What Are The Foil Characters In Pride And Prejudice

In Jane Austen’s novel of manners, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett and her five other sisters meet Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. Although there is an undeniable connection between Elizabeth and Darcy, their personalities and opinions of society clash.Austen utilizes foiling, a literary device whereas one character emphasizes the strengths and weaknesses of another. An analysis of the characters, Mr. Darcy and Mr.Wickham, demonstrates how two characters can contribute to the central theme by having contradictory characteristics and actions.
In the novel, the wealthy Mr. Bingley arrives in town with a close friend, Mr. Darcy. The two swoon Mrs. Bennett and her daughters. When Darcy’s character is introduced, Darcy appears modest, loyal, and kind. Darcy calls Elizabeth “ … the only handsome girl …”
This scene also portrays Darcy as socially and psychologically corrupted, for Darcy allows his ego to have advantage over the choices made. Not long after, Mr. Wickham arrives in town, immediately attracting Elizabeth. The two instantly begin a conversation.Wickham tells Elizabeth sob stories about how Darcy denied Wickham inheritance and Wickham was forced to join the military in order to have a decent income. Due to what happened previously at the ball, Elizabeth is initially more open to Wickham’s stories than the truth. The weaknesses of Darcy, being his mannerisms and his reserved nature, emphasize Wickham’s apparent kind nature and honesty. Additionally, as it isn’t “ … in [Elizabeth’s] nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance …” (73), the basis of Elizabeth’s trust in Mr. Wickham is his appearance. In the extended letter Darcy sends to Elizabeth, Darcy reveals that “… [his] impartial conviction …” (169) caused him to tell his friend, Bingley, not to marry Jane because of the foreseen lack of happiness. Although Darcy was only being wary for his friend, Elizabeth further rejects him. However, Darcy