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In Jane Student’s Pride and Prejudice, the theme of appearance versus reality Is recurrent. Austin seeks to prove that often one’s appearance hides one’s true character. This thematic concept Is clearly evident In the case of Mr.. Dairy and Mr.. Hickman and how they appear to Elizabeth Bennett. From her first impressions of both Mr.. Dairy and Mr.. Hickman, Elizabeth comes to misguided conclusions about their true character. Elizabeth spends most of the novel reevaluating her stance regarding both of these characters. She later comes to realize that her respective judgments of Mr.. Dairy and Mr..
Hickman are profoundly inaccurate and incorrect. In Jane Student’s Pride and Prejudice, Austin demonstrates that reality of an individual’s true character can often be hidden by appearances. Elizabethan first Impressions of Mr.. Dairy are based on an appearance of his character rather that a realistic assessment of his decorum, background, and history. The very first time Elizabeth meets Mr.. Dairy she becomes prejudiced toward him. Elizabeth Is Introduced to Dairy at the Emerson Assembly and although the general impression Is that he Is quite handsome, her pollen suddenly changes to an unfavorable disposition towards him.
She perceives his behavior as cold and uninterested in her friends and family. Along with the rest of the people in Worcestershire, she decides that he is ” the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (41). His air of superiority does not impress Elizabeth and she observes that he does not converse with anyone who is outside his party. She grows particularity hostile towards Dairy when she overhears him say,” She [Elizabeth] is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (42). Elizabeth comes Into contact yet again with Mr.. Dairy when Jane Bennett becomes ill while visiting Mr..
Bentley and Elizabeth goes to stay with her at Interfiled. Elizabethan dislike of Dairy’s stoic and unfriendly manner Increases; while spending time with the Bentley party. Elizabeth believes every single move of Dairy to have Ill Intentions. She notices Dairy frequently gazing at her and concludes “she drew his notice because there was something about her more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right” (86). Elizabeth is blinded of Darers true character, which is hidden by his appearance. She is unable o sense Dairy’s real feelings because his introverted demeanor does not allow him to express them.
Elizabethan blindness is blatantly obvious when Dairy asks Elizabeth to dance and she denies by saying: “You wanted me, I know, to say yes,’ that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing the kind of scheme, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you, that I do not want to dance a reel at all- now despise me If you dare (86). At this point In the novel, any contact Dairy attempts to make with Elizabeth Is brutally buffed because of her strong prejudice towards him. Mr..
Hickman differs from Mr.. Dairy in many ways. When Elizabeth first takes notice of Nickname at her Aunt Phillips’ house, she believes him to be “far beyond” the other officers in the militia ” in person, countenance, air, and walk” (115). Hickman is outgoing, lively, and eager to fall into conversation. Hacksaw’s outgoing and polite mannerisms are quite the opposite of Dairy’s, and Elizabeth takes an immediate interest to him. Compared to Dairy, Hickman appears to Elizabeth as one of England’s finest gentlemen. A further example of how Elizabeth is blind to reality is her firm belief in Mr..
Hacksaw’s claims against Mr.. Dairy. Hacksaw’s appearance as stately gentleman and Elizabethan prejudice towards Dairy cause her to believe Mr.. Nickname’s slander against Dairy even though she knows nothing of Dairy’s past. She regards Mr.. Dairy as a proud, pompous brute, so she is willing and eager to find fault n him. Hickman provides this fault and Justifies her already hostile feeling towards Dairy. This aggressively hostile behavior of Elizabeth toward Dairy is intensified at the Interfiled Ball. Elizabeth feels anger towards Dairy because she believes him to be the cause of Hacksaw’s absence.
Elizabethan predisposition to favor Hickman is noted by Mrs.. Gardener who warns Elizabeth that she has heard rumors of Hacksaw’s greedy character and to be careful of placing too much trust in him. At this point in the novel Elizabeth regards Hickman as a friendly and resourceful man who confirms her bitter feelings towards Dairy. Dairy’s proposal to Elizabeth is perhaps the grandest example of how Elizabeth is blinded by appearances. When Dairy proclaims his love for Elizabeth, he opens up is heart the only way he knows how, only to see Elizabeth take offense to his offers and turns him down.
Elizabeth is unaware of Dairy’s history and doesn’t understand his particular social status. She thinks his reasons for debating over marrying her are inconsequential. She also does not understand what sort of shame he is risking in seeking her as his wife and takes offense to Dairy’s words about her family. Elizabeth IS unaware of the outside forces, such as Lady Catherine De Burgh and Miss Bentley, acting upon Dairy. His statement “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings Nail not be repressed” (236) appears rude to Elizabeth, when in actuality it is admirable and valiant.
Elizabeth sees the proposal as an insult when in actuality it is Dairy sacrificing his pride and proclaiming his utmost devotion to her. Ere turning point in the novel in which reality begins to override appearance occurs “hen Elizabeth reads Dairy’s letter. In this letter Dairy tells his side of the story regarding his relationship with Hickman and provides verifiable information to substantiate his character. Not only does he prove that he did not act maliciously awards Mr.. Hickman, but he also explains that he never had any intent to hurt Elizabethan sister Jane.
He explained that he was not confident that Jane truly loved Mr.. Bentley and was only looking out for a good friend. After reading and rereading this letter, Elizabeth reevaluates her previous feelings of both Dairy and Hickman and her opinion of both men gradually changes. With the crucial knowledge she gained from the letter, she pieces the puzzle together. Elizabeth now begins to Nee she meets him at Pembroke. Hickman is proven to be fraudulent and Elizabeth sees now that his intentions were dishonorable and his actions not proper when telling her lies about Mr..
Dairy. She sees now that Hickman is a greedy and ungrateful man who has repeatedly taken advantage of Dairy financially. His deceitful character is only confirmed by his scandalous affair with Lydia Bennett. Ay the end of the novel, the true character of these gentlemen is evident to all. Elizabeth Bennett regrets ever having admired Hickman, and embraces Dairy as her true love. It is clear to Elizabeth that Hacksaw’s smooth manners and outward style unseals a shallow, superficial, and greedy soul, while Dairy’s awkward behavior hides a generous, caring heart.
Elizabeth learns many lessons from her interaction Ninth these two men. She learns the possible dangers of Jumping to a conclusion based on an individual’s character and looks that may be deceiving. Through Elizabethan realizations, Jane Austin offers a universal theme that can be related to any society in that premature Judgments are more often than not a misconception of someone’s true personality. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin effectively exhibits that reality can often be hidden by appearance.