Time is the True Indicator of Someone's Character, Not First Impressions

It takes about 3 seconds to evaluate someone. In a matter of a glance, you can form an initial opinion about the kind of person someone is based on appearance, body language, dress, and mannerisms. But is that first impression one that sticks and is true to someone’s actual character and personality? In most cases no. In Pride and Prejudice, the example of the first impression between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth proves to be misleading. Initially Mr. Darcy is prejudiced against people who are in a lower class and have less income than himself. Because Elizabeth falls into the lower class, Mr. Darcy’s attitude towards her proves to be unwelcoming and he doesn’t see her as a potential mate. At the ball, Mr. Darcy turns down Mr. Bingley’s offer to dance with Elizabeth because she is “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt [him]”(Austen). Concurrently, Elizabeth notices Mr. Darcy’s comments about her, and develops a misjudgment of her own about Mr. Darcy, seeing him as stuck-up and rude. Her pride in reading others, causes Elizabeth to develop the wrong first impression of Mr. Darcy as well as hold a grudge. This grudge is seen in the Youtube series, The Bennet Diaries, where Elizabeth talks for more than three videos describing her encounter and disgust in Mr. Darcy, even titling one of her videos about him as “Snobby Mr. Douchey”(Bennet Diaries). In the beginning, Darcy is not attracted to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth is offended by his pride and arrogance. However, this first judgment of each other shows to be incorrect when Mr. Darcy notices his attraction to Elizabeth and proposes to her later on in the novel and Elizabeth becomes more exposed to Mr. Darcy’s good character. Another example of wrongful first impressions is the introduction of Mr. Wickham. Initially Mr. Wickham is perceived as a handsome and good character man because “he had all the best parts of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and a pleasing address”(Austen). However later in the novel, Mr. Wickman proves the other characters in the novel and reader’s initial impression of him to be wrong when we are introduced to his debt and gambling problems, as well as motives to entice naive women such as Lydia.

However, the novel does prove that not all first impressions are wrongfully made and can reveal people’s true character as well. In Mr. Bingley’s case, Jane and the reader’s first impression of him was that he was “good-humored”, “lively”, and an overall good man(Austen). Because of this initial perspective, Jane is first attracted to him at the beginning of the book when she met him. Bingley proves to be the man he appears to be.

Because of these initial interactions and impressions between the characters, Pride and Prejudice’s original title was “First Impressions”. The novel proves to the reader that first impressions are important, however people shouldn’t a great amount of energy into the first encounter because with time your true character will show. Especially, with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s case, time is the true indicator of someone’s character, not the first impression.

It takes about 3 seconds to evaluate someone. In a matter of a glance, you can form an initial opinion about the kind of person someone is based on appearance, body language, dress, and mannerisms. But is that first impression one that sticks and is true to someone’s actual character and personality? In most cases no. In Pride and Prejudice, the example of the first impression between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth proves to be misleading. Initially Mr. Darcy is prejudiced against people who are in a lower class and have less income than himself. Because Elizabeth falls into the lower class, Mr. Darcy’s attitude towards her proves to be unwelcoming and he doesn’t see her as a potential mate. At the ball, Mr. Darcy turns down Mr. Bingley’s offer to dance with Elizabeth because she is “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt [him]”(Austen). Concurrently, Elizabeth notices Mr. Darcy’s comments about her, and develops a misjudgment of her own about Mr. Darcy, seeing him as stuck-up and rude. Her pride in reading others, causes Elizabeth to develop the wrong first impression of Mr. Darcy as well as hold a grudge. This grudge is seen in the Youtube series, The Bennet Diaries, where Elizabeth talks for more than three videos describing her encounter and disgust in Mr. Darcy, even titling one of her videos about him as “Snobby Mr. Douchey”(Bennet Diaries). In the beginning, Darcy is not attracted to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth is offended by his pride and arrogance. However, this first judgment of each other shows to be incorrect when Mr. Darcy notices his attraction to Elizabeth and proposes to her later on in the novel and Elizabeth becomes more exposed to Mr. Darcy’s good character. Another example of wrongful first impressions is the introduction of Mr. Wickham. Initially Mr. Wickham is perceived as a handsome and good character man because “he had all the best parts of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and a pleasing address”(Austen). However later in the novel, Mr. Wickman proves the other characters in the novel and reader’s initial impression of him to be wrong when we are introduced to his debt and gambling problems, as well as motives to entice naive women such as Lydia.

However, the novel does prove that not all first impressions are wrongfully made and can reveal people’s true character. In Mr. Bingley’s case, Jane and the reader’s first impression of him was that he was “good-humored”, “lively”, and an overall good man(Austen). Because of this initial perspective, Jane is attracted to him at the beginning of the book when she met him. Bingley proves to be the man he appears to be.

Because of these initial interactions and impressions between the characters, Pride and Prejudice’s original title was “First Impressions”. The novel proves to the reader that first impressions are important, however people shouldn’t put too much emphasis into the first encounter because with time your true character will show. Especially, with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s case, time is the true indicator of someone’s character, not the first impression.