PLOT POINT 1:

Elizabeth Bennet Hook

 

WARNING: Spoilers Below

Elizabeth Bennet

Character Arc Avatars-08.png
 

Opening Scene(s) Refresher: Remember, we’re focusing on the movie version of Pride and Prejudice. In it, our first introduction to Elizabeth is her walking through her family’s property, reading. She then comes inside and learns of Mr. Bingley’s arrival. Finally, we see her at the ball meeting Bingley and Darcy.

But how does her introduction accomplish the 8 important elements? Click on each of them below to find out!

Want

Elizabeth wants to live life on her terms.

Normal World

Our introduction to Elizabeth's Normal World has her with her family, doing as they do. They spend time together, they attend social fuctions, and Lizzy must deal with the silliness of her mother and younger sisters.

  • What makes this unique to Lizzy? From the very first line of the book, we understand the expectations placed upon young women like Elizabeth. Like Mulan, Elizabeth's Normal World is unique to her, because of who she is within the larger normal world (in this case, early 19th century England). Her strong opinions are at odds with the way she is expected to fit into society and the goals she is supposed to be pursuing (finding a husband).

Ghost

Elizabeth's Ghost is the expectation placed upon her to marry for fortune.

Internal Conflict

She has conflict right from the start in that her desires for independence and a life that is live on her terms are at odds with the desires of her mother and society. Her pride is also wounded by Darcy at the ball after their first meeting, and her mother and younger sisters cause her embarrassment.

External Conflict

Lizzy's strong opinions and independence get her into trouble in society - they cause her to misjudge Darcy and to enrage her mother when she turns down Mr. Collins, for example. These traits at odds with the expectations placed upon Lizzy and her sisters to find a husband of fortune. This drives her external conflict from the beginning and throughout the entire story.

  • How does this introduce the Ghost? This very expectation is in fact Lizzy's Ghost.

Character Traits

  1. Caring - RELATABLE - Lizzy's love for Jane and for her good friend Charlotte is obvious. We all have someone we care deeply about.

  2. Spirited - ADMIRABLE - Lizzy is passionate about reading and stands up for herself after she overhears Darcy call her “barely tolerable.” Her strong opinions are established from the beginning, and the way they drive her to pursue her passions and ideologies and to stand up for herself is admirable.

  3. Good-Humored - LIKABLE - Lizzy lets things roll off her back and is able to laugh, but doesn’t get giddy and girlish the way her sisters do. Allowing little things to bother you and acting out because of them are not likable qualities.

Theme

The Themes of - you guessed it - pride and prejudice are introduced here when Darcy displays these traits in full.

Stakes

Elizabeth wants independence. The opening scenes threaten this because it shows how much she is at the mercy of others - her parents, society, and even Darcy (his rejection of her).