opinions are Elizabeth and Darcy. Darcy couldn't stand Elizabeth for the life of him. The thought of her family shamed him also. But once he sees that she does have some decent connections in London he starts to feel like his feelings aren't bad. He ends up falling in love with Elizabeth. Elizabeth's opinion changes in the novel also. She almost has a one set mind on the way things are supposed to go. She doesn't stop to think or to listen to other people. She just goes on her way. The moment that she changes is after she reads the letter from Darcy. She even acknowledges it herself saying "Till this moment, I never knew myself" (205). She recognizes her mistakes and still has time to make them better again. Other than the two main characters I don't think anyone else went through a substantial change.
Pretty much like everyone else said, I really don't think that any of the characters make that significant of a change except Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth remains the same strong, opinionated woman and Jane remains well...polite and boring. However, at the beginning I really thought Darcy was a jerk. He had rude opinions about Elizabeth, and never really thought of her as wife material. Obviously throughout the novel those ideas change, as Elizabeth and Darcy get married. Sara's comment also made me think though. Maybe Darcy really doesn't change. Mabye Darcy remains the same, but Elizabeth just chooses to see the better qualities in him, leading her to fall in love with him. And maybe, Darcy was never really a jerk in the first place, Elizabeth just never accepted him for who he was. In either case, Darcy makes the most significant change in the novel, whether it be his actual change, or Elizabeth's changed opinion about him.
Post a Comment