My favourite passage (Edwin Chia, 08A202)

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.

This passage comes after Elizabeth visited Pemberley and it is one of my favourite in Pride and Prejudice as it showed how her perceived opinion of Mr Darcy had changed for the better and gave reasons to why she would ultimately accept his proposal.

Elizabeth's opinion of Mr Darcy had been one of prejudiced and misunderstanding. Prior to this passage, there was no confirmation of whether Elizabeth had truly overcome her prejudice and forgiven Mr Darcy. This passage is therefore the turning point which shows Elizabeth's true feelings towards him. Throughout the novel, her feelings towards him shifted, but concluded in this passage where it writes: "hatred had vanished long ago", showing the shift in her feelings.

This passage also shows that Elizabeth is actually in love with Mr Darcy but had not come into terms with it or just refuses to admit it. "she felt a real interest in his welfare", shows that she is actually truly concerned about him. However, she did not once admit in this passage or earlier that she is indeed fond of Mr Darcy. Also, "she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out", which shows how much Mr Darch means to her.

Eventually, Elizabeth accepts Mr Darcy's proposal. This passage just serves to explain why Elizabeth love him and shows how her opinions of him shifted from the past.