The “First impression” that we get about these characters are very different from the reality. In the first part of the novel, Austen has given two different and opposite implications about Wickham and Darcy.
Firstly, Wickham is loved by everyone whereas Darcy is considered to be the epitome of “pride”. Elizabeth fell in love with Wickham, mainly due to his appearance, the way he behaves, his reputation and perhaps the social status. And Elizabeth continuously stresses the hatred she has about Darcy who ‘refused to dance with her as she was not handsome enough’.
And also Wickham gives a false account of Darcy to Elizabeth. And Elizabeth believes the narrated story which is given by Wickham. So she intensifies her hatred or prejudices against Darcy. Perhaps she believed the story mainly because she appreciates Wickham.
But later it is discovered by Elizabeth that this is a false story concocted by Wickham because he couldn’t get engaged to Miss. Darcy.
Austen has employed the “epistolary” technique to reveal the true nature of Darcy. The letter sent by Darcy alters her mind immensely and soon she starts to change her feelings about Wickham and Darcy.
At the very beginning, not only Elizabeth, most of the characters in the novel depicts the proud nature of Darcy.
Even we tend to believe him as an obnoxious, proud character due to his actions. That is the ‘first impression’ that we get about Darcy. But it changes once it is revealed the true nature of Darcy.
Later, we see that Darcy is bewitched by Elizabeth by her playful nature. The proposal made by Darcy is rejected by her perhaps because still she believes him as a proud snobbish character.
Another instance where we experience the theme “appearance and reality” is that Elizabeth sees ‘Pemberly’. It is said by Austen that Pemberly is a very calm and pleasant place. She gives us a panoramic view about this place.
Elizabeth still who hasn’t inculcated love about Darcy too appreciates this place where there is an immense beauty. But we cannot say that the view of Pemberly alone alters her mind to fall in love with Darcy.
The vivid picture provided by Austen reveals the true nature of Darcy. And it is possible to say that it reflects the character of the master of Pemberly of Derbyshire. Sometimes inanimated objects reveal the true characteristics of a particular person.
The prejudices which were carried by Elizabeth gradually change with the true account given by the servant about her master, “Mr Darcy”.
And also it conveys us the mentality of Darcy towards different social classes. The servant is inferior to Mr. Darcy, and at the sametime the servant appreciates her master. This depicts that Mr. Darcy’s treatment without confining to his superiority.
So we can say, Elizabeth’s attraction towards Darcy is more logical, because it is not merely due to the appearance. And she was able to discover the true nature of Darcy and Wickham who ran away with her sister.
Even though, Darcy embodies pride, the moderation of his pride is exposed through appearance and reality.
So “appearance and reality”, one of the prominent themes in the novel further reveals how feelings and sentiments change. And it is clearly depicted through Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham; especially in the manner how they proposed to Elizabeth.
Through her character the true nature of the above mentioned two characters is revealed, where she shifts her sentiments.
