Hacksaw’s Function in the Novel ‘ Pride and Prejudice’ In the novel ‘ Pride and Prejudice’, written by Jane Austin, there are many different characters, each with their own roles to play in order for the story to reach its final product. Among these many characters is George Hickman. Though generally brushed off as a minor character, George Hickman plays a vital role in the relationship between Elizabeth Bennett and Fatalism Dared. Through both his lies and his amatory adventures, Hickman is the source of both Elizabethan loathing and love for Mr. Dared.
Throughout the novel, Elizabeth opinion of Mr. Hickman changes dramatically. For the first half of the novel, Elizabeth adores Hickman and believes him to be the perfect gentleman. He achieves this high appraisal mainly through his false recount of his previous affairs with Mr. Dared, saying of Dared “ It is wonderful, for almost all his actions may be traced to pride; and pride has often been his best friend. It has connected him nearer with virtue than with any other feeling” (page 75).
The false recount of Hacksaw’s affairs with Fatalism Dared confirms Elizabethan revises pollens of Dared, which she presents through saying: ‘ l have spent four days in the same house with him and I think him very disagreeable” (page 71 She is lead to believe that Dared reserves only the slightest acknowledgement of anyone but his closest friends and family – the people of his class. Hickman however appears, to Elizabeth, to be quite the opposite of Dared and she thinks of him that whatever he says is said well and whatever he does is done gracefully (page 77).
The dramatic antitheses between each man’s personalities highlight the gentlemanliness poise of Hickman, making him the more attractive of the two. What then changes Elizabethan attractions to Mr. Hickman, is the discovery of his previous amatory adventures. Hickman was involved in three amatory adventures, mentioned throughout the course of ‘ Pride and Prejudice’. The first of these escapades was his failed elopement with Georgian Dared. This played a vital role in Dairy’s opinion of Mr. Hickman and eventually led to Elizabethan realization of Hacksaw’s true character as well.
Elizabethan opinion of Hacksaw’s past with Georgian Is apparent toward the end of he novel, when she says to Mr. Dared ‘… That I might have prevented It! L, who knew what he was’ (page 236) Hacksaw’s second adventure was very short lived and is often overlooked. It was his attempt at marrying Miss King who, according to Elizabeth, is a good sort of girl and the inheritor of her Grandfather’s fortune (page 134). This escapade is significant as it slightly shapes Elizabethan opinions and affections towards Mr. Hickman.
Where she once thought of him as a possible husband, after this escapade, she says to her aunt, ‘ I am now convinced… Hat I had never been in love’ (page 132) His final and most significant of his adventures was Hacksaw’s elopement with Lydia Bennett. This elopement is very significant as it shapes Elizabethan opinions of both Hickman and Dared, greatly. Elizabeth was frightened when she heard of Hacksaw’s failed elopement with Georgian and when he runs away with Lydia, her fright elevates to utter disgust and loathing.
When, however, she finds out Darers part In the whole affair, Austin hints of really made to think about these two men before her, each so different in both rationality and in appearance and she begins to find it easier to see the good in Dared and her affections toward him heighten. This is shown at the end of the novel Nee Elizabeth sees Dared again and thinks to herself, ‘ A man who has one been refused. How could I be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love? Page 290) It is not Just the results of Hacksaw’s elopement with Lydia, however, that makes Elizabeth rethink her answer to Dairy’s previous sentiments. The extreme difference in character of the two men also highlights Dairy’s integrity. The extreme differences n Hacksaw’s and Dairy’s personalities are the source of Elizabethan feelings towards them both. At the start of the novel, Hacksaw’s natural manners and easy going nature highlight the pride and arrogance of Mr. Dared.
Dared tries to explain his awkward personality to Elizabeth, saying; We neither of us perform to strangers’ (page 153). Elizabeth however is taken by Hacksaw’s cordiality and brushes Dared off. Towards the end of the book however, events change and the two men swap personalities completely. Hacksaw’s evident greed and self-centeredness is then slighted by Dairy’s change in air. Austin highlights Dairy’s personality change through his conversations with the Gardeners.
Mrs. Gardener says of Dared; ‘ But how come you told us he was so disagreeable… He has not an ill-natured look. On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when he speaks’ (page 219). For a long time, Hacksaw’s pleasant nature caught Elizabeth up in prejudice and she avoided Dairy’s ill-natured countenance. Her prejudice however, dissipated when she saw both men’s true personalities and the dramatic difference between Dairy’s IR made Elizabeth rethink her opinion of him and her affections towards him heightened greatly.
It was because of Hickman that these changes in Dared were so conspicuous. In conclusion, Hickman played a vital role in the relationship of Elizabeth and Mr. Dared. At the start of the book, through his lies and manipulations, Nickname confirms Elizabethan loathing of Mr. Dared. By the end of the book however, Mr. Hickman has unconsciously changed Elizabethan opinions of Mr. Dared through the results of his three amatory adventures and through the obvious change in Dairy’s countenance – highlighted by Hacksaw’s poor qualities.
