I was struck by how chapter 1 opens and closes. The first three words of the chapter, and indeed the whole novel, are 'Sir Walter Elliot.

And what do we end on, but the word 'pride'. Quite telling, I think.

We read rather a lot about Sir Walter in chapter 1 - his vanity, his tastes, his attitudes, and so on - and I think it's more than a coincidence as to how the chapter starts and finishes. He's indeed a 'conceited, silly' man, narrow of mind. Of course he ought to be the centre of attention. ;-)