#10

       Elizabeth Bennet is known as a prejudiced protagonist.  Her tendency to venerate others or find them odious due to first impressions has lead to many mistakes in love and relationships.  However, when crisis strikes Elizabeth's prejudices are proven to be completely false and bring her to the realization that her flaw of prejudging others brings no good.  Of late, Elizabeth finds that her younger sister Lydia Bennet has commited the impropriety of eloping with the horrible Wickham.  Elizabeth is greatly vexed at this news and realizes that "had his [Wickham's] character been known, this could not have happened" (Austen 231).  This is the complete destruction of Elizabeth's positive prjudice towards Wickham.  She realizes without any posssible doubt that Wickham is a man arousing repugnance.  She realizes that first impressions do not allow a person to know someone's character.  She realizes that quick judgements can lead to tragedies, like the one of Lydia eloping with Wickham.
        In light of the demolition of Elizabeth's prejudice towards Wickham, Elizabeth is exposed to the truth. Elizabeth realizes, in relation to herself and Darcy, that "never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him as now, when all love must be in vain" (Austen 232).  This epiphany comes at a time when Mr. Darcy tries to aid Elizabeth in the time of her family's crisis.   Finally Elizabeth's eyes are open.  She is in love.  She has come past the prejudice that made her insolent and hateful towards Darcy.  Yet, due to current circumstances and the lowering of her family's status due to her sister's folly, all hope of a relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy seems lost.  This is the price Elizabeth pays for holding stauchly to false prejudgements.