Elizabeth and Darcy: Pride, Prejudice, and Love
Elizabeth and Darcy’s Encounters in *Pride and Prejudice*
There are two lengthy, unsuccessful duets and one lengthy, successful duet between Elizabeth and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. The first meeting between Elizabeth and Darcy is extraordinarily unsuccessful. After Elizabeth overhears Darcy’s unfavorable assessment of her as “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt” him, she is insulted and angry. This reveals her stubbornness, pride, and short temper. Elizabeth represents both aspects of the novel’s title, being both proud and prejudicial. She is initially quick to make judgments and is very sure of her powers of observation. However, she does not stubbornly stick to these preconceptions. With the realization of her pride and prejudice, Elizabeth begins the process of change that will eventually bring her and Darcy together. Elizabeth’s first impressions of Darcy are not as positive as those of Wickham. After being snubbed and insulted by Darcy at their initial meeting, Elizabeth agrees with Charlotte Lucas that Darcy has a right to be proud but adds that she could “easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine” (Chapter 5). Elizabeth is offended by Darcy’s pride because it is at the expense of her own pride. She perceives in him a coldness and superiority that results in her making a blind, *stupid* mistake. In other words, Elizabeth herself also suffers from the same flaw as Darcy: she is too proud.
Darcy’s First Proposal
The second unsuccessful duet takes place when Darcy confesses his love for her. She holds no bars in condemning him for his reproachable behavior toward Wickham and his interference in the relationship between her sister and Mr. Bingley, resulting in their breakup.
Elizabeth’s Self-Reflection
Elizabeth’s bravery in owning up to her failings is shown once again when she approaches Darcy’s letter, in which he gives the reasons for all his actions, which she previously accused of being “ungentlemanly-like manners.” Although feeling quite miserable and guilty, Elizabeth does not attempt to get away from the unpleasant truth about herself but valiantly faces up to it.
A Successful Union
The successful duet takes place when Elizabeth and Darcy are finally alone at the end of the novel, and she accepts his proposal. He tells her that her reproof of him at the first proposal – “had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner” – shall never be forgotten; her words tortured him. The emphasis is on speech. Her words have cured him, although she disclaims knowing the power of her voice: “I was certainly far from expecting them to make so strong an impression. I had no idea of their being ever felt in such a way.” Perhaps she did not think her words would matter to a person of his rank, but indeed she chose the only words that could have had an impact.
Darcy’s Admiration for Elizabeth
Despite the fact that Elizabeth is rather inferior to Darcy in many aspects (with very embarrassing relatives and very little wealth), he still has a high respect for her for being brilliant and witty. At the end of the novel, when all misunderstandings are swept away, Elizabeth asks Darcy to explain why he fell in love with her. Elizabeth asks him if he loves her for her “impertinence,” but Darcy replies, “For the liveliness of your mind, I did” (Chapter 60). It is the quickness of mind that partly helps Elizabeth find happiness in her marriage with Darcy.