Elizabeth is a spontaneous, high spirited, vivacious woman with a witty disposition. She is confident and is not intimidated by the upper class or overawed by the arrogant Mr. Darcy. This strikes the responder as surprising, considering the context in which Pride and Prejudice was composed, for, in the Regency period, wealth, economics and social stature was the most emphasized and valued attribute of a person, establishing Elizabeth's individualistic qualities and illustrating that she is in fact an individual in society, even to the extend that Darcy himself recognizes that she is endowed with sense and sensibility and radically different from any other woman he has encountered. Elizabeth proves that she is a woman particular to her age and society, yet is still different and separate from it all the same. For in the 19th century, a woman with limited money, such as herself, only had their beauty to recommend them, and Elizabeth reflected these values and in doing so, satirized them, as she did not believe in or condone matrimony for financial security. Even though her family was highly dependant on the hope of advantageous marriages for both Jane and Elizabeth, in order to secure financial security, Elizabeth remained adamant that marriage was a sacred bond of only the deepest affection, thus again reinforcing her individualistic position in society. However, even though she has such a conviction, Elizabeth still grasps the fact that her family does need to conform to society's expectations, and in return so must she. When she states to Jane:.
" As you are five times as pretty as the rest of us and have the sweetest disposition, I fear it will fall on you to raise our fortunes".
The responder can identify her extreme intelligence and grasp of reality as she acknowledges the need of the very same advantageous marriages she refuses to pardon. Whilst reflecting the view of society, Elizabeth remains to reinforce her individualism and strong convictions regardless of what people may think of her.
