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.
