Prejudice

Elizabeth, having a bad impression of Mr. Darcy, continues to believe all the things said about him in her conversation with Mr. Wickham. Jane's effort to dissuade her has no significant effect on her. Elizabeth certainly believes "Mr. Bingley's being imposed on than that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me [her] ...If it be not so let Mr. Darcy contradict it" (65) She suspects the view that Mr. Darcy's closest acquaintance has of him now just because of a story a stranger tells.

This makes me believe even more that Elizabeth is demonstrating prejudice. In the ball, she shows much contempt to Darcy that when she was to dance with him she find is to be a misfortune to "find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate" (68). She doesn’t even try to see a different aspect from him. She has a settled image of Mr. Darcy that would not change whatsoever. It’s quite ironic when Elizabeth asks Mr. Darcy if he "never allow[s] yourself [himself] to be blinded by prejudice" and says "It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion tone secure of judging properly at first" (71). What she describes reflects her own behavior.

Elizabeth trusts Mr. Wickham almost unconditionally and defends him in any occasion he is offended by someone else. I think this comes from him being the one who identifies with her hatred towards Mr. Darcy. Knowing that she has someone by her side makes her justify her thoughts which otherwise she would know it is wrong.