Alternate Titles to an Austen Masterpiece: Pride and Prejudice vs. First Impressions Anonymous 11th Grade

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a novel about characters overcoming hardships that are necessary for their happiness. Before Jane Austen decided on the final title, she chose the title First Impressions, which acknowledges that the main barrier that the characters must overcome is 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 long-lasting, dissipate by the end of the novel and their views of each other change completely. Although this title seems to depict 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 characters’ actions and events that take place in the novel, pride and prejudice cause the characters to behave the way that they do, but Pride and Prejudice is a more appropriate title for the novel.

Elizabeth forms her impressions of Darcy before even meeting him, solely off of his disposition at the Netherfield Ball. According to Elizabeth, "He [is] the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and...