Kevin McAdam
AP English 11/ Mr. George
12/7/09
Pride and Prejudice Essay

First Impressions
When meeting someone new for the first time, your first impression of them can often make or break the potential relationship between the two parties. In Pride and Prejudice, the theme of overcoming first impressions is the foundation for how the plot of the story unfolds. Many of these first impressions throughout the novel are proven false. These inaccurate assumptions set the stage for the use of pride and prejudice amongst the characters. The influence of first impressions during the story is exemplified in Lizzy’s initial feelings towards Darcy, Darcy’s keen observations regarding the relationship between Jane and Bingley, and the contrast in character of Darcy and Wickham in relation to how they were originally perceived by society.

Before any facts are to be given as to why the novel should be titled First Impressions, what is learned from a first impression must be established. First impressions always take place upon interaction with a new acquaintance, but what is learned from those meetings is rarely insightful material into a person’s true being. The manner in which one presents themselves is vital in a first impression. Coming off as arrogant or impolite can hinder one’s appearance towards others even if they are incorrectly judged. First impressions are determined based on what is seen on the surface of a person, but prevents any sort of deep interaction. So much stress is placed upon first impressions is because you only get one, and it can determine someone’s positive or negative feelings towards you. For one, you can never tell someone’s finest traits unless blatantly obvious, such as good looks. Equally, one’s flaws are seldom instituted because that person is trying to hide anything that would dissuade people from liking them. Regardless of whether or not a first impression reveals a person’s true character, there is certainly an importance put on a first impression that carries on throughout one’s relationship with that person. Once that opinion is made about an individual, it becomes extremely difficult to change because the other person has made up their mind about the matter and unwilling to change their beliefs.
Lizzy’s first impression of Darcy set up the justification for her prejudice towards him that continued throughout the novel until her opinion eventually changed. The seemingly unbearable arrogance with which Mr. Darcy carried himself planted the seed of hatred in Lizzy’s mind that would remain there against all evidence that would later refute it. In the early stages of the story, Elizabeth’s assumptions seemed to be correct. However, Lizzy was only correct because she had only her first impression of Mr. Darcy to rely on. Mr. Darcy’s comments about Lizzy at their first meeting strongly supported her original judgment about him which gave her even more confidence that she was right about her opinion. However, as we see later in the story, Darcy’s true character is demonstrated to Elizabeth, but her first impression of Darcy still lingered with her, giving her the sense that he was not as good as he seemed. Even though Mr. Darcy profoundly professed his love for Elizabeth, “there seemed a gulf impassable between them” (236), because of Lizzy’s negative outlook on Mr. Darcy. However, Lizzy’s wisdom eventually helped her to overcome her first impression of Darcy and realize that she was wrong to act the way she did towards him: “but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself; and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion” (163). Mr. Darcy’s persistence had paid off as Lizzy finally recognized his many amiable qualities. Although Elizabeth is perceived in Pride and Prejudice as a very composed and clear-thinking character, even she is susceptible to the enticing powers contained in first impressions. It just goes to show how the fallacies exhibited in first impressions throughout the story continually lead to erroneous suppositions about the quality of certain characters. However, there were instances as well in which accurate first impressions were used in beneficial ways.

It is not surprising that the only accurate first impression in Pride and Prejudice was made by the only truly level-headed person in the novel, Mr. Darcy. When Mr. Darcy broke up the relationship between Bingley and Jane, he did it based on factual reasons that he could support. Darcy saw that Jane showed no unique affection to Bingley compared to how she treats others, and Mr. Darcy, looking out for his friends best interests, felt obligated to disrupt the relationship. He could not allow the two to be married if there was not intense passion equally present between them. Following the separation, Darcy of course was, yet again, labeled by Elizabeth as a terrible person for his actions even though she did not know the reasoning behind his methods. Lizzy’s assumption in this case is another false first impression of Mr. Darcy that he is a heartless fiend when, in actuality, he did what he did in the pursuit of true love for his good friend. Only until after she learns of Mr. Darcy’s good deeds does she realize the error of her ways and how foolish she was in her first impression of him: “‘I, who have prided myself on my discernment!- I, who have valued myself on my abilities!... I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven away reason, where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself’” (159). Mr. Darcy’s is the only person in the novel who has enough wisdom and fairness to be trusted when it comes to making judgments about people.

The issue of first impressions in Pride and Prejudice is no more apparent than in the contrasting first impressions of Darcy and Wickham. There was such a unanimous belief in the Bennet household that Mr. Darcy was a dreadful person while Mr. Wickham was exceptional in every way. Both of these judgments were made solely based on the first impressions of the two men. Darcy’s, as previously stated, did not present himself as a noble man and was not respected because of his attitude. Wickham, on the other hand, was adored by the Bennets for his charm and good looks. Also, especially in Elizabeth’s case, Wickham was also valued because he was enemies with Mr. Darcy, whom she had a great distaste for. However, as the story played out, Darcy’s stock rose and Wickham’s stock fell in Lizzy’s eyes. Wickham fell out of Lizzy’s good graces because of the revelations discovered about his character. Wickham’s constant method of racking up a large debt and then leaving town proved to Lizzy that she had made another bad judgment in trusting him. When she thought about it, Lizzy could not think of one good act by Wickham. She did not notice this before because she had been so blinded by his charm which came from her first impression of him: “She tried to recollect some instances of goodness, some distinguished trait of integrity or benevolence, that might rescue him from the attacks of Mr. Darcy… but no such recollection befriended her” (157-158). It is obvious that Mr. Darcy is a more honorable man than Mr. Wickham, but it was the first impression each man on Lizzy that influenced whom she believed throughout the story.

It is obvious that although first impressions do not tell much about a person, they play a major role in Pride and Prejudice. It has been shown in this novel that anyone can make a good first impression just as anyone can be fooled by a good first impression. The title of Pride and Prejudice should have been changed to First Impressions because it is the basis of the story and none of the events would have occurred had there not been so many inaccurate first impressions.
















Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.