What Are Your Fine Qualities

It is not the author's style in Pride and Prejudice, but the characters—notably that of Elizabeth Bennett, that one is drawn to which carried Austen's book into a top classic. She's been dubbed the best female character ever penned, but if we look close enough we see that we have overlooked a truth about Miss Elizabeth: she is incomplete. It wasn't Elizabeth's sparkling personality, because she's actually quite dull by herself. What made Elizabeth a superstar was her foil.

 

A "foil" is a literary term meaning, "One that by contrast underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another," as taken from www.thefreedictionary.com. A foil is a character possessing traits that are opposite from the main character, therefore illuminating the main character's fine qualities.

 

What immortal Jane Austen character have we forgotten?

 

None other than Lydia Bennett. Wild, boisterous, flirtatious and immature—Elizabeth's youngest sister is only remembered for being, well, horrible. To put it kindly, she's annoying; but at the core, Lydia lacks modesty.

 

To some, "modesty" is another antiquated word from Austen's era. To others, it may be commonly used but rarely understood. Properly defined, modesty is the special combination of unpretentiousness and discretion; it is a desire not to draw undue attention to self.

 

Consider for a minute what Webster's 1828 states:

 

"…modesty springs no less from principle than from feeling, and is manifested by retiring, unobtrusive manners, assuming less to itself than others are willing to yield, and conceding to others are all due honor and respect, or even more than they expect or require….In females, modesty has the like character as in males; but the word is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle."

 

What makes Elizabeth Bennett so special?

 

Compared to her sister's immodesty, we admire her self-control. She's characterized by quiet good sense—not a desire to be noticed—therefore, we notice her.

 

The contrast between Elizabeth and Lydia symbolizes the choice we must make:

 

• Modesty or flaunting?

• Humility or attention demanding?

 

Which are you adorning in "the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious" (1 Peter 3:4)?

 

Most of all, which character are you exemplifying in your life?