How does Austen create her characters in Chapter 11?

As you read further into the book 'Pride and Prejudice', you soon realise that there is very little description of the characters and where it does appear it serves to highlight some element of the character. You may then conclude from this that it is not the appearance of the characters that interests Austen, but their moral qualities and we can form our own opinions of the characters through not only their external elements such as their appearance, name and actions, but by also taking into consideration their internal elements such as their motives, what they think and what the narrator says. In chapter 11, Austen creates her characters by drawing awareness to these elements using numerous amounts of effective methods.

In the first paragraph, Elizabeth’s opinions about her two friends are shown through the narrator’s voice as the narrator informs us that she had "never seen them so agreeable". This supports the argument that Elizabeth is the centre of thought throughout the book so that it grants authority to her opinion and allows the reader to stay with her. Also, differences between the three men are shown when it says that Darcy addressed himself "with a polite congratulation" and Mr Hurst "also made her a slight bow", however "warmth remained for Bingley's salutation" and the word "but" highlights the informality that differentiates Mr Bingley from Mr Darcy and Mr Hurst as he has a very formal manner which contrasts with their informal approach.

Another character who is created in the Chapter is Miss Bingley who has a methodical plan and motives in securing Darcy by marrying him which is suggested when it says "she has obtained private intelligence that Mr Darcy did not wish for cards" and also when she mimics him in attempt to attract his attention: "Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same". The implication that she is only doing things for the motive of Mr Darcy continues to come across strongly as you read deeper into the chapter and, in comparison to Elizabeth, you may start to question her genuineness as she was "much engaged in watching Mr Darcy's progress through his book, as in reading her own" . Also, the fact that she felt "exhausted" as she was reading the book and yet she says "how pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way" shows us that she is hypocritical and Austen then allows the subjection of her foolish ways to mockery as she only chose the book she is reading because "it was the second volume of his".

Moreover, the interaction between the characters comes across as quite awkward at times due the silence created by not replying to each other comments, such as when "Miss Bingley made no reply" to her brother and "no one made any reply" to Miss Bingley. Also, Mr Darcy loses concentration in what he is doing when Elizabeth draws attention to herself which is shown when he "unconsciously closed his book". This is not what occurs when Miss Bingley attempts to gain his focus on what she is saying/doing, therefore underneath Mr Darcy must have an attraction towards her however Elizabeth does not feel this attraction towards him as she deliberately wants to him to feel disappointment: "our surest way of disappointing him, will be to ask nothing about it". This contrasts with Miss Bingley’s approach as she was "incapable of disappointing Mr Darcy".

Other notes

·         Austen uses a lack of attribution in the Chapter to show the level of interest that the characters have towards each other and how connected they are.

·         Character awareness – Mr Darcy starts to analyse his own character, which is shown when it says “my temper would perhaps be called resentful”, therefore he is becoming aware of who he is. However, he is also becoming aware of who Elizabeth is as the chapter finishes with “he began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention”, meaning that he is taking risks in order to get to know Elizabeth.

·         Elizabeth and Mr Darcy become flirtatious and focused on each other during the end of   the chapter which is shown when Mr Darcy mimics Elizabeth by saying “and your”. He also listens willingly to what she believes are his faults and then changes what he says for Elizabeth, which is implied when he pauses after “and pride”, showing that he allows her to change his mind.