Pride And Prejudice- First Impressions
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, characterisation, narratorial 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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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"Pride And Prejudice- First Impressions." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 1 Aug. 2007. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pride-And-Prejudice-First-Impressions/68949>
"Pride And Prejudice- First Impressions." Essayworld.com. August 1, 2007. Accessed April 28, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pride-And-Prejudice-First-Impressions/68949.
"Pride And Prejudice- First Impressions." Essayworld.com. August 1, 2007. Accessed April 28, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Pride-And-Prejudice-First-Impressions/68949.
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