In Pride and Prejudice, does Darcy or Elizabeth transform more?

Question

I have an essay on Pride and Prejudice that I have to do for school, and I can't decide if Darcy or Elizabeth transforms more throughout the book. I mean, they both overcome their pride and prejudice in order to find true love....so, if you had to chose one character from Pride and Prejudice, who do you think transforms more throught the novel, and why?

Answer 1

Elisabeth changes only some of her wievs and opinions - for example about Darcy, however inside she is still the same... She IS very proud, however remains a woman of those days - concider the end of the book: why she agrees to marry Darcy? Of course, she gradually gets into him, but it is all, as she declares, after seeing his estate, house - realising how much she lost by rejecting him. She appreciated him because of his wealth - that was not the only reason, I'm sure, but that really HELPED her to reconcider her pride... in front of such a Pemberley;) As we know - getting married was the most important point for a woman. Seeing that she, poor girl, lost such a chance, she must have been thinking as a woman from that period: this chance wouldn't appear once again...
In this situation, Darcy has to change... He is a very kind man inside and probably he is proud just because he has to. He is in love and love changes him. He is more humiliated than her at times... He must overcom everything what he enumerates during his first proposal... And he is ready to do that - just... the power of love... :))) So the chance exists, but in my opinion - they both have always been like that inside, but the outside world, rules, obligations and prohibitions covered that...

Answer 2

Definitely Darcy. Elizabeth's opinion changes when she learns the truth but her character isn't transformed. When she is informed about Wickam's true nature at first and then of what Darcy did she sees the truth and her feelings change, not her character.She has the same values and flaws though in the end her prejudice is somewhat tempered.

As for Darcy, well his character undergoes a very deep alteration. At first he values station, family pride and social status above anything else in a person he meets and his arrogance extends to the point of dismissing the notion that Elizabeth wouldn't want to marry him. When she rejects him Darcy has to reevaluate everything he has ever considered in order to interpret why she rejected him and why she would think so low of him. He starts seeing her point and tries to change his ways so that he can be a better man according to her way of thinking.


So yeah I'd have to say Darcy transforms more as far as character goes in P&P. Elizabeth just realizes the truth and sees people for what they truly are.

Answer 3

I believe that Darcy transforms the most during the novel. Elizabeth must overcome her dislike of Darcy which is founded on the fact that he was less than pleasant to her at their first meeting and the lies told to her by Wickham. Darcy on the other hand, must overcome the "breeding" that comes with his station in life. He is the son of a wealthy gentleman and much higher up in the social pecking order than Lizzie is. Yet his love for Elizabeth helps him to face the ridicule of some of his peers (like Miss Bingley), the anger of his aunt (Lady Catherine DeBourgh), not to mention the humility of searching out and helping the undeserving Wickham and Lydia. In essence, in falling in love with Darcy, Lizzie is simply giving up her ill-formed impressions and prejudices against one person. Darcy must change his entire mind-set concerning society and people, he must be willing to give up friends and family, in order to find true love.

Answer 4

I think Elizabeth does. She changes most when she finds out about how wonderful Darcy actually is. He actually didn't change that much; he had good reasons for acting the way he did and he consistently demonstrated what a good person he is by helping others. He was a bit of a jerk when he kept his buddy away from Jane, but he apologized. His intentions were good and realized the error of his ways on his own. Elizabeth, on the other hand, had a complete change of heart about Darcy after she learned more about him.

Sorry, not very well articulated. I hope you get what I mean.

Answer 5

1) Mrs Bennett, Lydia and Kitty being pretty vulgar and putting off Darcy. 2) The Bennett's socio-economic status 3) Lizzie's believing Wickham's version of his relationship with Darcy. 4) Lizzie held a pretty big grudge against Darcy. 5) Darcy's original proposal was full of pride and insulted Lizzie Basically, all the obstacles are covered by the title and / or the original title of First Impressions.

Answer 6

Lizzie does, because she overcomes her prejudices and pre-conceived ideas to see Darcy for the man he truly is. He may be proud, but as she says to her father he has no "improper pride".

In many ways Darcy doesn't change at all; its all in Lizzie's opinion of him.

Answer 7

I would have to say that Darcy is transformed more. Although Elizabeth changes her views of Darcy it is due to his conversion from a haughty man of privilege to a man who is able to follow his heart not out of relieving his own torment but to truly love Elizabeth as she is and treasure her for who she is.

Answer 8

I think Elizabeth transforms more. Darcy asks her to marry him even though she is "below" him. She refuses. Then he writes her that letter and for the first time she sees the real Darcy.

Answer 9

Good answer, Tricky-Jo. I agree with you completely. Darcy definately undergoes a more profound change than Lizzie. In fact, if Lizzie had changed more, Darcy would not have. It is in part her consistency that catalyses his change.

Answer 10

elizabeth because all hher opinions on rich ppl and mr. darcy change. mr. darcy didn't really change-it's just her view of him that do.