The Metamorphosis of Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice Introduced in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as a good-looking, self-centered aristocrat, Fitzwilliam Darcy experiences a change in his personality and character. Falling in love was what Darcy needed to shed his existing views on marriage and money. Although Mr. Darcy was polite, he did not know how to treat women with respect, especially those of lower social status than himself. However, Elizabeth Bennet's love changed his behavior forever. Darcy's arrogance shines through early in the novel in his first appearance at Meryton's ball. When speaking of Elizabeth Bennet, he so snobbishly stated that she was “… tolerable, but not beautiful enough to tempt me” (230). His feelings of superiority towards the people of the town cause Mr. Darcy to be judged as a man with a repugnant and atrocious personality. Women, who at first glance had found him extraordinarily handsome, considered him a man unworthy of marriage because he offered no positive qualities beyond wealth and physical attractiveness. Not only did Darcy refuse a dance with Elizabeth, but he made it clear that no woman in the room met his standards of a fit woman by stating that, "...there is not another woman in this room, who would not be a punishment to me to resist" (229). Mr. Darcy only cares about people's wealth and social standing at the beginning of the novel and will not even communicate with the people of the town as they are inferior to him and undeserving of his presence. However, as the novel progresses, Darcy becomes more and more accepting of the Bennet family, whom he had previously considered nothing... middle of paper... ce. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1996. Hennelly, Jr., Mark M. “Pride and Prejudice.” Jane Austen: New Perspectives. and. Janet Todd. New York: Holmes & Meier Publishers, Inc., 1983. Jane Austen information page. Henry's Cemetery. University of Texas, Austin. November 23, 2000. .Monaghan, David. Jane Austen's structure and social vision. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1980. Poplawski, Paul. An encyclopedia of Jane Austen. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1998. Reidhead, Julia, ed. Norton Anthology of English Literature vol. 7, 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.Ward, David Allen. "Pride and Prejudice". Explainer. 51.1: (1992). Wright, Andrew H. "Sentiment and Complexity in Pride and Prejudice." Ed. Donald Gray. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1966. 410-420.