Do you think first impressions are always true? Well, if you answered yes, your opinion might change after reading Jane Austen’s timeless classic Pride & Prejudice. Although this book is set in late 1700s-early 1800s England, it can surely still relate to every reader today. Jane Austen takes an interesting perspective on England’s society during that period, criticizing and making fun of the social class divisions, especially the pride of the higher social class citizens. All of this is done through a unique lens, a lens of love, which might appeal to lots of modern teenage readers. The novel follows the life of Elizabeth Bennet, a young lady navigating through those social intricacies and finding her true love despite ugly first impressions. 

While you might want to hear a summary of the novel, I will leave that for your own exploration as I believe settling down for reading just a summary of such a piece would almost be a crime. Everyone should flip through every single page of this book without missing a word. It is full of irony, satire, and sarcasm. Even the very first line of the book alone will bring excitement, intrigue, and a smile to every reader. Instead, I want to cut into Pride and Prejudice through one of its major themes, the theme of first impressions, more specifically the wrong first impression and what they can cost. In the case of young Elizabeth, she wouldn’t have met her soulmate if she gave into her first thoughts about Mr. Darcy, her future husband. 

Even the title of the book, Pride and Prejudice, sums up the main ideas of the story. Jane Austen shows us how pride can act as a barrier to understanding and connection and is frequently expressed as society demands and through personal arrogance. Prejudice hinders a character's capacity to see past their initial perceptions since it is motivated by cultural conventions and snap judgments. This connects back to the criticism of the social class system in England which makes certain people think of themselves higher than someone else, which might repel and contradict the sympathy that their heart feels. Funny enough, Jane Austen was initially going to actually name her novel First Impressions. 

Though Elizabeth is very mature and intelligent, even at the outset of the novel, she must learn a valuable lesson in order to move forward and make a successful marriage. Being from the higher class, Elizabeth has to fight many battles to find her true love. On the occasion of their first meeting, Darcy offends Elizabeth’s pride as she initially sees him as a proud, disagreeable man. Elizabeth receives her second proposal of marriage from Mr. Darcy, and once again she refuses. All because of her first impressions, which would later change. Everyone calls Elizabeth a fool because Mr. Darcy is a perfect option not only for Elizabeth, but for her whole family as he has the status and the wealth to provide for both families. Based on her first impressions, Elizabeth coldly refuses him saying, “I might as well inquire…why, with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character?” Little does she know she will fall madly in love with him later after all the fogginess from their first interaction clears. Indeed, as the story unfolds, both characters gradually realize the limitations of their first impressions. Elizabeth discovers Mr. Darcy's true character and the depth of his feelings for her, while Mr. Darcy recognizes Elizabeth's intelligence and integrity. Overcoming these initial biases becomes crucial for their relationship to thrive, highlighting the novel's exploration of the consequences of pride and prejudice in matters of the heart. 

In conclusion, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is definitely a must read that gives you an experience that you can’t get from a summary. Elizabeth’s story is a symbolistic example of the misguidance of first impressions --- so don’t let your first thought impact you and repel you from a certain person. Get to know them and you might discover the other side of them and find your best friend or soulmate for life. As a famous phrase says, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”