Eyes In Pride And Prejudice Essay

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In the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, eyes are always being identified and mentioned. Eyes are a feature that many find attractive and appealing in a significant other, but in the novel they are viewed as more than a physical feature. Throughout the novel many characters see eyes in an attractive sense and others use eyes around the subject of attraction. In the novel eyes are not only an attractive feature that reveal characters’ hidden emotions, interests, and private opinions, but are also a tool for Austen’s construction of the characters.
In the novel characters like Mr. Darcy, Lizzy, and Caroline reveal their hidden emotions, desires, and private opinions through the attraction of eyes and the attraction around eyes.
“I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow." Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had …show more content…

Darcy's interest for Lizzy is shown when he says “I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow,” (Pg. 27) because he was referring to Lizzy's observant eyes. In the section where its says, “Desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections.”(Pg. 27) Caroline Bingley’s desire for Darcy is shown. Darcy mentions his attraction to Lizzy’s eyes in a restrained way that later reveals Caroline’s “desire” to be the owner of the pair of eyes that Darcy admires. “As she stood before the canvas on which he was represented, and fixed his eyes upon her,”(Pg. 240) she had placed his eyes on her and imagined a moment where the eyes on the canvas focused on hers, as they would if he was present. The way she places herself in an imaginary situation in which Darcy shows affection presents the desire she has for Darcy deep down in her heart. These characters emotions come through the attraction of eyes and the attraction around

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