Elizabeth Bennet- Varsity Tutors Scholarship Essay by Taylor
Taylor's entry into Varsity Tutor's October 2025 scholarship contest
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Elizabeth Bennet- Varsity Tutors Scholarship Essay by Taylor - October 2025 Scholarship Essay
Jane Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice explores deep meanings of human nature, judgment, and personal growth. Elizabeth Bennet is a character full of intelligence, wit, and strong sense of self. Overtime, she grows and learns her lesson of the importance of open-mindedness and authenticity.
Elizabeth’s journey is a strong reminder of the dangers of judging others. At the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth jumps to make inaccurate judgements on two vital characters, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham. Instead of talking to them and gaining her own judgment, she gets her impressions from secondhand stories. She believes Darcy is proud and arrogant, while Wickham seems charming. However, as time goes on, she learns her initial judgments were untrue. Darcy is in fact not arrogant, but very caring. Wickham’s charm covered his selfishness and deceit. This change in Elizabeth’s understanding teaches her an important lesson, people are more complex than they appear at first glance and impressions can be untrue.
Along with this comes the lesson of the importance of willingness to reconsider one’s beliefs. Elizabeth is a special character because she owns up to her mistakes, realizing and pointing out her misjudgment. When she revealed the truths, she adjusts her views. People make mistakes, but the important part is being and to realize this and own up to it. Elizabeth’s journey encourages the audience to remain open-minded and approach people and situations without bias.
Moreover, Elizabeth Bennet also provides the lesson to stay true to oneself. The story is based on early 19th-century England, where social norms pressured women to marry for status and security. However, Elizabeth chose to follow her heart and marry for love. She challenges societal expectations to be happy for herself. This sends a message about authenticity and self-respect.
In conclusion, Jane Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice offers many lessons including avoiding judging others, embracing humility, and staying authentic to oneself. These lessons are still relevant today, reminding others and myself to be thoughtful, reflective, and true to ourselves.