Austen's pride and prejudice
...nse of the term. It is most evident in her judgment of Darcy, so sure is she of her powers of observation that she refuses to reevaluate Darcy even when the weight of evidence begins to turn in favor of him. Elizabeth’s prejudices stem from her first impressions of the men of the novel. She was initially repulsed by Darcy’s arrogant and reserved manners and his insulting refusal to dance with her. Consequently, her prejudice is so strong against Darcy that she fails to note that her own pride is blinding her to a basic incongruity. At the time of Darcy’s first proposal, Elizabeth angrily infers it was in fact Darcy’s judgment of her sister that separated her from Bingly. “… you cannot deny that you have been the principal means of dividing them from each other… No motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there (p 187).” In response, Darcy tells Elizabeth that she would not be so adamant “had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession (p 188).” This ironic reversal of having Darcy accusing Elizabeth of pride and Elizabeth accusing him of prejudice, emphasizes that both of them have been guilty of both pride and prejudice. Irony may have an objective or a subjective foundation, or both. Appearances may lie, may suggest the opposite of what actually is. Thus, Wickham's appearance was greatly in his favor and Darcy's proud bearing seems to imply a thoroughly bad character. But appearances are misleading. "One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it (p 217 ).” Things are the opposite of what she supposes; not only does she misread their characters, but Darcy admires rather than dislikes her. The irony here is compounded because Elizabeth prides herself on her intelligence and perception. When ignorance thus pretends to knowledge, it is evidence of a moral failure. Misled by appearances to believe that Darcy dislikes her, prevented by her prejudice against him from seeing the truth, Elizabeth tries verbally to rebuke him; but in doing so she actually makes herself more attractive to him. Her prejudice prevents her seeing Darcy's growing interest in her, at Netherfield and at Rosings, so that she is totally unprepared for his proposal. “E...