The Peripeteia– pride and prejudice

The Peripeteia

In this novel the beginning of the change happens very quickly, however the following events and the transformation of the main character takes a little bit longer. The change comes when Elizabeth Bennet receives a letter from Mr Darcy where he explains why he acted the way he did in a situation, but also he tells the truth about Mr Wickham. The reason for his this action is because Miss Bennet accuses him for being unfair and cruel, something he feels he need to explain why to her. Until this letter, Elizabeth has thought of Mr Darcy as a disagreeable person, whom she dislike, however this letter changes a lot, both when it comes to her feelings towards him, but also his behaviour towards others and her behaviour towards him. Although everything doesn’t change entirely at once, but at least it is a start.     

The change continues when she meets him again at his house (Pemberley). He shows her that he has transformed to a better man and that he has taken in on what she accused him of to be. Until this visit she only stopped to dislike him, but now another feeling starts to take place in her. Her feelings towards him start to be more of the loving kind.

When the change take place, Elizabeth also knows that she has done him wrong and she is ashamed of herself and some of her actions. So when she realises this, she starts to change her behaviour towards Mr Darcy. 

All this happens very slowly and even if you (the reader) understand what is happening, Elizabeth has a hard time finding out what her true feelings are until she think it is too late for them to ever get married. “She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man, who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes”. This is when Elizabeth really understands that she loves him and that she could have been utterly happy with him as a husband.   

The ending

I can’t deny that I’m a sucker for happy endings and therefor I like the ending of this novel very much. I think the world is dull enough anyway for books to have sad and cruel endings. I also think the end is appropriate because of the fact that she does not start to love him until he changes and she gets to see his real self. Off course the marriage of Jane and Mr Bingley is very pleasing as well and their happy ending is as happy as Mr Darcy and Elizabeth. In addition to this it is great that Jane and Elizabeth have the chance to live so close to each other.

On the other hand, not everyone have their own fairy tale ending in this story, which is both a little sad but also more realistic. So even if I said that I love happy endings, I also like when it is a bit realistic, due to the fact that in the real world not every one can be as happy as they want to. I know I contradict myself, however I believe that endings of novels and stories should be both realistic and end well, which this book provides.

The message

I believe that Jane Austen has several messages in the story. One is that women do not have to behave in a certain way, but also that you shouldn’t have to much pride and prejudices towards others. However the main message is for me that love and happiness is just around the corner if you don’t let you pride and your prejudices get the best of you. The main characters realise that they have done wrong and treated different characters unacceptable only due to their pride or their prejudice. And off course that you should learn to see past your prejudices.

The title

It is easy to know way she has chosen the title pride and prejudice because all through the book they often talk about their pride and their prejudices. Many of the characters in the novel let their pride and their prejudgments get in the way in so many occasions, especially the main character Elizabeth Bennet who cannot see Mr Darcy for who he is until it is almost to late. Additionally the whole book is about pride and prejudices and that is why it is such a good name for the novel.