Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a novel about characters overcoming the trials necessary for their happiness. Before Jane Austen decided on the final title, she chose the title First Impressions, which recognizes that the main barrier the characters must overcome are their first impressions of each other. The novel's main characters, Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy, are faced with first impressions that prevent them from realizing their love for each other. These first impressions, although very strong and lasting, dissipate at the end of the novel and their mutual views change completely. Although this title seems to describe the novel very well, Jane Austen chose a different title, which gives the correct impression that Darcy and Elizabeth possess pride and prejudice. First impressions influence the actions and events of the characters that take place in the novel, pride and prejudice cause the characters to behave the way they do, but Pride and Prejudice is a more appropriate title for the novel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Elizabeth forms her impressions of Darcy before she even meets him, purely because of his disposition at the Netherfield Ball. According to Elizabeth, “He [is] the proudest and most disagreeable man in the world, and everyone [hopes] he will never come back there again” (Austen 7-8). Not only is Darcy an unexciting man, but he refuses his friend Bingley's suggestion that he dance with Elizabeth, saying, “She's tolerable; but not beautiful enough to tempt me” (8). As if Elizabeth didn't love him enough already, this comment from Darcy contributes to Elizabeth's negative first impression of him. After listening to Wickham explain how Darcy stole an inheritance from him, his opposition towards Darcy becomes even stronger. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth finds herself oscillating between disapproval of Darcy and the desire to become closer to him. It is only after Darcy proposes, Elizabeth refuses his hand in marriage, and Darcy explains himself in a letter that Elizabeth begins to realize that her original impression of him does not reflect his actual personality. When Elizabeth finally overcomes her mistaken first impression of Darcy, she begins to recognize that her feelings toward him are quite the opposite of what she originally felt. Although Darcy recognizes his feelings for Elizabeth before she does, he develops a mistaken first impression. Elizabeth when he sees her for the first time. When he sees her at the Netherfield Ball, he says that he prefers not to dance with her because she is not beautiful enough for him and her family's social status is not admirable. Darcy becomes blinded by the fact that his family is not rich and that he would marry, so he tries to convince himself that he is not in love with her. When Elizabeth refuses to dance with him after Sir Lucas suggests it, her opinion of him changes greatly. Shortly after making these first impressions of Elizabeth, Darcy decides that he wants to pursue her. "'I have meditated on the very great pleasure that a pair of beautiful eyes can give in the face of a pretty woman...Miss Elizabeth Bennet'" (22). Because Darcy is able to overcome his first impression of her, he eventually begins to fall in love with her and their relationship begins to develop. With the title Pride and Prejudice, most readers assume that Elizabeth is prejudice and Darcy is pride, but furthermore the analysis proves that both characters possess both traits. Before even meeting him, Elizabeth forms prejudices against Darcy and allows those prejudices to prevail.