The lack of character development in Pride and Prejudice

        Throughout the storyline in Pride and Prejudice, the story falls short of much of any character development of the side stories being told. The only development shown is between Darcy and Elizabeth with the title hinting that they drop their pride and prejudice. Besides them, the remaining characters stay exactly how they are. I wish in the book Austen would have developed characters like Lydia and Wickham, or Jane and Mr. Bingley, etc. However I believe she does not grow the character's traits more on purpose to add humor into the book, and to make the story plot more entertaining.

        Mr. Collins is one character that I believe had no progress in his personality, for the entertainment of the storyline. Throughout the book, as a reader, I would cringe and laugh reading and imagining how socially unaware Mr. Collins was. Specifically in the text where Elizabeth says, ""He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him out.---There is something very pompous in his style,---And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the entail?---We cannot suppose he would help it if he could.---Could he be a sensible man, sir?"" (Austen 45).  

        Lydia is also another character that had no self development throughout the story. It was quite frustrating to read because she runs off with Mr. Wickham without thinking of any consequences. This is shown by the letter Lydia had written to Harriet, "You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning" also stating, "You need not send them word at Longbourn of my going, if you do not like it, for it will make the surprise the greater, when I write to them and sign my name 'Lydia Wickham.'" (156).

         Although her carelessness is frustrating, Austen used Lydia's childishness to bring Darcy and Elizabeth back together. Her lack of maturing as a character helped Darcy show Elizabeth how good of a person he actually was and she dropped her prejudice towards him. Many characters in the storyline are similar to stories of Lydia, although they haven't learned their lesson of their actions, (ex: If Jane wasn't so shy or Bingley so easily persuaded they could have been together a lot sooner in the book.) Austen uses these characters as tools to bring Elizabeth and Darcy closer and in the end, together.