Is Elizabeth Materialistic or Is She Just Human?- Ja'el Thomas

Ja’el Thomas
March 20, 2020
Professor Sinowitz
Romantic Comedy

Is Elizabeth Materialistic or Is She Just Human? 

In the society in which Pride and Prejudice takes place, wealth is a prevalent theme being that it influences many character’s actions in the novel; it’s the way of their world. However, does this mean that this is also the way of Elizabeth’s world? At the end of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet marries Mr. Darcy, supposedly the biggest catch since he is the wealthiest eligible bachelor in their society. Professor Sinowitz and a few students have said something to the effect that Elizabeth is a gold-digger because she fell for Mr. Darcy after viewing his estate, Pemberley. While Elizabeth recognizes Mr. Darcy has wealth, it does not make her materialistic for marrying him. The realization of finding out who Mr. Darcy really is, gives rise to love and the novel argues that love is what causes happiness, not money. If Elizabeth did fall in love with Mr. Darcy at the Pemberley estate, it was not due to the mere fact that it is beautiful and the wealth it represents, rather it is where she got to see the real side of Mr. Darcy, compassionate and humble. Elizabeth’s realization of his true character is important because it promotes the book’s argument to readers that it is necessary to see people for who they really are rather than what they can give.

        Elizabeth is the only woman who does not fawn over Mr. Darcy because of his power and prestige. Elizabeth, the most strong-willed character in the novel, cannot stand Mr. Darcy. She hates his arrogance and his belief of his superiority. Due to over-hearing Mr. Darcy’s harsh words regarding her appearance, Elizabeth wants nothing to do with him, knowing well his social status. This is illustrated in the conversation Elizabeth has with Miss Lucas as Charlotte says, “One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favor, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud.” said, Miss Lucas. To which Elizabeth replies, “That is very true, and I could easily forgive his pride if he had not mortified mine” (Austen, 15). Elizabeth is saying she cannot forgive Mr. Darcy’s pride because he hurt hers. Naturally, she did not appreciate his behavior toward her, so she later rejects Mr. Darcy’s offer to dance: “Mr. Darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honor of her hand; but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion” (Austen 19). This rejection of Mr. Darcy is important to note because it showed that no matter how much money he has, Elizabeth will not accept a person of bad character.  She had enough pride to not accept a pity dance even if it was from Mr. Darcy. This is what begins to spark Mr. Darcy’s interest. He is the one with the initial prejudice and Elizabeth does not accept this.

       Elizabeth does not give Mr. Darcy any special treatment. Earlier in the novel, during Jane and Elizabeth’s stay at the Bingley’s, everyone is dancing and conversing when Mr. Darcy tries to initiate a conversation with Elizabeth, as he says, “Do you not feel a great inclination Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of a dancing reel?” She only smiles, not responding. He, surprised by this, asks her again and she replies, “Oh! I heard you before...You wanted me, I know, to say ‘Yes’, that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kinds of schemes and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt.” (Austen 37,38). Once again, Elizabeth proves that she will remain unfazed by Mr. Darcy’s presence. This rejection of Mr. Darcy is important to note again because in this quote, Elizabeth is telling Mr. Darcy to his face that she does not appreciate his character. A man with haughtiness like Mr. Darcy will not be able to get her affections.

        Elizabeth’s initial opposition toward Mr. Darcy is demonstrated decisively when she rejects his proposal of marriage which proves that she does not want to marry Mr. Darcy for his money because what she focuses on is character. This intolerable side of his character is noted by the author of the novel as Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth with a haughty attitude, “as he had no doubt of a favorable answer" since someone of her social status should be grateful that someone of his social standing should want to marry her. (Austen, 132). He, too, believed in that instance, that his wealth would persuade her to marry him. However, he was wrong! Elizabeth cares about character and love rather than social gain. Expressing this sentiment, Elizabeth forcefully inquires “Why with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason and even your character?” (Austen 132). By telling Mr. Darcy how he insulted her intelligence, Elizabeth firmly shows him that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated. Elizabeth is not swayed by the object of a proposal. In their society, it was rather unheard of to decline a proposal because it presented a good social standing, a home, money and most girls, like Charlotte Lucas, quickly took the offer. Elizabeth also, earlier in the story, rejects a proposal from Mr. Collins. She did not care about Mr. Collins’ social withstanding or attachment to Lady Catherine because if money was what she was after, she would have accepted Mr. Collins’ offer then. I believe that after being rejected, Mr. Darcy also comes to realize how important good character is to Elizabeth.

        In order for Elizabeth to later want to marry Mr. Darcy, he had to turn things around, so he gave her the letter. In this letter, Mr. Darcy explains everything to which Elizabeth had the misconception of understanding. It isn’t until after Elizabeth reads and re-reads this letter that her opinions of Mr. Darcy begins to change: “How differently did everything now appear where he was concerned!...She grew absolutely ashamed of herself” (Austen 143, 144). This quote indicates that there is no longer such strong animosity in Elizabeth’s heart, marking the beginning of her feelings toward Mr. Darcy because she now feels ashamed and everything was now different concerning him. However, even after this, she still doesn’t love him just yet, it is when she gets to witness his true character, “good-natured, sweetest-tempered, and most generous-hearted”(Austen, 169) and view him in the eyes of people who really know him. Getting to know his character is what Elizabeth falls for.

       Professor Sinowitz says that Elizabeth chooses to accept him as a possible love interest at Pemberley, and I’ll admit the following quote is rather incriminating. Toward the middle of the book, Elizabeth goes with her Uncle and Aunt to visit Pemberley and as the estate comes into view, Austen describes that Elizabeth’s, “spirits were in a high flutter. She saw and admired every remarkable spot and point of view... It was a large, handsome, stone building...and backed by a ridge of high woody hills...She had never seen a place for which nature had done more...at that moment she felt, to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!” (Austen 166) Elizabeth’s thoughts of the favorable prospects of Pemberley could be perceived as very materialistic because the quote, in not so many words, stated that marrying Mr. Darcy and having part ownership of the estate would be pleasurable. However, her admiration for Pemberley should not put her in a negative light because it is not wrong to be able to admire the wealth. Just because she admired it, does not mean it is what made Elizabeth eventually want to marry Mr. Darcy. This quote could also mean that Elizabeth is thinking, “Wow, I can see how it would be nice to live at this place.” This one thought of appraisal does not further discredit her. This is an economy where money matters, sure, but Elizabeth, though not blind, hath not used it in considering marriage. It is when Elizabeth enters Pemberley and meets the housemaid, that she becomes more intrigued about Mr. Darcy, “...He was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world.” To which Elizabeth thought, “Can this be Mr. Darcy!” (Austen 169) So if a reader wants to claim that it was Pemberley that made Elizabeth change her mind, it was what was inside Pemberley that made her change her mind.

        It is also not just what other people say about Mr. Darcy that influences Elizabeth’s decision but also Mr. Darcy himself. He treats her with a lot more respect after finding her in his house. He even asks her to come back and introduces Elizabeth to his sister. (Austen, 174). Mr. Darcy’s wishing to introduce them is important because it is said that to introduce them “was a compliment of the highest kind.” (Austen, 174). As Mr. Darcy reveals his sister, who is closest to him, he reveals more of himself, making the ice that was once around Elizabeth's heart chip away. Mr. Darcy also helps Elizabeth with Lydia’s situation without telling Elizabeth. At the end of the novel, Mr. Darcy explains to Elizabeth that after she told him off and rejected his proposal, he greatly pondered what she said and realized that he needed this reality check, as he says to her, “What did you say of me that I did not deserve?” (Austen, 251) This admittance shows a great humility of Mr. Darcy, and a side of his character that Elizabeth had not previously seen. I believe that this is where the last chips of ice around Elizabeth’s heart fall, making her free to love him. It is because of her love for Mr. Darcy that Elizabeth wants to marry him, and she tells her father as much.

        When Mr. Bennet says, “He is rich to be sure and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy?” The fact that Mr. Bennet notes the possible riches and still asks if it will make Elizabeth happy despite their money-hungry society is key because even Mr. Bennet is acknowledging that money is not everything, and I believe this is where Elizabeth gets it from. He goes on to say, “We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him.” To which Elizabeth responds with tears in her eyes, “I do, I do like him. I love him. Indeed, he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not know what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms.” (Austen 257, 258). Elizabeth’s response is a complete 180 from how she used to perceive Mr. Darcy. Her heart has warmed toward him and she began to see him as a man of good character and heart. It was a culmination of witnessing all of Mr. Darcy that finally allowed him to receive her affection.

       It is important to note that Elizabeth marries Mr. Darcy for love and character rather money because it speaks to one of the greater themes in the book: overcoming pride and prejudice to see people for who they really are. This theme is important even in today’s society because even though we no longer marry to have a home and financial standing, marrying for wealth still has its perks, and the novel wants to communicate that there is more to these marriages than meets the eye. Those who married for material things like looks or money ended up unhappy: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in which Mr. Bennet married Mrs. Bennet for her looks and now they almost never get along, Lydia and Mr. Wickham both married each other for money and now as the money has faded due to their excessive spending, so has their fondness of each other, and then there is Charlotte and Mr. Collins who got married because the wealthy from society said they should and now Charlotte seeks any company but her husband’s. The only couples that end happily are Jane and Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, and this is because they got married for the right reason, love. Pride and Prejudice argues that there is more to life than money because money does not necessarily make you happy, love does.