The Complexities of Mr. Darcy's Character in Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen that follows the life of Elizabeth Bennet and explores marriage in the early 1800s. I have not finished yet, but I believe that you should read it. While it does have complex language, the characters are fleshed out and nuanced. I especially enjoy learning more about the character Mr. Darcy. The narrator mostly follows Elizabeth, so the readers rarely get an explanation for his actions. However, we find out little bits and pieces through the narrator that Elizabeth does not get to know. We also find out what Elizabeth does, which often puts him in a negative light.
The novel begins when Mr. Bingley, a single rich young gentleman, rents a manor near the village of Longbourn, where Elizabeth lives. Elizabeth and her family, including her older sister Jane, go to a ball that Mr. Bingley also attends. Jane and Mr. Bingley dance together twice, but his friend, Mr. Darcy, does not dance with any ladies he did not already know, only dancing twice altogether. He outright refuses to dance with Elizabeth when Mr. Bingley offers and insults her, causing Elizabeth to dislike Darcy. Due to Darcy insulting her and his general demeanor at the ball, Elizabeth and all the other Longbourn residents consider him to be rude, conceited, and the "most disagreeable man in the world" (Austen 10). I, like Elizabeth, did not like him very much at first, but I also found myself wondering why he acted this way. However, the narrator tells the readers that he begins to see Elizabeth's charm and wants to find out more about her, causing him to listen in on her conversations. I found this new side that only the readers would know about interesting, since it allows us to begin to understand his actions.
The next piece of information that Elizabeth discovers about Darcy comes from Mr. Wickham, a friend of an officer the Bennets are acquainted with. He tells her that when Darcy's father, his godfather, died, he left his living to him, but "'There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it—or to treat it as merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence, in short anything or nothing'" (Austen 66). He then says that he believes that jealousy caused Darcy to do this. When I read this, I was shocked by this information. While Darcy was never the kindest character, he had never acted so outright cruel during the book. It left me wondering the real reason Darcy took away Mr. Wickham's right to the living. This action felt out of character, even for him. At the point of the book that I am in, I still have not found out the true reason, but I hope I get to find out soon, as I believe there is more to the story.
As Elizabeth tells him when trying to analyze his character, "'I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly'" (Austen 78). I think this is what attracts me to his character. The characters I find most interesting are the ones that are difficult to understand without knowing their full story and motivations. I know that there are reasons for why he acts the way he does, but I do not know what the reasons are yet, which leaves me wanting to find out. Mr. Wickham's story contrasts greatly with Mr. Bingley's sister's warning about Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth enjoys Mr. Wickham's company greatly, but Miss Bingley tells her that Darcy has always been kind to him, and it was Mr. Wickham who mistreated the other. Mr. Bingley also vouched for Darcy's honour, but Elizabeth decided to continue to think of the men as she had before, disliking Darcy and fancying Mr. Wickham. However, this makes me believe in Darcy's innocence more. Mr. Bingley is shown to be a very proper gentleman, and I doubt he would be in the company of Darcy as often if he did not truly believe in the good of his character. While he does act aloof, I believe that there is proper reason for it. These contradictions show how complex Darcy is as a character, and I am excited to find out more about him as I continue reading.
Works Cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York City, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2012.
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