Final answer:
In the early parts of 'Pride and Prejudice,' Elizabeth Bennet is depicted as scrupulous due to her strong moral principles and ethical discernment, in contrast to characters like Mrs. Bennet.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the character who is shown to be scrupulous in the beginning chapters is Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth is portrayed as intelligent, witty, and morally principled. Unlike her mother, Mrs. Bennet, who is more concerned with securing advantageous marriages for her daughters, Elizabeth shows a strong sense of propriety and a sharpness of mind that suggests she values character and integrity over social climbing. For example, Elizabeth's reactions to the improprieties of others, including the snobbishness of Mr. Darcy, demonstrate her ethical discernment. In contrast, characters like Mrs. Bennet are less scrupulous, being more flat in their characterization and driven by a single-minded concern for marriage prospects rather than moral or ethical considerations.