The dictionary definition of pride is a sense of one's proper dignity or value. The

dictionary definition of prejudice is an adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand

without knowledge of the facts. When you add these two themes together you get the

book "Pride and Prejudice." The very basis of this book is on pride and prejudice.

Throughout the book the various characters judge each other by using pride and prejudice.

An eaxmple of this is in the very beginning of the book their is a showing a prejudice by

Mr. Bennett that sets the tone for the rest of the novel. The showing happens when Mr.

Bennett is talking to his wife about the arrival of the rich Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Bennett says

that she would like one her their five girls to marry him so that they would be situated well

for the rest of their life. Mr. Bennett shows his prejudice by saying "``Design! nonsense,

how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and

therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes''(Pg. 5). According to the book all of the

daughters are blessed with beauty. Because of this Mr. Bennett must be implying that even

though his daughters are beautiful, they may not be rich enough or have high enough

standards to even be considered by Mr. Bingley.

The majority of the story is based on the feelings between Elizabeth Bennet and

Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth Bennet is a middle class woman who always likes to be treated the

same by everybody, no matter who they are. Mr. Darcy is a rich fellow who uses his pride

to only stick with people that are on the same social level as him. These two represent the

most pride and prejudice in the book. Mr. Darcy is the perfect example of pride and

Elizabeth is a good example of prejudice. Their love story starts off near the begining of

the book where they meet at a local ball. Mr. Darcy pays little attetion to her beacuse his

pride wont let him deal with a lower class member. He says this of her " she is tolerable,

but not handsome enough to tempt me"(Pg.12). He also says this of the people at the

party ``I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted

with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are

engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment

to me to stand up with''(Pg.12). Unfortanetly Elizabeth overhead some of these remarks

and beacuse of this she started to hate Darcy. Also these remarks led to Elizabeth using

here prejudice to think that Darcy said these remarks just beacuse he his standards were

too high for her. The tentions are high between these two until the next time they see each

other.

At this point they both don't like each other, but Darcy begins to show some

intrest in her bueaty. The story goes along with Darcy gathering intrest in her "wit and

bueaty" while she hates him more and more. During this time Mr. Darcy uses his power to

break up Jane Bingley and Mr. Bingley for the reason that he belives that they are not truly

in love with each other. After Elizabeth hears of this her reaction is that she totally hates

Mr. Darcy for this and once again she thinks that he is doing this beacuse of his prejudice

for the lower class. Right after this Darcy proposed to Elizabeth and she smoothly said no

with a little prejudice on the side. She stated``I have every reason in the world to think ill

of you. No motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there.

You dare not, you cannot deny that you have been the principal, if not the only means of

dividing them from each other, of exposing one to the censure of the world for caprice and

instability, the other to its derision for disappointed hopes, and involving them both in

misery of the acutest kind''(Pg. 162). The reason she said no is beacuse of the cruel things

he did to her sister, Jane. Darcy is offened by this and he storms away from her.

Later on Darcy writes a letter to Elizabeth, explaining why he broke up Jane and

Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth reads this letter and begins to understand the pride that Mr. Darcy

has for himself. After reading the letter her prejudice for him becomes very shaken. After a

series a small storylines in the book, Elizabeth finds out that Darcy bribed Mr. Wickham

into marrying Lydia Bennett, Elizabeths sister. She is grateful for this and feels that it

wasn't necacassry. She also realizes vthat Darcy isn't a bad person at heart. Then Darcy

decided to ask her in marriage again, this time she gladly said yes. The story of Elizabeth

and Darcy is a perfect example of Pride and Prejudice.