Elizabeth Bennet's Coming of Age Condensation

In my coming of age essay I determine the phenomenon as consisting of two main aspects (among others). These are:

1. Life stage in combination with age. I other words, coming to a very climactic, difficult, or intense part in your life, and

2. Undergoing a major change/shift in opinions or worldview. Sort of like being enlightened or woken up to the way things really are. 

Here is the summary of "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, as written in in my essay just in case you haven't read it or watched one of the movie adaptations: 

Elizabeth Bennet, second eldest in a long string of sisters, begins her journey one summer when Mr. Bingley, a

wealthy gentleman,

Ms. Bingley, his sister, and Mr. Darcy, his even more wealthy friend, all move near to the Bennets.

Through a series of balls, the Bennet family becomes well acquainted with the three aristocrats, and

there is even talk of a wedding arrangement between Jane Bennet (the eldest daughter) and

Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth also starts to learn more and more about Mr. Darcy. From Mr. Wickham,

a passing soldier, she finds out that Darcy has cheated him out of a rightfully deserved inheritance,

leaving her with a most unpleasant view of Darcy.  However, by the end of the summer Bingley and

his company have left for London, shattering Jane’s hopes for a marriage. Later, Elizabeth finds out

that even this was by Darcy’s design, and assumes he purposely split them because the Bennet family

wasn’t wealthy, and Mr. Bingley would be “marrying down” in terms of status. Now, she not only

thought of him unfavorably, but had utter contempt for the man, which is understandable considering

what she believes to be true. 

Later however, after Darcy unsuccessfully and unexpectedly proposes to her, the truth of the

matter is made known. In a letter, he explains that he had not denied Wickham his rightful inheritance

but stopped him from abusing his place in the will. He also had split up Mr. Bingley and Jane not because

he thought her too lowly for him, but because he thought she did not reciprocate Bingley’s feelings and would

reject him. He later completely reverses this, clarifying the situation and actually arranging for their marriage. 

To add insult to Elizabeth’s dreadful presumptions about him, Wickham turns out to be just as conniving as

Darcy said he was. He ends up running away with Lydia, one of Elizabeth’s younger sisters, and refusing to marry her

(which in this day in age was the only way the family could emerge from this situation without being disgraced)

without a generous settlement from Mr. Bennet. This situation directly mirrors what he did with Darcy’s sister,

Georgiana, in the past. Darcy however, steps in, paying what was required, doing a great service to the family. By

the end, he and Elizabeth are married.

This story includes both of the aforementioned coming of age elements.

1. She is in a very turbulent life stage. Early twenties was when women were expected to find husbands and

Elizabeth is no exception to this rule. Also by the end of the book she has found a husband, which a very important,

if not the most important life decision .

2. She has a major awakening in terms of her own judgments (specifically against Mr. Darcy), and

understands how blind and prejudiced she was before and resolves to be better from then on.

Those are the key elements of my essay, thank you for taking the time!