Disappointed

There are many contributors to Elizabeth’s disappointment in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. One of the factors to her dissatisfaction is, Elizabeth, herself. Another influence to her let down of her opinion in the world is Collins, who asks for everyone and anyone’s hand in marriage. A third effective person who adds to the disappointment is Charlotte, who marries, not out of love, but for money.

The fourth and final person to sway Elizabeth’s judgment is Mr. Bingley, who leaves Jane for no good reason. Elizabeth contributes to her own disappointment in the world by her being prejudice against Mr. Darcy. “From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and you selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike,” (Austen 131).

Elizabeth rejected Darcy’s hand in marriage, because he was “arrogant”, “conceited”, and “selfish”, but Darcy just made a few mistakes, and is proud. Elizabeth is proud as well, and is too blinded by said pride to see that Darcy isn’t really that bad, just a little overprotective of himself and others. Elizabeth realizes that she is the one thing she is known to hate, arrogant. Collins is another influence to Elizabeth’s disenchantment in the world. Not only is he boastful and rude, he also asks any woman to marry him at the drop of a hat. “On that head, therefore, I shall be uniformly silent; and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married,” (Austen 74).

This is when he asks Elizabeth to marry him and he only knew her for one night. “The strangeness of Mr. Collins’s making two offers of marriage within three days, was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted,” (Austen 87). This is after he asks Charlotte for her hand in holy matrimony after just meeting her. Naturally that would disgust anyone, just as it did Elizabeth.

Charlotte bestows Elizabeth even more reason to dislike people on this planet. Even though Charlotte is Elizabeth’s best friend, Elizabeth does not agree with marrying for money. Elizabeth’s motive to marry is purely out of love. Charlotte’s views, on the other hand, does not. “I am not romantic you know, I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr.

Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state,” (Austen 87). Charlotte’s reason for marriage is to have material things, not an emotional foundation, where one might actually be happy. Mr. Bingley is one of the largest reasons why Elizabeth is dissatisfied with this universe. “The very first sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for the winter, and concluded with her brother’s regret at not having had time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the country,” (Austen 91).

Bingley left Jane with no explanation, and Jane was brokenhearted. This in Elizabeth’s eyes is very inconsiderate and rude. Jane is left crying on Elizabeth’s shoulders, and Bingley is in London, sipping tea, and eating scones. There was no letter form him, no visit, no word, until his sister sent a letter to the Bennets. There are a lot of different causes to why Elizabeth is discontent with the world.

There is the very fact that Elizabeth is the type of person she despises, making her a hypocrite. Another influence to Elizabeth’s unhappiness towards that world is Collins being a world is Collins being a modern-day player. A third motive to why Elizabeth is upset with the universe is that Charlotte would wed for cash, not love. The biggest and final reason why Elizabeth is displeased with the world is the fact that Mr. Bingley left her older sister for no reason, and no explanation. That in itself is an enormous reason to be unhappy with the world.

Anyone would be discontent with all of these circumstances around them, right?