The
Appereance of Elizabeth Bennet
This novel is written in the late eighteenth century, appearance
takes an important
part. Women at that time were supposed to act and to
dress like a
lady. Their clothing could their social position. Those who
had good appearance
always have preference to marry good husbands. For
example, Charlotte
Lucas and Mary Bennet are described as never handsome.
So, Charlotte agrees the proposal of Mr. Collins immediately, as it is
a
rare chance.
Mary is the only plain one in the family, so she is always
impatient for
display. However, Jane and Elizabeth are pretty enough to
attract Mr.
Bingley and Mr. Darcy, the handsome young men with large fortune.
There is little description about Elizabeth Bennet. We only know that
she is the second
prettiest girl of the Bennet family. Here are some
examples of
her description. On p.4, Mrs. Bennet said, "…Lizzy is not a
bit better than
the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as
Jane, nor half
so good-humoured as Lydia…". On p. 9, it is the first
time Darcy meet
Elizabeth and he said, "She is tolerable; but not
handsome enough
to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give
consequence
to young ladies who are slighted by other men…" This is his
first impression
of Elizabeth just based on her appearance. However, he
has changed
his opinion, on p.16, "…she had hardly a good feature in her
face, than he
began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the
beautiful expression
of her dark eyes,…… he was forced to acknowledge
her figure to
be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that
her manners
were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by
their easy playfulness."
And on p.19, he told Miss Bingley about his
feelings of
Elizabeth, "…I have been meditating on the very great
pleasure which
a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can
bestow." We
can know that Elizabeth has beautiful dark eyes. Her manners
are not so fashionable.
When she knows her sister Jane is sick, she just
walk to Netherfield.
On p. 23, "… Elizabeth continued her walk alone,
crossing field
after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and
springing over
puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at
last within
view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a
face glowing
with the warmth of exercise." When she arrives, everybody is
surprised by
her appearance. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst pronounce her as
manners, on
p. 24, " Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of
pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no
taste, no beauty."
However, in the eyes of Mr. Bingley, she "looked
remarkably well".
Mr. Darcy thinks her fine eyes "were brightened by the
exercise." Moreover,
Mr. Collins is also attracted by her appearance.
When he proposes
to her, he said, "…and your wit and vivacity I think
must be acceptable
to her…"
Sometimes, Elizabeth may have different appearance towards different
people (two-faced).
When Elizabeth is in Netherfield, she acts herself
different. When
she found the whole party is playing cards, she said she
would amuse
herself by reading books. But after a moment, she is caught
by their dialogues
and lay the book aside.
She is not so
interest at reading books. Although she knows the Bingley
sisters talking
something bad about her, she pretend not hears. She never
shows out though
she doesn't like them.
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