In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen repeatedly focuses the reader on protagonist Elizabeth Bennet’s distinctive eyes in order to portray her as an atypical 19th century woman. Elizabeth is the second oldest daughter of the middle-class Bennet family, and Elizabeth’s eyes serve as a striking characteristic that sets her apart from her sisters and other women featured in the novel. Mr. Bennet boasts about his daughter’s distinctiveness by stating that “Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters,” and Austen shows how Elizabeth expresses such “quickness” through her “fine eyes” (6, 32). This “beautiful expression of her dark eyes” is precisely what attracts Mr. Darcy (28). Austen utilizes the symbol of Elizabeth’s eyes and focuses on the manner in which Elizabeth both gazes at and engages with Mr. Darcy to challenge traditional gender roles in the context of love and marriage in the 19th century.
Austen emphasizes the strength of Elizabeth’s eyes numerous times throughout the novel to illustrate that she is unlike other women of her time who solely focused on marrying men of wealth and who often had to suppress their independent thought and intellect in order to do so. Elizabeth’s striking fine, dark eyes are a window into her keen intellect and wit. She is not “silly or ignorant like other girls” (6). Mr. Darcy is drawn in by her eyes, appreciates her unconventional manner, and admits that he has never been “so bewitched by any woman as he was by her” (58). Mr. Darcy is mystified by the lure of her compelling eyes and confides that he “began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention” (65). Later, when they meet at Meryton, Mr. Darcy acknowledges the power she wields and tries not to “fix his eyes on Elizabeth” (83).
At the Netherfield Ball, Sir William Lucas also witnesses the power of Elizabeth’s gaze, stating to Mr. Darcy, “You will not thank me from detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady, whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me” (106). Nonetheless, Mr. Darcy continues to be drawn in by her eyes and finds himself constantly trying to look at her. For example, at Rosings, “he stationed himself so as to command a full view” of Elizabeth (199). Elizabeth sees what he is doing, “turns to him with an arched smile” and warns him that she will not be intimidated (199). All of these references show that Elizabeth exuded power through her eyes and actions making her a formidable partner for Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth’s dark eyes not only show the depth of her intellect, but also are a symbol of the deep connection Elizabeth seeks to have with a spouse. Austen juxtaposes Jane with other female characters who are solely focused on marrying for upward mobility. Her view on marriage contrasts with that of her mother, who views it as a transaction and professes that “the business of her life was to get her daughters married” (6). Throughout the book, the reader learns how Elizabeth’s sisters and other women view themselves as subordinate to men and seek to be the object of male gaze and desire. For instance, Mrs. Bennet boasts how her daughter Jane “was the only creature in the room” asked to dance twice by Mr. Bingley (15). Jane is flattered by winning his affection and expresses that she “did not expect such a compliment” (17). Unlike Jane, Elizabeth is not a powerless “creature” in the process, but rather she uses her gaze to play an active role in the pursuit of finding an equal marriage partner.
Unlike other women who are akin to passive “creatures” or objects of the male gaze, Elizabeth possesses power in the use of her gaze and her eyes are able to match, assess, and engage her male suitors. The first time we see Elizabeth being noticed and evaluated by Mr. Darcy, she matches his judgmental and critical gaze. When Mr. Bingley suggests that Mr. Darcy ask Elizabeth to dance, he sizes her up and then withdraws his gaze once his eye catches hers (14). Elizabeth is angered by his rude rejection and perceives him as “the man who made himself agreeable nowhere” (27) and continues to match and challenge his gaze. For example, she is bothered that he is “listening to [her] conversation with Colonel Forster” and has no issue challenging him and letting “him know that [she] sees what he is about” (28).
Elizabeth holds a grudge from their first meeting and does not aspire to gain his affection despite his wealth. When Sir William suggests that she should dance with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth “looked archly and turned away,” showing the power of her gaze (31). Elizabeth holds control over how and when she engages with Mr. Darcy and her other suitors. Ultimately, she allows Mr. Darcy to meet her gaze and both dances with and engages him in conversation. Eventually, Elizabeth finds it “impossible to avoid his sight” and like equals “their eyes instantly meet” (283). In the end, she permits herself to take an in-depth look at Mr. Darcy and see his true character. In the final chapters, Austen shows how Elizabeth tries to “turn her eyes” on Mr. Darcy and “catch a glimpse” to assess his disposition (296). She steals “a sly look” at him and once she reads his letters and visits Pemberley, she now realizes that she had misjudged his character because “she had been blind, partial, prejudicial [and] absurd” (287, 238). Unlike women of her time, Elizabeth uses her eyes and gaze to break with traditional social rules and secure a marriage based on mutual love.
Austen’s symbolic use of the eye serves as a powerful tool that reinforces the notion that Elizabeth Bennet is not the archetypal 19th century woman. Austen’s numerous references to Elizabeth’s striking eyes descriptively set her apart from her peers. The reader follows the power of her gaze and ability to attract Mr. Darcy. Moreover, Elizabeth’s eyes serve as a lens with which she views society and through which society sees her. Through Elizabeth’s fine eyes and powerful gaze, Austen challenges traditional gender roles. Austen demonstrates Elizabeth’s deep intellect, bravery in acting outside societal norms, and her keen ability to ultimately perceive the world around her and achieve her goal of securing a relationship grounded in mutual affection and respect. Elizabeth and Darcy eventually shed prejudice, match eyes, and see each other fully as equals in love and marriage.
