3 Lessons in Friendship from ‘Pride and Prejudice’

Jane Austen’s novel looks at relationships beyond the romantic.

Illustration by Hugh Thomson of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, from the 1894 London edition of "Pride and Prejudice." Public Domain

The literary genius of Jane Austen lies not in lyrical descriptions or epic, sprawling plots, but in her keen observations of human nature. Her study of character and relationships—romantic relationships in particular—place her among the top echelon of writers in the English language. We can learn a lot about the human condition and society from her novels. The novels’ everyday settings make their lessons especially accessible and relevant.

Jane Austen’s most famous novel, “Pride and Prejudice,” ranks among the top romances of all time. In addition to providing a lovely tale of romance, the book also incisively explores friendships. Here are three lessons in friendship that we can glean from the pages of “Pride and Prejudice.”

Be Careful of First Impressions

The novel’s title alone informs reveals that it’s concerned with the ways we judge each other on first appearance, and how those judgments can be wildly incorrect. The novel’s heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, is generally a good judge of character. However, her keen powers of observation and her record of correct judgments makes her very confident in her opinions even when—occasionally—she’s mistaken.