Do any characters in pride and prejudice change substantially

The characters in "Pride and Prejudice" written by Jane Austen don’t substantially change. None of the characters actually goes to any specific personality change, but they change in a way that they get free of their pride, prejudice and influence that other people or society has over them. For example, Elizabeth Bennet changes her opinion on Mr. Darcy after she gets to know him better and Charles Bingley return to marry Jane Bennet despite his sister, friends and society’s judgment.

Two of the most major dynamic characters at the conclusion of the novel is Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, for both overcome the influences of pride and prejudice, one of the major themes of the story. After their initial first impressions of contempt of each other, more so on Elizabeth's behalf, one's affection towards the other grew substantially until, by the end, they are irrevocably in love.

Darcy and Elizabeth first encounter each other at a ball when Mr. Bingley suggests that he dance with her. He replies,"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt [him], and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me." His initial reaction towards Elizabeth displays his prejudice against those he deigns beneath him.

On the same occasion, Elizabeth formulates her evaluation of Mr. Darcy's character. After his unwillingness to dance with any other lady than Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley and his slighting comments to Elizabeth, she decided, "He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again."

These initial impressions of each other slowly fade, however. When Darcy gives Elizabeth the letter, she finds her evaluation of him to be shockingly incorrect and voices this doubt with, "This must be false! This cannot be! This must be the grossest falsehood!" Even Darcy admits later on that his family, "almost taught [him] to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none beyond [his] own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world." However, after closer inspection of Elizabeth's character, Darcy soon begins to overcome his prejudice.

One pair of static characters in the plot is Lydia and Wickham. This is done for a specific reason, mainly to act as a foil to Elizabeth and Darcy. Lydia's indifference to love in marriage leads her into a shameful union with Wickham, leaving her unhappy and unsuccessful, while Elizabeth marries Darcy because of their mutual affection and are happy together.