Though Darcy is intelligent and honest, his excess of pride causes him to look
down on his social inferiors. But after several meetings, Elizabeth becomes an object of Mr. Darcy’s interest. He begins to admire her. It can be seen through what he
thinks about Elizabeth: 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 criticize. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friend that
she had hardly a good feature in her face, that he began to find it what rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.
Though he had detected with a critical eye more that one failure of perfect symmetry in pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not
those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness 22.
On the surface, Elizabeth is just ordinary but she possesses qualities which make her attractive in a traditional way. Elizabeth is not a fashionable woman and not
as beautiful as Jane but Darcy shows his interest with her especially because her expressive eyes: “I have been mediating on the very great pleasure which a pair of
fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow” 26. He loves Elizabeth not because of her physical appearance but because of her intelligence. She has attractive
manners and she shows her strong character. She is endowed with certain graces and talent, but not unusually gifted; she is appealing without being exquisite.
4.1.3. Psychological Character
There are some psychological characters that can be found in Elizabeth Bennet as the main character of this novel. From the author comment and from
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opinion of other characters, she is described as an intelligent woman, outspoken and determined person.
Intelligent
Elizabeth is the most intelligent and quick-witted in the Bennet family. Elizabeth realizes that she must take responsibility for her own education because she
can not look to either of her parents for advice, and she must ultimately depend on her own experience, instincts, and judgments. In the course of the conversation
between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth, we also learn more about the neglectfulness of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in fulfilling their duties as parents:
“No governess How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without governess – I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have
been quite a slave to your education.” …
“Then who taught you? Who attended to you? Without governess you must have been neglected.”
“Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wishes to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encourage to read, and had
all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle certainly might” 162-3.
Although Lady Catherine is quite rude in her manner of criticism, it is true that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet took no care to see that her daughters received a good
education. While this lack of support from their parents seems to have been overcome by the diligence and self-motivation of Jane and Elizabeth, it seems doubtful that the
younger three sisters will fare as well.
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Elizabeth sometimes has a right view about people. For example, she painfully recognizes the inappropriate behavior of most of her family, particularly her
youngest sister, Lidya, who has eloped with Mr. Wickham. She already tells her father about her fear but her father ignores it. Elizabeth’s intelligence is revealed in
her manner, her way of thinking and how she speaks to other characters. When Lady Catherine criticizes Elizabeth over her piano playing, she listens with all the
forbearance of civility. Also, when Darcy proposed to her for the first time, she was able to conjure up a polite refusal of his impolite offer. Elizabeth demonstrates that
she has great restrain even under tremendous pressure.
Outspoken
This character makes Elizabeth more interesting. She likes to be honest about everything. But sometimes her sharp tongue and tendency to make hasty judgments
often lead her astray. It can be seen when she refuses Mr. Darcy marriage proposal because she is very angry when she knows that Mr. Darcy is the man who destroys
the happiness of her sister, Jane: “I might as well inquire,” replied she, “why, with so evident a design of
offending and insulting me, you chuse to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character? Was not this
some excuse for incivility, if I was uncivil? But I have other provocations. You know I have. Had not my own feelings decided against you, had they
been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of
ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?” 187.
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