#8

     Jane Bennet, of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, is an optimist in the truest sense.  In finding out that Mr.Wickham  is not who he seems, Austen describes Jane's reaction:  "What a stroke was this for poor Jane! who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind as was here collected in one individual" (Austen 189).  In these words Austen fully describes Jane's character.  She is innocent, willing to believe everyone good no matter what.  She is also naive because of her willingness to believe that all of mankind is good.   Jane is the perfect foil to her sister Elizabeth.  Whereas Elizabeth is easily able to see the worst in people, Jane always chooses to see the best.  Elizabeth's perception of the world is marred by prejudice, Jane's is merely marred by a want to see good in all people.  It is this want to see good in all people that at first will not allow her to dislike Darcy or Bingely in light of how they treated her.  Jane's personality makes her a more approachable character whereas Elizabeth is unapproachable to men like Darcy due to her deep prejudices.  In the race to find love and build a marriage, Jane's optimism and innocence will most likely benefit her in the long run.