Justification of the title of Pride and Prejudice. Or, Significance of the title of Pride and Prejudice.

 Q.01. Justification of the title of Pride and Prejudice.

Or, Significance of the title of Pride and Prejudice.

Ans: The everlasting charm and popularity of Jane Austen’s Pride and prejudice made the novelist immortal in the field of English Novel.  The title of Pride and Prejudice is unique. It is not the original title of the novel. The original title of the novel is First Impressions. It was later revised to Pride and Prejudice in 1813. The novel has its theme in the very popular opening sentence of the novel-

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

The two central characters of the novel Elizabeth Bennet and Mrs. Darcy are victims of Pride and Prejudice.

Elizabeth’s prejudice comes from her pride when she is offended by Darcy’s refusal to dance with her. This leads her to take a prejudiced opinion about him. As a result her prejudice clouds her clear judgment and foresight. She believes that Darcy is Proud and she rejects his proposal of marriage. In the proposal scene, there is an ironical reversal. Both suffers from pride and prejudice which clearly undermine their self respect and intelligence.

      Elizabeth is not only character who is prejudiced against Darcy. The society too takes a similar opinion about him. 

“His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped he would never come there again.”

The process of self-discovery and education of Elizabeth and Darcy start at Rosings. There Darcy is embarrassed by the vulgarity of his aunt Lady Catherine. He starts to believe that refinement of manners is not a class monopoly. Still his prejudice is clear when he confesses his love to Elizabeth. He tells about their difference in social status which shows his pride.

Due to her strong personality and intelligence, Elizabeth is the only one who was able to break through Darcy’s pride and brings him back to reality. His lesson becomes complete when he was totally humiliated by Elizabeth’s rejection of his proposal. He realizes that his vain pride is the biggest obstacle in his love for her. Similarly Elizabeth’s moment of self awakening comes on receiving Darcy’s letter. She realizes her own blindness and prejudice in judging Darcy at first impressions. Elizabeth recognizes that “Darcy was exactly the man who in disposition and talent would most suit her.”

However the novel is not about Elizabeth and Darcy alone. The meeting of Elizabeth and Wickham is important. The first impression that Wickham produces in the mind of Elizabeth is crucial. Wickham's wickedness is not caught by Elizabeth in the beginning. Wickham also produces wrong first impression in the mind of Lydia and she ends up marrying him. At the end of the novel we get the hint that Lydia is not doing well financially. Lady Catherine at first tries to be civil with Elizabeth but after hearing about the news of Elizabeth's possible marriage with Darcy she can no longer control herself and sheds the skin of civility. The first impression that we get of Darcy's sister is that of a proud, haughty girl. But she turns out to be an innocent, shy girl. Even the first impression that Darcy had of Jane and Bingley turns out to be wrong. He acknowledges later that Jane's affection for Bingley is genuine.

Thus the title Pride and Prejudice seems to fit the story when we consider that the two main protagonists of the novel are Elizabeth and Darcy. The title correctly points out to the main theme of the novel. It goes beyond mere statement of first impressions. The novel explores in depth the abstract qualities of pride and prejudice.