Is Elizabeth Bennet the ‘perfect heroine’? Essay

Jane Austen wrote in a earn that she found Elizabeth bennet to be as delightful a wildcat as ever appeared in print. Is Elizabeth the pure(a) heroine? Look at her character and its development throughout the novel to account for her appeal.Elizabeth is the second of Mr. and Mrs. Bennets five daughters. She is her fathers favorite child because she has something to a wideer termination of quickness than her sisters. Despite this, in her mothers eyes she is not a bit better than the othersShe is not half so beauteous as Jane, nor so good humored as Lydia.As the book is create verbally mainly from Elizabeths point of view, we know little of her physical appearance. Darcys admiration of her fine eyes is a constant source of questioning for Caroline Bingley.I am afraid that this adventure has rather touch on your admiration of her fine eyes.We are also told that she was a reputed witness in Hertfordshire and that Colonel Fitzwilliam admires Mrs. Collins pretty young friend.At t he runner of the book, Lizzy is described as having a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything senseless. She admits to harnessing diversion in follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies. Towards the end of the novel, she believes thatby her ease and liveliness, his discernment might have been softenedHer refusal to forgive Mr. Darcy subsequently he has snubbed her at the ball shows her to be proudI could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.She is determined.. Lizzy always speaks her mind, illustrating her ability to think for herselfI am no longer surprised at your knowing unless six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at you knowing any.It this mixture of fair-mindedness, belief in her own opinions and playfulnessElizabeths spirits soon rising to playfulness once again that makes her such a real person and an independent young woman. She also knows how to use ridiculeMr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. Bingley, and takes a prodig ious deal of care of him.Lizzy is real perceptive, having quickness of observation. When Darcy and Wickham start-off meet in Meryton, she notices the countenance of both as they looked at each other. This quickness also leads her to enamor through the attentions of the Bingley sisters they were in fact rattling fine ladies not substandard in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of existence concordant when they chose it, but proud and conceitedLizzys perceptiveness at the buzz off of the book has a great bearing on the end because it sometimes leads her to judge too quickly and jump to conclusions. Her opinion of Wickham was ill founded and derived from this purposeHis countenance, voice, and manner, had established him at once in the possession of every virtue.Elizabeths opinion of Wickham was also influenced by her prejudice against Mr. Darcy. When Wickham fails to attend the ball at Netherfield, Elizabeth immediately attributes this to his being purposely omitted for Mr. Darcys pleasure in the Bingleys invitation. On hearing a different origin for his absence, and at a suggestion from DennyIt assured her that Darcy was not less answerable than if her first guessing had been undecomposed.It isnt until this ball scene that we see the full extent of Lizzys prejudice against Darcy. She declares that Attention, forbearence, patience with Darcy was injury to Wickham. In a colloquy with Charlotte Lucas, Lizzy exclaimsTo find a man agreeable whom one is determined to dislikeThis quote is very significant as it shows that no matter what Darcy did, Lizzy would be prejudiced against him. Evidently Lizzys prejudice has overcome her common sense. This is a highly uncommon characteristic for an author to bestow on her heroine, for it shows very cl wee that this is a real girl and by no gist a model young lady as most heroines are. part dancing with Darcy at Netherfield, Lizzy ventures to sayIt is particularly incumbent on those who neer ch ange their opinion, to be sure of judging properly at firstThis later proves to be ironic, as it is she, not Darcy who had jumped to conclusions therefore, proving that she had judged incorrectly at first. in one case Elizabeth has an opinion of a person, it takes a lot to change it. She only achieves this after receiving the letter from Darcy. Despite her faults, Lizzy is not afraid to admit them and own that she was do byShe grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd.As puff up as being able to admit her mistakes, Lizzy has great honesty of mind. She has great self-belief but doesnt try and delude herselfThe justice of the charge infatuated her too forcibly for denial.As well as being honest with her self, she is honest with other peopleYou know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of thatThroughout most of the book, Lizzy is prejudiced. This is where the prejudice in the title of respect stems fromwith a strong prejudice against anything he might sayAndto find a man agreeable, who one is determined to hate.It is not until she reads Darcys letter that Lizzy realises her error. She blames her prejudice on the fact that she was offended by the pretermit of the other (meaning Darcy).It is clear by the end of the book, that she has learnt her lesson and will think to begin with forming opinions most people in the futureWe have both flat coat to think my opinions not entirely unalterable.Elizabeth has a reality about her, which is strong enough to make you believe that this person could have actually lived. She is not perfect and makes the same mistakes that anyone could, but learns from them at the same time. I think it is this and that she is such a model for the feminists of today that makes her such a charmingly different romantic heroine. It is that she is so unlike the majority of romantic heroines that must be held accountable for he r appeal.It is the fact that she isnt a perfect person, she is only the second prettiest in the Bennet family, which makes her so different from many an(prenominal) of the stereotypical heroines, who are calm, passive, quiet, peaceful and vulnerable. She has survived time and, although set in the early eighteenth century, she gives you the feeling that as a person, Elizabeth Bennet would be just as at home in the year 2000. She is full of energy, witty, assured and independently minded, making her an ideal for modern femininity.we have both reason to think my opinions not entirely unalterably.that I had not been so weak and vain and nonsensical as I knew I had. This again illustrates her hypocrisy as she had teased Mr. Darcy at the start of the book for having dressing table and pride here she admitted that she herself had been vainThis quote also illustrates her devotion to a most beloved sister, Jane