We don’t actually meet Edward in the earliest chapters of the book, and I believe in doing that JA shows a unique kind of genius in her writing. We get all of the clues we need to truly understand his real character, no matter what might come along in the middle chapters of the book. Yes, there are a lot of contradictions and uncertainties, but I believe that serves to give us a glimpse into how deep his personality actually is. It is my very humble opinion that Edward (or the lack of him) is used in these early chapters not only to highlight and enlighten us of his personality, but also of just about everyone else we meet in this part of the book. In their descriptions and analysis of him, we get to know not only him, but a very great deal about all of them. When we do first actually meet Edward, we know him so well that his emotional (for him) outburst, on receiving the news of their imminent departure to Devonshire, both startles us by the force (again, for him) of his response, and confirms our perception of his (true) feelings for Elinor. I think this was a very brilliant tactic to introduce a main personality in a clever, illuminating, and non-traditional way.