P&P: #1-5

            Just about everyone in Pride and Prejudice is proud, but almost to a fault. First and foremost is Elizabeth. Elizabeth is too proud to dance with Mr. Darcy because of his haughty disposition and Mr. Darcy is too proud to dance with, or even have a conversation with anyone who is not rich or well bred. Therefore, both of their excessive prides cause a clash in personalities. It seems as though Elizabeth has a problem with everyone she encounters; her pride causes her to dislike Bingley’s sisters and Mr. Collins. Mrs. Bennet is proud and believes her family is more propitious than the Lucas family and is visibly upset when Charlotte accepts Mr. Collins’s marriage proposal. At the moment, Mr. Bennet is the only character that does not express excessive pride; he is indifferent to all of the pretentious courting that is going on around him. The excess of pride in the characters leads to the prejudices that are demonstrated. To be accepted in this society, one must be wealthy, come from a good family, and be good looking. Once Mr. Bingley finds a more economically suitable match to marry, his sisters express their disdain towards Jane for not being of sufficient social class to marry their brother. Prejudice runs through their society with celerity, just as jealously makes them all want what they cannot have.

            Pride is evident in Mr. Collins proposal to Elizabeth. He is insincere and shallow and Elizabeth does not take it for one second. He begins by listing all of the reasons why she should marry him. Mr. Collins states, “I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness” (92). A marriage proposal is supposed to be enticing and appealing, but Mr. Collins’s is anything but tempting. He clearly values his own happiness over his future wife’s happiness and makes no mention of how this is favorable for Elizabeth. Marriage is a two-way street, but Mr. Collins is only focused on what he will gain from the arrangement. Mr. Collins ends his proposal in a manner that assumes Elizabeth has already agreed to marry him, which demonstrates his excessive pride. Of course Elizabeth rejects his proposal, as she is too proud to lower her standards. Once again excessive prides cause a clash.