Critically examine the appropriateness of the title “Pride and
Prejudice.”
The title of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” seems to
have been borrowed from the words of a sentence of the novel entitled “Cecilia”
by Fanny Burney: “The whole of this unfortunate business…… has been the result of pride
and prejudice”. The originally intended title of the novel was,
however, “First Impression” as it appeared in 1796. But when in 1813 i.e.,
after 16 years of its production, it was published, the title was revised, and
the newer one was “Pride and Prejudice”.
Jane Austen
chose for her novel the earlier title “First Impression” signifying the folly
of the hero and heroine in trusting their first impression about each other. In
the story of the novel itself we find that first impression plays an important
part – Elizabeth is misled in her judgement and estimate of both Darcy and
Wickham. So, the critics are of the view that the first title was perhaps
better. They opine that the final title is abstract and gives no concrete
suggestion about the story and covers only two characters. Still, “Pride and Prejudice”,
the final title, is more befitting to the novel. And it will be clear after a
serious and thorough discussion of the story.
The plot of
“Pride and Prejudice” shows the gradual breaking down of those two qualities,
and the story consists of this long process. The title seems to be allegorical.
Pride assumes the shape of the handsome haughty Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth, the
smart spirited girl in prejudice. Darcy’s pride consists as he says himself in
being selfish and overbearing caring for none beyond his family circle and
thinking meanly of the rest of the world. This proud and formidable hero on his
very first appearance evokes in Elizabeth her prejudice, by making a slighting
comment about her to Bingley within her hearing. “She is tolerable but not
handsome enough to tempt me.”(Chapter-III). Elizabeth’s pride being
hurt, she gets prejudiced against him: “I could easily forgive his pride if he had
not mortified mine.”
