Full of twists and turns, the comic and dramatic love story of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice offers many instances where pride interferes with the characters' lives and ambitions. Pride distracts the characters from expressing their true feelings for each other. As the characters' pride grows, it begins to influence their attitudes and judgment, leading them to make risky decisions. While most characters are guilty of pride, some display it more openly. The two protagonists of the story, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, develop a mutual interest that both are initially unwilling to admit. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy continually clash throughout the novel, as their pride is often an obstacle in their relationship. Pride interferes with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's lives by hindering their feelings for each other and causing Elizabeth's quick judgment and Darcy's snobbish actions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Because she is often quick to judge, Elizabeth uses her pride as a defense mechanism to protect herself from falling in love with Mr. Darcy. When Darcy refuses her request to dance at Meryton's ball, Elizabeth's pride tells her to put up her walls and immediately ignore Darcy as a possible love interest. Despite her overwhelming pride in his ability to judge people, she still harbors hidden feelings for him that she doesn't want to admit. Because of this, her pride does not allow her to dance with Mr. Darcy at Bingley's ball, which is a rash decision. Elizabeth is too proud to realize that Darcy is not asking her to dance out of pity or obligation, but because he genuinely has an interest in Elizabeth, even though he thought he had made up his mind about her. Furthermore, Elizabeth's pride continues to be a problem for her when Darcy proposes to her for the first time. Elizabeth cannot put aside her past encounters with Darcy, Mr. Wickham's alleged mistreatment, or the fact that he tried to separate Jane and Mr. Bingley. With great pride, he says to Darcy: "If my feelings had not been pronounced against you, if they had been indifferent or favorable, do you think any consideration would induce me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps for always, the happiness of a beloved sister? (Austen 130)” Blinded by her pride and her former judgment of Darcy, she fails to realize that her feelings and attitude towards “people of the lower classes” have changed. since he first met her, thus creating another setback in their relationship. Mr. Darcy's initial thoughts towards Elizabeth were negative, as his pride clouded his view of people of lower status at his. At Meryton's ball, Mr. Bingley suggests that he ask Elizabeth to dance, Darcy says to Bingley, “It's tolerable enough to tempt me; importance to young women who are looked down upon by other men. You'd better go back to your partner and enjoy her smiles, because you're wasting your time with me. (Austen 7)” Darcy is so proud that, initially, he cannot get close to Elizabeth because she is “unworthy” of his time. However, his feelings for Elizabeth change, as he asks her to dance at Bingley's ball, but is rejected due to his pride. Despite the fact that his attitude is changing, he crosses the line when he is exposed for deliberately doing so:.