Describe Elizabeth’s First Impression of Darcy.
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Answer
Describe Elizabeth’s first impression of Darcy. [NU: 2018, 20]
In Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” (1813), Elizabeth Bennet’s first impression of Mr. Darcy is not good. She finds him proud, rude, and cold. This wrong first impression is the start of many problems. Jane Austen shows how first judgments can be wrong.
Darcy’s Arrogant Behavior at the Meryton Ball: Elizabeth first meets Mr. Darcy at the Meryton ball. While Mr. Bingley behaves in a friendly and polite manner, Darcy stands apart from the crowd and refuses to dance with anyone outside his circle. When Bingley suggests that he dance with Elizabeth, Darcy replies:
“She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
Elizabeth overhears this comment. This wounds her pride and leads her to view Darcy as arrogant. From this moment, she considers him unfriendly and full of self-importance.
Influence of Mr. Wickham’s Story: Later, Elizabeth meets Mr. Wickham. He tells her that Darcy was cruel to him. He says Darcy took away his job and money. Elizabeth believes Wickham because she already dislikes Darcy. She thinks Darcy is a bad man. But she doesn’t know the real truth yet. This makes her more prejudiced.
Viewing Darcy Through Social Expectations: Elizabeth, like many in her society, expects wealthy men like Darcy to be polite and generous. His cold and judgmental behavior at public events contrasts sharply with these expectations. Thus, her early impression is not just personal but also shaped by societal norms about class and behavior.
Elizabeth’s initial impression of Darcy is deeply negative. It is based on his prideful behavior and Wickham’s false story. This early misjudgment becomes the foundation for much of the novel’s conflict. This shows how appearances can be misleading and how first impressions can be corrected through self-reflection and truth.