Preview

Character, Not Circumstance Makes the Person Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
587 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Character, Not Circumstance Makes the Person Essay Example
In the novels Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte they both conform to the quote, “Character, not circumstance, makes the person.” This was once written by Booker T. Washington. Circumstances shouldn’t effect who you are as a person. Both Lizzy from Pride and Prejudice and Catherine from Wuthering Heights show that within the Circumstances it didn’t effect their character. With the use of characterization and theme both of the novels portray how Lizzy’s and Cathy’s character wasn’t effected under any circumstances. In Pride and Prejudice, Lizzy shows her real, true character. With the use of characterization, Lizzy is portrayed as a very intellectual and she has manors. Even though Lizzy comes from a very rude and socially ungraceful family this doesn't change her character. Her mother Mrs. Bennet is very rude and unintelligent. Her sister Lydia is selfish and very shallow, unlike Lizzy. Lizzy, in the end of the novel, learns not to judge people at first sight and now she knows there is more to a person then you see. Lydia is also very disrespectful towards her family. In the era of the novel marriage was very important for females to secure themselves. Lydia is disrespecting the society and her family when she marries Wickam, she also always wants to be the center of attention. She flirts wit h men and pulls pranks on them. With all of the glitches in the Bennet family, Lizzy is not effected by them. She winds up to be very respectful and intelligent. The theme was that love can over come anything. Even though Lizzy and Darcey’s marriage wasn’t approved by the social standards, it didn't matter because the love they shared wasn’t changed by any of the circumstances surrounding them. Lady Catherine doesn’t approve of Lizzy and Darcey’s marriage. Lady Catherine is very highly ranked socially, and she doesn’t want her nephew to marry someone with no social standards. Darcey and Lizzy’s love is so strong

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    “He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped we would never come there again.” (3) These were the feelings that Miss Elizabeth Bennet possessed at the start of Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen weaved a marvelous tale of love in its rarest and truest form. This love was formed out of a once burning hatred. The transformations throughout Austen’s masterpiece shows how true love fights through the boundary of pride and prejudice which exists in the society of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Jane Austen captivates us through the characters of Darcy and Elizabeth through their altering feelings for one another and the world causing anxiety for the readers at first but ultimately an overwhelming relief for the readers.…

    • 1309 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Heroes do many things in ways to help other people. The main character named Jonas in the book named The Giver by Lois Lowry played a very large role as a hero throughout this novel. Another hero that obtained similar characteristics as the literary hero name Jonas is Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman is a historical hero in the way as how she succeeded in helping run away slaves. Heroes risk their lives for a purpose and that’s what these people accomplished.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Elizabeth Bennet Foil

    • 388 Words
    • 2 Pages

    exceedingly strong willed, while her sister, Jane Bennet is softer spoken. Jane is a foil to Elizabeth in order to highlight Elizabeth's characteristics.…

    • 388 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Darcy is the character most often associated with pride and Elizabeth Bennett with prejudice. Ironically the novel was originally called ‘First Impressions’ an aspect Darcy seems to lack originally. Understanding the world can be perceived in many different aspects; literally or figuratively. The protagonists; Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy capture our attention from the beginning of the novel. Austen is able to contradict the patriarchal society that existed in the nineteenth century, as she builds Elizabeth to be rational, strong and independent. Women were mainly seen in this time to entertain yet Elizabeth did not carry these traits. Her perspective of the world was different to how her mother saw her future, she rejects two men of which rank highly on the social ladder proposal towards her. Ironically she ends the novel marrying the wealthiest of them all. Whereas, Darcy originally is not fond of Elizabeth ‘She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me’ his second glance at her changes his judgement he describes her eyes to be. Darcy emits a character full of pride and…

    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Every human being on this Earth has experienced sadness and heartbreak. Some instances are harder to cope with than others. Death of a loved one can be the hardest to deal with. That is the very thing Conrad must deal with in Judith Guest’s book, Ordinary People. Con and Buck grew up together as brothers and best friends. Until, there was a boating accident that took Buck’s life. The story involves how Con and his family get through life without Buck anymore. There are many characters in this book that have had some role in helping Con cope with the loss of his beloved brother. Three people that have an impact on his recovery from the sadness are Berger, Calvin, and Jeannine.…

    • 1214 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    It is known that in some residential homes the use of covert drugs has become common practice. In 2001 the regulatory body, the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery, said drugs could be given covertly if it was in the patient's best interests. This statement has created a lot of debate among some human right defenders as they might enter in direct conflict to the Code of Conduct of Nursing and Midwifery where clearly states nurses must “Ensure to gain consent before beginning any treatment or care.”…

    • 1523 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Person’s Case was a defining moment in Canadian history because; Canadian women were finally considered persons; women could own property in their name without a man; and there was now a little bit of equality between men and women.…

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Elizabeth Bennet’s personality in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is unconventional, independent, and somewhat cynical, in contrast to what was considered acceptable social behavior of women of her time. Elizabeth is extremely forthright, and though her honesty and lack of pretense is considered forward by some, her directness gives her a clear and often unflattering perception of others. She is critical of many social norms and conventions. Near the beginning of Chapter 23, Elizabeth says to her sister, Jane, “The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters and of little dependence that can placed on the appearance of either merit or sense.” Elizabeth believes that once someone makes a mistake, there is no going back. Elizabeth saw you can’t depend on the appearance of someone and their “rank” because she was shown that people aren’t what they seem to be. Elizabeth’s decision was influenced by certain experiences she had with different people, people who claim to be sophisticated and well-brought up but act rude and are quite the opposite of how they appear. Mr. Collins, for example, is an arrogant, conceited and overall pathetic man. Mr. Collins actions are almost comical because he thinks very highly of himself when everyone else takes him for a joke. With his mindset he also automatically assumes that he is more than compatible for the Bennet daughters. Elizabeth continuously rejects his proposals, but Mr. Collins is so full of himself he doesn’t believe she really means it. Mr. Collins insultingly misjudges Elizabeth as just another girl that would swoon over any marriage proposal…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Leo Tolstoy once said, “Happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” In essence, all unhappy families have their own unique reasons for feeling so. The extent to which they are unhappy varies as well. By analyzing individual conflict and struggles, the novel Ordinary People by Judith Guest, examines human nature and unique forms of “unhappiness.”…

    • 468 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Kubitschek, Missy Dehn. “Truths Universally Acknowledged: Stereotypes of Women in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813). “Women in Literature : Reading Through the Lens of Gender /. Ed. Jerilyn Fisher and Ellen S. Silber. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003. 237-239. Questia. Web. 3 May 2010.…

    • 1552 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Respect in the Military

    • 5062 Words
    • 21 Pages

    Respect, especially in the Army is a very important value to live by. It is much more than just talking kindly and listening to someone. It is the process of taking into consideration someone’s emotions, feelings and needs. You must also focus on their ideas, thoughts, and preferences. It is showing someone that you value their time; that you care what they have to say. Showing someone respect allows that person to know and acknowledge that you are tracking them and that you comprehend and believe in what they are saying, It is important to allow someone to feel your respect for them. It will ease the conversation and create trust. Behavior and attitude will allow the person demanding respect to feel that respect. When we respect each other, there are fewer conflicts. People get along easier and avoid the un-necessary drama associated with a lack of respect. For those of us in the military, this is very important.…

    • 5062 Words
    • 21 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    students that complained that the average classes were much too easy. The school hoped that by…

    • 1005 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sometime people surprise us. Sometime they outright shock us. Sometimes they turn out to be not at all who we thought they were. People are not always what they appear to be; it can be for the best or worse. Personal issues such as gambling, drugs, and alcohol can prove that people are not who they appear to be because they hide their addictions. A second example to show that people are not who they appear to be is how they decide to dress; whether it be poorly or promiscuously.…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Character Essay

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hope, Tenacity, and Ingenuity are all important things everyone must have in order to survive in life, however, when you are placed in danger, these character traits can be the most valuable thing you can have. In the sport of rock climbing/ hiking, people put themselves in harms way in order for the thrill of the sport, but also to push their limits to reach the end. However, sometimes, these dangers you believe that could not happen strike and can change your life entirely.…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen places characters in environments that reveal important details about the characters. It would have been easy to communicate Elizabeth's prejudice or Darcy's pride using the voice of a narrator, but Austen chooses a more subtle and interesting method of enlightening her readers. Whether using physical surroundings or social contexts, Austen repeatedly coordinates both time and place together to create situations in which her characters can conveniently show off the assets and/or flaws of their personalities. Once placed in Austen's well-chosen environments, her characters go into action. This action is more convincing than a narrator telling us in a few sentences that Darcy is proud and Elizabeth unfairly judges others.…

    • 2519 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays