Prompt 1

In the novel, “Pride and Prejudice” the character, Elizabeth Bennett states that people change so much until one is likely to observe something new about them every time. She is a victim of circumstances that makes her come to that conclusion when she notes that most of the people whom she relates with are full of prejudice and are also proud. Some of the people that she believes would not have behaved in some queer manner believe against her expectations making her realize that people change with time often with relation to what favors them most.  Her statement does not, however, hold for all people as she understands that there are those who remain the same in every environment and they are the people who matter. From the occurrences in the novel, Austen pushes a quintessential point that there are countless external influences toward relationships and to keep a relationship alive, the only thing that matters is the perception of those who are in love alone. 

Some of the characters in the novel change from the good people they were to evil characters who wish others to suffer. Miss Bingley is, for instance, a queer character who in the first place tried to behave as a helpful friend. When Miss Bingley realized that Mr. Bingley is interested in Jane, she reacts as if she agrees with the fact that Jane could make a good spouse for Bingley. She shows her brother that she is In agreement with him and that she would help him to secure engagement and consequently aid in the marriage arrangements (Austin 28). However when she hears the news that Jane is seeking she quickly visits and with cold civility states that no proposal can be done while she is in that state citing that it the proposal cannot be done in the same state lest she goes and lives with them until she is well. Her change in attitude is, therefore, an explication of Elizabeth’s claims that people alter so much. 

Mr. Collins is another man that changes abruptly in the novel. He is a young clergyman that is set to inherit Mr. Bennett after his death since the society where they live in is one that is entailed and so women are not allowed to inherit. While Mr. Bennett was alive, the young man used to treat his family members with respect. It is probably the reason that he entailed his inheritance to him because he was a good clergyman. Until the demise of the father, Mr. Collins used to treat every member of the Bennett family with respect. When Mr. Bennett dies, Mr. Collins acquires a bloated ego at once. He is untouchable because he feels that he is the rightful heir of everything that the deceased owned. He shows utmost disregard to the Bennett family. The once respectable clergyman turns into a pompous fool and disrespectfully proposes to Elizabeth which is a complete disregard for traditions. 

Elizabeth in her statement makes an instrumental observation of people and the way that most of them change from the people who once seen as good to utterly hateful and vengeful individuals.  Her statement is a reflection on modern society where people pretend in the first place to appear as loving individuals only for them to change and turn into different people. Elizabeth, therefore, observes that group of people and he is forced to believe that they are nothing other than pretenders. Learning their behavior sometime may not help as they are likely to change later. It is therefore only suitable for an individual to live among such people without judging them but rather closely monitoring their behavior.

Even as Austin notes the abrupt changes that people make, she is careful enough to show that some loyal individuals maintain their personality from the first place. They are the crop of honest and loyal people who do not like seeing others in trouble. Darcy is one of the most influential characters in the novel whose good character sometimes lands him in trouble. All through, however, Darcy does not change, and he remains the same. For instance, he wishes the best for the Bennett family and even when Elizabeth’s is in a marital issue, he chips in and helps even when Elizabeth has denied his proposal (Austin 271). Mr. Bingley is also another character who does not change his resolve to marry Jane regardless of opposition even from his close friends like Darcy. Austin, therefore, uses the two characters to show the epitome of honor and loyalty in some people while still there are others who are arrogantly dishonest.

In her novel, Austin gives such a detailed view of relationships. She showcases relationships as some of the most intricate relationships which are profoundly negatively affected by external factors. She depicts a relationship as a single thing that faces such instrumental opposition. The view of relationships that is described in the novel is one that every external force works against. The external influence, in this case, may be family backgrounds, friends and other individuals. The relationship between Mr. Bingley and Lydia is on the rocks for instance because of extra forces such as Darcy who believe that the duo is not in love (Austin 24). On the other hand, the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is on the rocks because of the external view of Elizabeth towards Darcy and also other people such as Catherine who do not want them engaged. Both couples, however, succeed when they decide to solve their issues internally. The author, therefore, informs that people ought to be considerate of the fact that external forces act against relationships and the only thing to do is contain the problems internally.

In conclusion, Elizabeth’s words inform that people change every time and one can hardly tell who some people are. There are however some who stick around all the time, and they are the people who mean a lot to us. She also informs that external powers in relationships all aim at disengaging it and it is the sole responsibility of the people in a relationship to struggle and keep it alive. 

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and prejudice. Bantam Classics, 1981.