Favourite Passage in P&P- Siqi 08A201

But this idea was soon banished, and her spirits were very differently affected, when, to her utter amazement, she saw Mr. Darcy walk into the room. In an hurried manner he immediately began an enquiry after her health, imputing his visit to a wish of hearing that she were better. She answered him with cold civility. He sat down for a few moments, and then getting up, walked about the room. Elizabeth was surprised, but said not a word. After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her in an agitated manner, and thus began,

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.''

Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her immediately followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority -- of its being a degradation -- of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.

In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive; till, roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she lost all compassion in anger. She tried, however, to compose herself to answer him with patience, when he should have done. He concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment which, in spite of all his endeavours, he had found impossible to conquer; and with expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of his hand. As he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favourable answer. He spoke of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security. Such a circumstance could only exasperate farther, and when he ceased, the colour rose into her cheeks, and she said,

"In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally they may be returned. It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I could feel gratitude, I would now thank you. But I cannot -- I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly. I am sorry to have occasioned pain to any one. It has been most unconsciously done, however, and I hope will be of short duration. The feelings which, you tell me, have long prevented the acknowledgment of your regard, can have little difficulty in overcoming it after this explanation.''

(Volume II, Chapter XI)





In this particular chapter of the book where the passage is found, it speaks of Darcy's declaration of love to Elizabeth. Even though he spoke ardently about his admiration for her, he also clearly expresses the inferiority of her connections and the family obstacles which prevented him from proposing sooner. Elizabeth turns down his proposal rather harshly, and he is both surprised and resentful. Elizabeth broke down after the fierce rebuke between them. She is flattered that he should have proposed to her, but any softness which she feels toward him because of his affection is quickly dissipated.

This passage best relates to one of the main themes in Pride and Prejudice. That is, as the title suggests, the brutality of pride and prejudice. Elizabeth's pride drove her to cast countless misjudgments upon Darcy whereas prejudice blinded Darcy to the many assets of Elizabeth's character.

In Pride and Prejudice, it is evidently portrayed that everyone yearns and is adamant on marrying into a higher social rank. However, in the case of Elizabeth, her pride halted her from succumbing to just blindly accepting Darcy's proposal as she rejected Darcy in this passage. She was annoyed by Darcy's arrogant proposal and rejected him outrightly out of her egoism. Elizabeth demonstrated the opposite of this social norm.

Darcy's prejudice against Elizabeth's lowly social standing made him insult Elizabeth during the proposal, just to inform her of what he has to go through in order to stoop to someone of her level. He thought his high social status would make Elizabeth accept his proposal in spite of the insults. But he was wrong. That situation wasn't one when insults are like to bring results. His prejudice stirred up a huge scene of rebukes and hostility which is totally opposite of how a proposal should be- sweet and lovely.

This passage is a crucial turning point in the novel as it is also part of the process of self-discovery for Elizabeth and Darcy. It was a long journey of self-discovery before Darcy and Elizabth finally fell in love with each other. Before that, they were overwhelmed by misjudgments about one another as both of them were contained within their own pride and prejudice. This journey of self-discovery throughout the whole book is very important because it eventually lead to them realizing that each other was actually the love that they ahd been searching for.

In this chapter, Elizabeth's straightforward and daring character coupled with her disregard for considerations of rank is showed through her reaction to Darcy's proposal. Her pride is also evidently brought forth, for the lack of civility in her refusal is due primarily to her pride being hurt resulting from Darcy's frank explanation of his reservations about proposing to her because of her inferior social standing.

Darcy's pride and prejudice are also clearly simulated in the course of this scene. As he is proposing to her, Elizabeth could tell that he has "no doubt of a favorable answer." In spite of the fact that he is actually proposing to a girl who barely knows him well and actually dislikes him, he assumes that she will accept his proposal simply because of his great wealth and rank. Further, his strong class prejudices are shown in the way in which he speaks about the inferiority of her social stand and his desire to avoid proposing to her because of that. His insensitivity to her in spelling out these objections in such a tactless manner clearly brought out his chauvinistic nature and high sense of pride. Elizabeth's comment to him--"had you acted in a more gentlemanlike manner"--makes him start, and as will be seen later in the novel, has a resounding effect on him.