Elizabeth Bennet
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| Full Name: | Elizabeth Bennet |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Age: | 20 |
| Occupation: | Daughter of a gentleman; later Chatelaine of Pemberley |
| Primary Residence: | Longbourn in Hertfordshire, later Pemberley in Derbyshire |
| Family | |
| Romantic Interest(s): | Fitzwilliam Darcy; George Wickham; Colonel Fitzwilliam |
| Parents: | Mr Bennet and Mrs Bennet (formerly Miss Gardiner) |
| Sibling(s): | Jane Bennet (later Bingley) Mary Bennet Catherine (Kitty) Bennet Lydia Bennet (later Wickham) |
| Film Adaptations | |
Elizabeth Bennet (sometimes referred to as Eliza or Lizzy) is a fictional character and the protagonist of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. The novel is centred on her attempts to find love and happiness within the society she lives in, particularly concerning her relationship with the seemingly proud and cold Mr. Darcy. She is generally considered one of Austen's most popular and endearing heroines, and one of the most popular female characters in British literature.[who?]
[edit] Character
As the second of the five daughters in the Bennet family, Elizabeth is depicted in the novel as being better-read and livelier-witted than her siblings. While her elder sister Jane is considered to be the beautiful one, Elizabeth is frequently referred to as her father's favourite; however these two are the closest of the sisters (and the most mature). She frequently shares her father's sardonic amusement at the antics both of her mother and of her younger sisters: Mary (the quiet, unattractive one), Kitty, and Lydia (both obsessed with flirting with the militia and fitting in with the social absurdities of the time).
Elizabeth, described as being the child that her mother is "least fond" of, especially after turning down Mr. Collins's proposal of marriage, is considered quite pretty and charming, and much is made in the novel of her "fine eyes" (the first physical feature Fitzwilliam Darcy is drawn to). She is also a loving and devoted friend, acting as counsellor and confidante to Jane, who, despite being elder and considered the 'beautiful' one, is shy and reserved. Elizabeth is also characterized as being more assertive and confident, and not easily cowed by those with higher social ranking than herself, such as Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Darcy – "My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me," she says. Though she is confident, she still acts in a manner much more reserved than her mother, younger sisters, and sometimes even her father, which Mr. Darcy mentions the first time he proposes to Elizabeth. She can, however, be stubborn, proud, and judgemental.
The novel primarily focuses on Elizabeth's relationship with Mr. Darcy, a wealthy and proud young man who snubs her on their first meeting at a public dance in her home village, criticizing her appearance as being "not handsome enough to tempt me". This leads Elizabeth to a pronounced disdain for Mr. Darcy, and her pain is further fuelled by Darcy's presumptuous interference with the budding courtship of her sister Jane by Mr. Bingley, Darcy's friend. Finally, there are the libellous accounts from the charming and personable George Wickham, whom Elizabeth meets shortly thereafter—and falls slightly in love with: Wickham, it would appear, has been unfairly denied his rightful inheritance by Darcy. All these "facts" persuade Elizabeth that her prejudice against Darcy is well-founded, both on good cause and upon her superior personal judgement of human character. As a result, when Darcy (who, surprisingly, has fallen in love with her) proposes marriage, she angrily refuses him. It follows quickly (that is, overnight) that Darcy—attempting to defend his wounded honour and no doubt to relieve his bludgeoned pride—personally provides Elizabeth his letter by which he reveals the motives for his interference in Jane and Bingley's relationship; and he gives a full account of his lifelong dealings with Wickham, who, it is revealed, harbours a selfish and dishonourable character beneath his outward pleasing manners. And then Darcy decidedly departs from her.
Over the course of the events and anxieties that follow, Lizzy is obliged to re-evaluate her opinions of Darcy, who, it seems, is also committed to some significant re-evaluation of his own actions and general behaviour towards others. Especially when he saves her sister Lydia from disgrace—at the hands of Wickham, no less—Elizabeth realizes that her feelings for Darcy have come full circle; and now, when Darcy finally gains sufficient courage to propose a second time, she accepts.
[edit] Portrayals
The enduring popularity of Pride and Prejudice has seen the novel frequently adapted for both television and the cinema. Among the actresses who have taken the role of Elizabeth Bennet are:
- Curigwen Lewis, in the first television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in 1938.
- Greer Garson in a 1940 cinema adaptation, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.
- Daphne Slater in a 1952 UK television adaptation.
- Jane Downs in a 1958 UK television version.
- Celia Bannerman in a 1967 film version produced to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen.
- Elizabeth Garvie in a 1980 BBC television adaptation.
- Jennifer Ehle in a 1995 BBC television adaptation, for which she received a BAFTA Award.
- Keira Knightley in a 2005 film adaptation, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.
While not strict adaptations of the original text, other notable versions of Elizabeth Bennet (or characters directly based on her) in productions based on Austen's text include:
- Renée Zellweger portrayed Bridget Jones in the 2001 feature film Bridget Jones' Diary, and its sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. The original novel by Helen Fielding was loosely inspired by Pride and Prejudice and follows a similar narrative, and Bridget Jones occupies the same role in the story held by Elizabeth Bennet in the original.
- Kam Heskin in a 2003 cinema adaptation set in a contemporary Mormon university.
- Aishwarya Rai portrayed Lalita Bakshi (a character based upon Elizabeth) in the 2005 film Bride and Prejudice, a Bollywood adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
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