The strength of character of Elizabeth in pride and prejudiceIn her novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen used the character of Elizabeth Bennet to embody the harmonious balance between reason and emotion in a woman, making her a truly admirable and attractive character. Elizabeth's strength of character is highlighted by her contrast with Jane's weak and naive acceptance, Mrs. Bennet's instability and excess, and Kitty's blind and weak following. His strength is also shown in his rejection of the proposals of Mr. Collins and Darcy. Unlike her mother, she does not base her choice of lovers on the financial security they will bring her, and has the strength to reject them. This is particularly evident in her rejection of Darcy's initial proposal, when she displays passionate force in her anger due to her belief that he deliberately prevented Jane and Bingley's marriage and harmed Wickham by refusing to grant him the property that old Mr. Darcy. bequeathed to him. In both cases, the suitor is sure that his request will be granted, and therefore Elizabeth's rejections are amplified by the magnitude of the blow their ego receives. At Rosings, she does not let Lady Catherine tyrannize over her by considering her "mere satellites of money and rank, which she thought she could witness without apprehension." The Lucases and the Collinses are submissive to Lady Catherine, with Maria being "scared almost out of her mind", and it is likely that society at large behaves similarly, as Elizabeth suspects that she is "the first creature that ever dared to play with her.” such dignified impertinence". She is again presented as a rebel against class ideas when Lady Catherine visits her to ensure that... middle of article ......Chrie, D., ( ed.), Nineteenth Century Literature Critique. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1986. Vo. 13, pp. 53-111. Austen, Jane. New York: Airmont Books, 1962. “Jane Austen,” Discover the authors' modules, http://galenet.gale.com/a/acp/netacgi/nph-brs?d=DAMA&s1=bio&s2=Austen,+Jane&1=50&pg1 =DT&pg2=NM&p=1&Moler, Kenneth. : a study in artistic economics. Boston, MA: Twayne Publishers, 1989. "Novels: 'Pride and Prejudice'" in The British Critic, Vol. ), Jane Austen: The Critical Heritage Landon, New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul - Barres & Nobel Inc., 1968. Weldon, Fay. 1984 in Readings on Jane Austen. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Green Haven Press, 1997: 34-41.