Querube Barber - Outside

Judging Others?

Pride & Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen and first published in 1813, four years before the author’s death. In recent years, it was made into a movie, with the latest release in 2005. While it is a very good book to read, it is also a good movie to watch. The novel is the story of Elizabeth Bennet, a girl whose first impression of a rich man, Mr. Darcy, is completely erroneous. When Elizabeth first meets Mr. Darcy, she thinks he is very proud. Indeed, he appears to be very proud. As she talks to him, her prejudice against him increases.

One of the first things you notice about Pride & Prejudice is how interested Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth’s mother, is in marrying her daughters into rich families. It all starts when she hears that a rich young man, Mr. Bingley, is moving from the northern part of England to an estate near the Bennet’s. Mrs. Bennet pressures her husband to go meet Mr. Bingley as soon as he moves in and invite him to the Bennets’ house. The Bennets have five daughers. Mrs. Bennet’s oldest daughter, Jane, is her favorite daughter, while Mr. Bennet’s favorite daughter is the second one, Elizabeth.

As the story unfolds, Mr. Darcy’s interest for Elizabeth increases just as much as Elizabeth’s interest for him. Without Elizabeth’s knowledge, Mr. Darcy does some kind things for Elizabeth’s sisters. When Elizabeth finds out about the nice things Mr. Darcy has done for her sisters, Elizabeth starts falling in love with him. Mr. Darcy asks Mr. Bennet for Elizabeth’s hand, and Mr. Bennet agrees.

Even though this is just a fictional story, the theme of pride and prejudice is very relevant and true in life. Many people will judge other people unjustly without giving them the opportunity to prove themselves. The saying “you can’t judge a book by the cover” certainly proved true in this couple’s life. In the case of Elizabeth Bennet, she judged Mr. Darcy for the outward appearance and considered him a proud man. In reference to judging other people, Jesus says in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Fortunately for Elizabeth, she found out that she was mistaken and that Mr. Darcy was not proud but had a noble heart.

Elizabeth came to the realization that she had been too harsh on Mr. Darcy since she also had pride on her discernment. Jesus also addresses this when He says in Matthew 7:3, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? As human beings, haven’t we all at one point or another been guilty of “Pride & Prejudice”?