Poor Miss Elizabeth believes what Wickham tells her, on no other authority than his own words, while chastising Miss Bingley for accepting Darcy's story on the same basis. Elizabeth forms opinions of people based on her interpretation of their "surfaces", and this can hardly be surprising since it is what she's learned at home.

Mrs. Bennet rates people entirely on their wealth and social position. She fawns over those above her status, and she snubs or ignores those below her. Mr. Bennet rates people according to their behavior. He enjoys laughing at their ignorance and mocking their pretensions. He ridicules his own wife before her daughters and in public.

Elizabeth has a lively intelligence and high spirits. What she lacks is insight into her own behavior or that of others. This lack could lead her into taking actions that have cruel results. Alas, this sword of superficiality could harm our Elizabeth as well as those around her.

Can she grow beyond her upbringing and see into her own behavior and that of those around her? Will she learn how to evaluate the Wickhams and Darcys of the world? What say you, Gentle Readers?