At first impression Jane (Bennet) is just an attractive, mild, naive, docile good young woman who lacks the energy and stamina to stand up for what she wants in life and lacks the cleverness or insight to judge other people and recognize their true intentions and character. We might even come to the conclusion that in her effort to be good she refuses to see the obvious and clings to foolish beliefs in spite of blatant evidence to the contrary.
A true appreciation of Jane’s accomplishment must take into account the central role which she herself played. Did Jane actually do anything that led to her own success? If so, it certainly did not take the form of active scheming or aggressive self-promotion. From start to finish her behavior was impeccably restrained. What, then, precisely was Jane’Âs contribution to her own accomplishment?
We need not doubt the intensity of her interest in Bingley (love interest) or her eagerness to marry at age 23. After the first ball, she frankly acknowledges to her sister her admiration for him. When Bingley returns to London, she is severely disappointed and depressed.
Jane had been raised in a society that held up modesty and passivity as high standards for feminine conduct, and yet we find no one else in the story who comes close to her in meeting the standard. Contrast Jane’s behavior with that of her Mother. Both are perhaps equally eager for the match with Bingley. Mrs. Bennet is unable and unwilling to contain her eagerness. Having pressed Mr. Bennet to call on Bingley when he first arrived, she openly declares her mercenary ambitions to people. Jane on the other hand refuses to take any initiative that is not thoroughly proper and appropriate. Obviously her expression of interest was sufficient encouragement to Bingley, but from a distance others had difficulty perceiving it.
We fault Jane for not being able to see through intrigues. But her inability was at least partially unwillingness, unwillingness to think negatively about anyone she knows. Everyone else in the story not only is able but almost eager to accuse, scorn or laugh at others. Mrs. Bennet accuses everyone of ruining her schemes. Anyone who tries not to think negatively of other people, suspect, criticize or accuse-especially when things go wrong-will find it almost an impossible exercise in psychological self-restraint. That is Jane’s principal strength; the reason why she is so deeply loved by her sister, attractive to Bingley and ultimately to many.
When Caroline and Darcy take initiative to prevent the relationship from maturing by scurrying Bingley off to London, Jane refuses to suspect or find fault with either Bingley or his companions. Jane’s one concern was that she must not be known as one who sought after Bingley. She made a conscious effort not to pursue him. It is true that after Caroline calls on her at the Gardiner’s house in London, Jane wrote to her sister acknowledging her blind spot. She does so mainly to recognize the wisdom and value of her sister’s advice, rather than to condemn Caroline for what she has done.
We can easily dismiss all those as her immaturity, naivete or downright folly, but Jane’s composure and equanimity are a product of intense psychological self-discipline. She does have an aspiration to fulfill a high ideal, the ideal of being the good and worthy daughter of a respectable gentleman. The capacity not to react in the face of extreme provocation and disappointment, to not complain or condemn others for one’s misfortunes, the refusal to pursue mercenary selfish goals, even to indulge in self-pity are high human endowments which qualify Jane for high accomplishment. Jane has an aspiration, she strives to meet the challenges that confront her by further self-discipline and self-improvement. In this sense, she is one whose accomplishment is directly attributable to her effort for psychological growth.
