My Favourite Passage -- Christina Tay 08S417

As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not long enough to determine her feelings towards one in that mansion; and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out. She certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to her feelings; and it was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature by the testimony so highly in his favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude. -- Gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much pride excited not only astonishment but gratitude -- for to love, ardent love, it must be attributed; and as such, its impression on her was of a sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be exactly defined. She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him; she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on the renewal of his addresses.

Why this is one of my fav passages:
This passage comes after Elizabeth's visit to Pemberley where "at that moment she [Elizabeth] felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!", showing a change in Elizabeth's mindset regarding Mr Darcy's proposal and her subsequent meeting with Mr Darcy, Bingley and Miss Darcy.

In this passage, Elizabeth reflects upon her feelings for Mr Darcy and she discovers that her opinion of Darcy is now much better, less prejudiced and she feels grateful and respectful towards him. Through this passage, the development of Elizabeth's character through self-reflection is highlighted. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth's character develops and changes as a result of her self reflections. After the arrival of Darcy's letter, Elizabeth reflects upon her own opinions of Mr Darcy and she realized that her bad opinion of Darcy resulted from her own vanity instead of what she thought was her accurate judgements.

Her opinions of Mr Darcy formed in this passage are based on her observations of his change and the words of Darcy's housekeeper, a "testimony so highly in his[Mr Darcy's] favour", which is a contrast between how she formed her first opinions of Mr Darcy, which is based on Darcy's attitude towards her and her self pride. This shows the change in Elizabeth and her thoughts maturing through the use of logic and reasoning.

Her wanting Darcy "bringing on the renewal of his addresses" also reveals how Elizabeth is actually in love with Mr Darcy but still does not see and admit to it. Her change in opinion of Darcy and thoughts of being mistress of Pemberley serves as a foreshadow to the happy ending which would be eventual due to her growing feelings for Darcy and Darcy's feelings for Elizabeth.