#4

      Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice speaks of the dangers of prejudice.  The propensity for prejudice among the upper class is displayed in Elizabeth’s character.  Elizabeth, after hearing the affable Mr. Wickham’s account of grievances with Mr. Darcy surmises Darcy to be the most disagreeable of men, and arousing repugnance.  At the ball Elizabeth declares, that in regard to Darcy, that it “would be the greatest misfortune of all! –To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate” (Austen 79).  Elizabeth has not listened to Darcy’s side of the story.  She does not know whether the grievances are precipitated by both parties.  She does not give Darcy a chance, rather she presumes him despicable in character.  This pre-judgment is folly.  To hear one person, who is clearly biased against the party in question, and wholly believe his account creates an unnecessary bias within the neutral party.  Austen argues, that among the upper classes of Victorian England, the tendency to judge before fully knowing others is absurd.  Pre-judgment hinders a person from truly getting to know others.  In Elizabeth’s case she has decided who Darcy is based on tales from his enemy instead of interactions with Darcy himself.