"Pride And Prejudice" and "First Impressions": What Title Fits Jane Austen's Novel

The novel Pride and Prejudice is now one of the most popular stories in English literature following its publication in 1813. This novel is a reasonably honest love story, near the beginning readers, are certain that Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are ‘a great fit’, unfortunately, they don’t know that themselves just yet. However, to consider Pride and Prejudice as only a love story minimizes its significance since it is blatantly much more than that. It an analysis of character and of how some people are able to look within themselves to achieve change and, in the case Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, a deeper and ‘better’ self. While others, through various deficiencies, are incapable of change. Originally, Austen wrote this story under the title of First Impressions but later, after extensive reworking, she changed it to Pride and Prejudice. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the original text was written between 1796 and 1797 so it is impossible to make any comparison between the novel published in 1813 and its predecessor but the 1813 text can be used to suggest possible reasons as to why Austen decided to give it a new title.

In the year 1796, twenty-one years from when Jane Austen was born on December 16th, 1775, between the years of 1795 and 1797 that she wrote both Elinor and Marianne, which is later renamed as Sense and Sensibility and First Impressions. The two novels dealing with the topic of marriage while also holding aspects of humour, they also focus on an issue that Austen’s contemporaries view as significant. During this time, as social and economic changes begin to gain influence in Britain, the Gentry class that both Austen and her heroine’s identify with is landing under pressure. Those belonging to the lower end of the group whose financial stability was being threatened. Obtaining an advantageous marriage is the only option in ensuring that their daughters would retain their social status. Jane and Cassandra Austen, her older sister, are far from affluent daughters of an ageing clergyman. The obligation to marry competently is critical. This influences a central topic for Austen in her first novels.

In Pride and Prejudice, she sympathizes with society’s denial of any other role for women than marriage and motherhood. Her views are illustrated when Mr. Collins selects James Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women after Mr. Bennets invites him to read to the Bennet family after tea-time, “... Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and when tea was over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced; but on beholding it, (for everything announced it to be from a circulating library,) he stared back, and begging pardon, protested that he never read novels... other books were produced, and after some deliberation, he chose Fordyce’s Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume... ” P. 67. Fordyce’s Sermons is a sequence of sermonizing essays, a design to educate women inappropriate manner of demeanour. It also criticizes novels and its negative effects on women, Collins choice of topic is not warmly received. Austen realizes the social and intellectual debate occurring in her society and uses it to illuminate the story. Jane Austen reveals herself to be a reader of contemporary romantic literature where women are strong-minded and self-reliant, normally resulting in their lives ending up in anguish and devastation. Since his first introduction in the novel, Collins presents himself as arrogant and spineless. He also lacks the intelligence to realize that in himself. As a minor male character Collins’ journey, despite being tarnished by first impressions or not, is not relevant. In the novel, Mr.Collins is not able to reassess his first impressions, in turn, he remains an empty and laughable static character while Elizabeth Bennet is capable of being surprisingly aware of her pride and prejudice. Impressions are significant since they create the basis of understanding, adjusted and sharpened by experience. To reach a fully developed personality, they must be capable of scrutinizing and reviewing their initial impressions and that capability comes from using past experiences to make a judgement on the legitimacy of those first impressions. Therefore, first impressions are not to be avoided since they are essential to development. First impressions are equally as likely to be right as they are wrong, so this sets them in a distinct light compared to romantic fiction which gave a broad warning against first impressions.

One aspect that displays persistence and impertinence towards the advice of others is to ground judgement and choices on first impressions. The first impressions throughout this novel usually prove to be wrong when the charming gentleman reveals himself corrupt and highly dishonourable.

This is portrayed in Wickham and Lydia’s relationship. At first, Wickham is described following text “... the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man... of very gentlemanlike appearance [who]... wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and a very pleasing address.” (P. 71). In this passage, the readers are shown the Bennet daughters, all except Mary’s, first impression of Mr.Wickham. Their impression of Wickham is marked by his appearance suggesting that a person with such a gentleman-like appearance must also be equally so in his manner and behaviour as well. Sadly, as the story progresses it is obvious that Wickham is anything but a gentleman. Austen decides Lydia’s fate, for her to be unable to see Wickham’s true colours. Consequently leading to Lydia accepting his proposal of elopement in turn nearly staining her sisters’ reputations. The severity of the situation is properly conveyed in a letter addressed to Mr. Bennet from Mr. Collins saying, “No arguments shall be wanting on my part that can alleviate so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be of all others most afflicting to a parent’s mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it is the more to be lamented because there is a reason to suppose... that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter, has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence... ” (P. 281). Collins’ letter thoroughly exhibits the weight of Lydia’s disgrace when he suggests that her death would be better than living with the humiliation that she and the Bennet’s will have to suffer through. Despite the notable influence from contemporary literature, Austen changes the classical approach by letting her stubborn and independent heroine achieve her dream and avoid ruin. In a way, First Impressions, and the ramifications that follow is not relevant to the novel as it initially would have.

Although in the beginning Mrs. Bennet and her daughters have to rely on second-hand information they receive from Lady Lucas, whose intel is found from her husband’s meeting with Charles Bingley. Finally, when they are introduced at the ball at Meryton, Bingley did not disappoint. He is described as being, “... good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners... he was lively and unreserved... ” (P. 12). After returning from the ball Jane confides in Elizabeth “...how very much she admired him”, saying “he is just what a young man ought to be... sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! ? so much ease, with such perfect good breeding.” (P. 16). Her feelings appear to be reciprocated. The first impressions that Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet have of each other remain deeply-rooted throughout the remainder of the novel. Bingley and Jane are neither independent nor headstrong, they are quite the opposite of these attributes. They both easily accept the advice and expectations of others. This later leads to Darcy’s interference, preventing their early marriage, thankfully, due to their placid and forgiving character giving them the tendency to see the good in others instead of their faults. So when the opportunities arise again for marriage they take it.

In the sentimental fiction of this period, the choice of the word ‘impression’ had a particular significance. The original title ‘First Impressions’ was a phrase taken from sentimental literature where it exhibits the strength and truth of the heart’s immediate and intuitive response, usually, love at first sight. Although, here, the meaning is specifically connected to ‘love’, Pride and Prejudice, in its reworked form, is concerned with ‘immediate and intuitive responses’ to a range of people and places. Consequently, it is not only about ‘love at first sight’ (and perhaps in terms of Austen’s writing, partiality, or attraction, at first sight, might be more appropriate) but also dislike at first sight.

Another example that proves Pride and Prejudice as a more fitting title than first impressions in the novel is when Elizabeth and Darcy start their journey towards self-enlightenment. In order to achieve this, the story needs a course of action, a starting point from growth to greater self-understanding. Although first impressions focus on the person’s background to find out how their past has influenced their present state, a person’s pride and prejudice are altered by their past. These alterations, despite the current events, require the progressive development of the story. Hence, the change of title communicates a compelling development of the story. Pride, leads to an obvious conscious effort of one’s character that seeks to set themselves above others. Darcy’s opposition to enjoy the ball at Meryton highlights his overstated assessment of his own ego and resolve to remain inside his current social circle which suggests that he views as being above the other people attending the ball. However, prejudice, reflect’s a person’s absence of understanding other people’s situations.