Jane Bennet is one of the key female protagonists of the early 19th century novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. She is the eldest of the Bennet sisters and the most beautiful of them and in the entire local neighborhood. I will attempt to highlight her personality traits that reveal through her relations and interactions with other characters of the novel.
The pretty looks of Jane are highlighted at the very beginning of the novel. Mr. Darcy describes her as “the only handsome girl in the room”, and Mr. Bingley is enchanted by “the most beautiful creature” he has ever seen (8). Despite her pretty features, she is modest and, as Elizabeth mentions, “compliments always take [her] by surprise” (10). This is why Mr. Bingley’s attention at the ball astonished her.
Besides her nice exterior, Jane is characterized by inner beauty as well. She is kind and friendly and sees only the good in people. Elizabeth reproaches her that she never detects “a fault in any body” (10). Elizabeth thinks that her sister is blind to the other people’s flaws and sweet to everyone. This personality trait makes it difficult for Mr. Darcy to see her feeling for Bingley. As he observed, Jane “smiled too much”(12). Even though for Elizabeth it was clear that her sister was in love with Bingley, Jane’s inability or unwillingness to flirt with Bingley gives the misleading impression of her indifference.
As the novel develops, we observe that Jane is a good loving sister, ready to help Elizabeth with advice and soften up her judgmental nature and prejudices about Mr. Darcy. However, unlike her sister, Jane does not experience any changes in her character. Her feelings for Bingley does not alter or weaken, even in spite of Bingley’s leave.
Overall, this stability and consistency of the character may cause admiration but does not show any transformation or evolution, so interesting and remarkable in other protagonists.
Work Cited:
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: W.W.Norton. 2001. Print
