"The process of interior character development--embodied in the titles Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice--is essentially a via negativa, a dialectical process rejecting different extremes (too much pride, too much sensibility, etc.) to find a middle ground."
("The One v.s. the Many" by Woloch, page 55)
"It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world."
"Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude," replied Elizabeth, "have any possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern — and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn."
(Pride and Prejudice,Volume III, page 359)
Question: According to Woloch, what does it mean for a character to be fully developed in a text?
In the selected passage from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the reader is exposed to Lady Catherine's overwhelming negative perceptions towards the idea of Elizabeth Bennet's marrying of Mr. Darcy. The interaction between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth promote the development of both characters. In the text of Pride and Prejudice it is evident the character s do push each other's extremes towards a middle ground. It would seem that Lady Catherine has too much pride, as she does throughout the novel. The juxtaposition with Elizabeth's defense of herself contrasts this nicely. The contrast of the two characters through dialogue effectively promotes the development of each one respectively. Essentially via negativa the two characters' characters are strengthened.
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