The Importance of “Pride” and “Prejudice”

While reading novels, I often don’t give that much thought to the given name of the book. However, in Pride and Prejudice, I feel the novel name paves the way for the scenes of the novel to play out. The title "Pride and Prejudice" is a central theme of the book and represents the two main character flaws of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Pride refers to Darcy's excessive self-esteem and arrogance, which initially prevents him from admitting his feelings for Elizabeth. The first time he meets Elizabeth is at the ball in Meryton; there he states, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (Austen 9). He believes that his social status and wealth make him superior to others, and he looks down on those whom he considers beneath him. This arrogance of Darcy is seen throughout the novel. Another instance where he lets his pride get the best of him is when he convinces Mr. Bingley to cut off his romance with Jane due to her family’s low social status and his contempt for the family. Pride plays an essential role in the character of Mr. Darcy as well as his character’s growth.

Prejudice, on the other hand, refers to Elizabeth's initial misjudgment of Darcy and her habit of forming opinions about people based on their social status and first impressions. Her first encounter with Darcy at the ball in Meryton leaves her upset and she calls him, “the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (Austen 8). She is prejudiced against Darcy because of his arrogance, and this prevents her from seeing the good in him. This is proven when Darcy confesses his love for the first time to Elizabeth and she angrily opposes his feelings and leaves him feeling embarrassed. In this scene of the novel, both characters present their flaws in contrast with one another. Darcy’s pride causes him to continuously speak badly of Elizabeth’s family and Elizabeth’s prejudice forces her to speak ill of Mr. Darcy.  

Throughout the novel, both characters prevail despite their pride and prejudice. They grow and mature as they come to understand and appreciate each other. The title represents the novel's survey of the themes of love, personal growth, and social critique.