f the evening walking about the room speaking occasionally to one of his own party. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs Bennett, whose dislike of his general behaviour, was sharpened into particular resentment, by his having slighted one of her daughters.’ (Page 12) Mr Darcy judges Elizabeth and the Bennett family on social status, and takes an immediate dislike to them, because of their financial situation and rank on the socio economic status. Although the Bennetts are ‘upper/middle class’, there are divisions between each class, so they are looked upon as at the ‘lower’ end of the scale. It is Darcy’s pride that forces him to believe he is better than others, mainly because of the amount of money he has. Mr Darcy feels as if he can be rude to anyone he likes, because the society of Meryton is ‘socially and financially lower’ then himself. After seeing Jane together with Mr Bingley at the dinner party, Darcy’s first impressions (which allow him to think that he has the right to interfere in their relationship) force him into believing that Jane (coming from a family less wealthy then his own) is only after Mr Bingley for security, and financial stability. Instead of realising the love they have towards each other, Darcy allows his pride to blind him of the truth and foolishly assume that only a lady of equal status (as his) is worthy of Bingley's love. Mr Wickham is another example of first impressions based on superficial qualities. His first impressions are very favourable and he is ‘socially accepted’ into the Meryton circle.“But the attention of every young lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer, on the other side of the way.”(Page 62)His c...
