Mrs Bennett's First Impression Of Mr Darcy example essay topic

The novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was originally titled First Impressions. This is significant because it reflects the values and attitudes of 19th century England, and portrays the main themes of the novel. It is set in England during the 1800's and Austen focuses on a society whose opinions are based on first impressions. This is achieved through cultural context, characterization, commentary, and methods / techniques. During the 19th Century, first impressions were very important. The reader is presented with Meryton, a highly structured class society which judges people on superficial qualities, such as physical appearance, social status, clothes, possessions, behaviour, dialogue.

The message Austen positions the reader to understand, is that a society which makes its judgement's based on first impressions is immoral and unjust. (-She uses 'humour' to help convey this in a less-serious tone.) For example, Mrs Bennett's first impressions of Mr Bingley were based upon his behaviour and physical appearance. "Oh! My dear, I am quite delighted with him.

He is so excessively handsome!" (Page 16) Mrs Bennett has a driving force in her behaviour to marry her daughters to wealthy men, who were financially stable and socially accepted, so her liking to Mr Bingley is reinforced by his interest in her eldest daughter Jane. "Mr Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice. Think of that my dear; he actually danced with her twice; and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time!" (Page 15) In contrast, Mrs Bennett's first impression of Mr Darcy was that he is cold, abrupt, and proud. This is established because of his manner and behaviour. The narrator describes Darcy's behaviour in chapter 1; 'Mr Darcy danced only once with Mrs Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady and spent the rest of the evening walking about the room speaking occasionally to one of his own party. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again.

Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs Bennett, whose dislike of his general behaviour, was sharpened into particular resentment, by his having slighted one of her daughters. ' (Page 12) Mr Darcy judges Elizabeth and the Bennett family on social status, and takes an immediate dislike to them, because of their financial situation and rank on the socio economic status. Although the Bennetts are 'upper / middle class', there are divisions between each class, so they are looked upon as at the 'lower' end of the scale. It is Darcy's pride that forces him to believe he is better than others, mainly because of the amount of money he has. Mr Darcy feels as if he can be rude to anyone he likes, because the society of Meryton is 'socially and financially lower' then himself.

After seeing Jane together with Mr Bingley at the dinner party, Darcy's first impressions (which allow him to think that he has the right to interfere in their relationship) force him into believing that Jane (coming from a family less wealthy then his own) is only after Mr Bingley for security, and financial stability. Instead of realising the love they have towards each other, Darcy allows his pride to blind him of the truth and foolishly assume that only a lady of equal status (as his) is worthy of Bingley's love. Mr Wickham is another example of first impressions based on superficial qualities. His first impressions are very favourable and he is 'socially accepted' into the Meryton circle".

But the attention of every young lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer, on the other side of the way". (Page 62) His charming personality, and impressive first impressions soon gathered the acceptance and approval of everyone in the community. Ironically, his handsome features are deceptive and the entire society is proved to have misjudged Wickham, based on their misconceptions and first impressions. He is exposed to the Bennett family shortly after his elopement with Lydia Bennett, a 16 year old girl who he did not intend to marry, but only to take advantage of. He ends up marrying her under false pretences, in a loveless, false marriage, which reflects the Mr and Mrs Bennett relationship. In the 19th century, the female gender was dis empowered.

Women were expected to conform to high standards of behaviour and courtesy. The characteristics of a stereotypical woman in this time period were, sewing, singing, dancing, reading, playing a musical instrument (e.g. the piano) and being domesticated. The girls of the Bennett family support this notion, and this is shown throughout the text. e.g. "It is amazing to me how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished, as they all are. They paint tables, cover screens and net purses. I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished". (Page 35) Here Mr Bingley is praising the five Bennett girls on their qualities and range of abilities.

The technique of characterization has a major effect throughout the novel. It helped represent 19th century values and attitudes, as well as portray the notion of first impressions, and demonstrate how they dominated people's thoughts and minds during that particular time period. There were many incorrect judgement's made throughout the novel, which was a result of wrong first impressions. An example of this is Mr Darcy's perception of Elizabeth Bennett. Darcy's pride originates from his wealth, social class and superior connections, which all lead him to be prejudiced towards people who are socially and financially lower then himself. (e.g. the Bennett family) His prejudice is therefore reflected in the way he judges people. For example, whilst Mr Darcy is proposing to Elizabeth (during her stay at Rosing's Park) he brings up the issues of her family connections, her social status, and family wealth.

"He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority- of its being a degradation- of the family obstacles which judgement had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit". (Page 157) Elizabeth's character represents values and attitudes of the 19th century. Throughout the novel her character develops, as she changes from disliking Mr Darcy to falling in love with him.

-This raised again the danger of first impressions, and the possibility of their reversal. She categorizes Darcy as arrogant and self-centred, and her opinion of him is taken to a new low when Wickham is introduced. It is not until the near end of the novel where Elizabeth realise's she was foolish for judging both Darcy and Wickham on first impressions and her impressions on Darcy begin to turn around. "How despicable I have acted. I who have prided myself on discernment! -I who have valued myself on my abilities".

(Page) Pride and Prejudice is written in 3rd person omniscient, which allows the reader to delve into the minds of more than one character. The narrator can be persuasive and influential, (this is most common during passages of large summary) although at other times a 'silent observer' / goes without commentary, (During character dialogue) however the 'point of view' becomes more focused through the character of Elizabeth. The narrator has control of selection of detail, and chooses what the reader is entitled to see. (e.g. selects the incidents we see, and finds the words to describe them.) The title 'First Impressions' is very significant, because the novel revolves around issues which are based on judgemental people, who make and break first impressions. Characterisation and cultural context are used to portray this, and the reader is positioned to understand that relationships based on first impressions have no substance.

Both characters develop throughout the novel, and their first impressions of each other gradually change. Darcy's pride diminishes, as does Elizabeth's prejudice.