Why does everyone adopt a low opinion of darcy in Pride and Prejudice?

Answer 1

From the very beginning, Darcy proves himself to be conceited and rude. He takes his social status very seriously and seems to look down on those who are less wealthy than him. As the book continues, Elizabeth (with whom the reader is meant to identify with most) dislikes Darcy more and more. He personally insults her many times by saying that she is not pretty enough for him and, even when he proposes to her for the first time, he points out that he is too far above her in terms of social status for them to be compatible.

Most of the people in Hertfordshire (where Meryton, Longbourn, and Netherfield are) start to dislike Darcy once Wickham spreads rumors about Darcy unjustly denying Wickham the money that Darcy's father left for Wickham when he died. Darcy later tells Elizabeth the truth, that Wickham was trying to take more money than was left to him, but Elizabeth never tells any else. So, many people continue to think of Darcy as a bad person.

However, not everyone has a low opinion of Darcy. He is very close to his younger sister, Georgiana. He is also very close to his friend Bingley, who stands up for Darcy when others criticize him. Mrs. Reynolds, the woman who looks after Darcy's estate in Pemberly, says very kind things about Darcy to Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle and seems quite fond of him. Miss Bingley is almost obsessed with Darcy, though that may be more for his status and money than for his personality, because he is rude to her throughout the book. Darcy's aunt.