harming personality, and impressive first impressions soon gathered the acceptance and approval of everyone in the community.Ironically, his handsome features are deceptive and the entire society is proved to have misjudged Wickham, based on their misconceptions and first impressions.He is exposed to the Bennett family shortly after his elopement with Lydia Bennett, a 16 year old girl who he did not intend to marry, but only to take advantage of. He ends up marrying her under false pretences, in a loveless, false marriage, which reflects the Mr and Mrs Bennett relationship.In the 19th century, the female gender was disempowered. Women were expected to conform to high standards of behaviour and courtesy. The characteristics of a stereotypical woman in this time period were, sewing, singing, dancing, reading, playing a musical instrument (e.g. the piano) and being domesticated. The girls of the Bennett family support this notion, and this is shown throughout the text.Eg. “It is amazing to me how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished, as they all are. They paint tables, cover screens and net purses. I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished.” (Page 35) Here Mr Bingley is praising the five Bennett girls on their qualities and range of abilities. The technique of characterisation has a major effect throughout the novel. It helped represent 19th century values and attitudes, as well as portray the notion of first impressions, and demonstrate how they dominated people’s thoughts and minds during that particular time period. There were many incorrect judgements made throughout the novel, which was a result of wrong first impressions. An example of this is Mr Darcy’s perception of Elizabeth Bennett. Darcy’s pride originates from his wealth, social class and superio...
