Pride and Prejudice (2005)

“Pride and Prejudice” from the title itself, you can tell what does the story entails. This film was an adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel of the same name. It highlight on marriage, family, and romanticism. The story is about Mrs. Bennet, wherein the business of her life was to get her daughters married to a wealthy man. Besides, the story also revolves on the strangely love story of one of the Bennet sisters, Elizabeth, and the wealthy man, Mr. Darcy.

Components of a Character

The characters of the film portray their roles convincingly and each of them creates an impact to the viewers. So here’s a breakdown of the following major characters of the film.

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet is twenty years old, a witty, sensible yet stubborn, young lady. She is the second daughter of the Bennet family. She is lovely, clever and converses as brilliantly as anyone. Their family belongs to the middle class, yet spiteful society. She knows the impropriety of her father and also perceives the fickleness of her mother’s temper and her insensitive behavior. She believes that marriage requires love and she will not marry someone if he doesn’t feel the affection. However, it was proved when Mr. Darcy, a wealthy gentleman and to whom at first she objects because she believes him guilty of several charges. But after hearing the true story, she realizes the error of her initial prejudice against him and suddenly falls in love with him.

Fitzwilliam Darcy is a twenty-eight year old man, wealthy, handsome and intelligent. He is sometimes misunderstood because of his arrogant ways and condescending manner. Yet, he is a kind and generous master, and loving to his sister. He is the only son of very noble parents and at the young age he had to take up family responsibilities which made him independent and conceited. Darcy is strangely attracted to Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet. But then he got a rejection from Lizzy when he first proposed to her. Never losing hope, Darcy continued to show his devotion to Lizzy and proves himself worthy to her. Later, he then becomes the husband of Elizabeth. 

Mr. Bennet is an English gentleman with an estate in Hertfordshire and he is the head of the Bennet family. He is married to Mrs. Bennet and has five daughters. Basically, he is a sensible man and an insensitive father. He appears unhappy of his marital state. Living with Mrs. Bennet has made him somewhat bitter and sarcastic. Mr. Bennett falls short in securing a financial future for his wife and daughters. Nevertheless, he is fond of his daughters, especially to Elizabeth, who he finds intelligent and witty.   

Mrs. Bennet is of course Mr. Bennet’s wife, loud, foolish and crude kind of mother. Her purpose in life is to look for a wealthy and acceptable husband for her five daughters. She cares nothing else in the world, but to see her daughters get married. Like her husband, she fails miserably in her role as a parent. For instance, when she wants Elizabeth to marry Mr. Collins who will inherit their property, however, she never considered the feeling of Elizabeth. She is incapable of holding the family together in a moment of crisis. In fact, she just makes matters worse.

Jane Bennet is twenty-two years old, eldest and the most beautiful Bennet sister. She is charming, gentle and kind. She has reserved personality and tends to hide her feelings.  She is incapable of suspecting the worst of people, preferring to see only the good. Then, her attraction for Mr. Bingley is instant, for she sees him as an unassuming man and a perfect mate.

Charles Bingley is twenty-three years old and the closest friend of Mr. Darcy. He is an outgoing, good-natured, wealthy, young man. Bingley is the owner of the Netherfield. He is a total opposite to Darcy, he is gentle, amiable and her manners are socially pleasing. However, at times he feels weak and lacks self confidence. He let others dictate his decisions whether it is the right thing to do or not. Similar to Jane, they have the instant love for each other and purity of heart. At the end, he proposed to Jane and by this time it’s his own will and decision.