The most important theme in this novel is the one stated in the title. It really is about pride and prejudice. Mainly, Mr Darcy is seen to be over-proud, and it is only when he falls in love with Elizabeth and she rejects him that he begins to feel, as he says near the end "how unworthy were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased." He is proud because he comes from a wealthy and honourable family, but eventually learns that love is more important than this.
Elizabeth's failing is prejudice. She sums up Mr Darcy too quickly, and being unwilling to admit she might be wrong, even to herself, is blind both to his good qualities and to the bad ones of his enemy, Mr Wickham. Elizabeth has her own pride - pride in her intelligence and good judgement - and it is only when, like Darcy, she has learned to value the important things in people, that Jane Austen brings them together.
This is just a start - there is lots more to this novel.
Elizabeth's failing is prejudice. She sums up Mr Darcy too quickly, and being unwilling to admit she might be wrong, even to herself, is blind both to his good qualities and to the bad ones of his enemy, Mr Wickham. Elizabeth has her own pride - pride in her intelligence and good judgement - and it is only when, like Darcy, she has learned to value the important things in people, that Jane Austen brings them together.
This is just a start - there is lots more to this novel.
