1.The literary critic Isobel Armstrong has said of Pride and Prejudice that “the ending of the novel creates a sense of graceful ease and lightness which tempts one, as comedy often does, to believe that all is unproblematically resolved.” This quote is talking about the guaranteed “happy ending” of comedy. In what ways does this limit the possibilities of comedy? Do you feel satisfied with the ending? Refer back to the quote on comedy by Lee Edwards in the Instructor Notes for assignment 2.4.
2. Some readers have summarized the plot of Pride and Prejudice as, “A man changes, and a woman changes her mind,” but both Elizabeth and Darcy go through transformations during the course of the book. How do they each change? How do the transformations come about? Could Elizabeth's transformation have happened without Darcy's? Or his without hers?
3. The day Jane becomes engaged to Bingley, she says she wishes that Elizabeth could be as happy as she is. To that Elizabeth replies, "If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness." How do you feel about Elizabeth's statement? Is it better to be good, to think the best of people, and be happy? (Does this ever fail? Remember the Angel in the House.) Or is it better to see the world more critically, and feel less happiness? If you can think of other possibilities besides these two extremes, what are they? What else might account for Jane’s happiness?

“Pride and Prejudice” is a story about a man who changes and his true and upstanding character blossoms into a true gentleman and about a woman who changes her mind because her perception has been clarified. Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy act out of misjudgment, pride, prejudice, and lack of open communication right from the very beginning of their acquaintance. Although they are both extremely guilty of these character flaws, Elizabeth accomplished the greater transformation because, ironically, her pride and prejudice exceeded Mr. Darcy, who was known throughout the entire first two volumes for his pride and prejudice. They are much alike in character, however. But since we see more of Elizabeth’s side of the story, we see deeper into her mind than Darcy’s and we can know more of Elizabeth’s thoughts. Thus, we can have a better understanding of her transformation and of how much she has progressed in her character development.

The fact that Mr. Darcy is rich and of a higher class than Elizabeth seems to lead her to immediately assume his lack of interest in anything else going on around him at the balls is influenced by his wealth. “I should have judged better had I sought an introduction; but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers… I certainly have not the talent which some people possess of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done." I think what Elizabeth hasn’t come to know about Mr. Darcy yet, is that he isn’t shallow or as snooty as she conceives. I think he just doesn’t relate to the surface level conversations, about who is interested in who, and who is wealthy and who is beautiful or not, and who should marry who and dance with who, kind of talk.

Early in the novel Mr. Darcy judges Elizabeth, saying that she is not handsome enough to tempt him. Mr. Darcy is not this shallow, however. Later it is described that he looks for a woman of intelligence, one who reads, writes, and basically, one who has a mind to think on her own. Elizabeth’s boldness and ability to speak her opinion is what ultimately attracts him to her and when she enters a room he can’t keep his eyes off her. He finds beauty in this and not in a Miss Bingley type: air headed, one minded, money hungry, and conceited. His mind changes about Elizabeth as he discovers the depth of her personality. Elizabeth perceives Mr. Darcy’s quick wits and response to her comments as prideful, but actually I think they both challenge each other’s minds and patterns of thinking. This is so attractive about Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy also bases his prejudice and misjudgment of Elizabeth based on her pushy, boisterous mother. Her mother turns him off from the Bennet family entirely, and foolishly he turns Mr. Bingley off from Jane as well, not only for that reason but because he didn’t believe Jane felt any affection for Mr. Bingley. These were misjudgments on Mr. Darcy’s behalf for Elizabeth sometimes can’t even stand her own mother and Jane truly did have affection for Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy acted immaturely, without knowing the fullness of the situation.

In the same manner Elizabeth makes judgments also about Mr. Darcy and Wickham. Elizabeth believes Wickham’s story about him and Mr. Darcy when they’ve only just met. Elizabeth has not begun to understand Wickham’s character, yet she believes him whole heartedly without first enquiring Mr. Darcy about that matter. She foolishly allows her prejudice to grow inside her against Mr. Darcy; and she even talks to her family and friends, causing distaste in their mouths as well. This is immature and prejudice in the fullest.

Mr. Darcy, after several miscommunications between Elizabeth and himself finally admits his faults of pride and ignorance. He got to explain himself as well. His true character unraveled as more events took place. His maid spoke so highly of him and all that he has done for others and especially his sister. He has never shown anger, pride, or prejudice to any of his maid servants. He makes things right with Elizabeth and the Jane and Bingley situation and even helps Lydia and Wickham after all that had happened. These are true advancements of his character.

For Elizabeth, it isn’t until Chapter 13, Volume 2 that she admits herself of being “blind, partial, prejudiced, and absurd.” She admits she has acted despicably, by priding herself on her discernment. “Vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession [pride] and ignorance, and driven reason away where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself.” In my opinion, this is the greatest moment, the pivotal point in Elizabeth’s character transformation. Elizabeth finally realizes her pride and prejudice have been false and wrong toward Mr. Darcy.

They couldn’t have gone through all this, experienced such transformations without eachother.