Pride and Prejudice #8 and #9

 In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Darcy’s marriage proposal to Elizabeth ignites a chain reaction of events and moods that begin to construct the essential framework for a relationship between the two seemingly opposite characters. Now, Darcy has justified the very aspects of his character that Elizabeth seems to have the most trouble understanding. In a letter beforehand, Darcy explains to Elizabeth that Wickham actually tried to woo Darcy’s sister Georgiana, and that this is the sole reason behind their mutual distaste for each other. Furthermore, Elizabeth understands the manner in which Darcy approached her, and consequently begins to understand Darcy himself. Elizabeth, after randomly encountering Wickham, speaks briefly about Darcy and responds to allegations that he is quite different in character saying, “Yes…but I think Mr. Darcy improves on acquaintance” (199). Clearly Elizabeth is not yet fully impressed by Darcy and will require numerous other pieces of evidence that support Darcy as a non-arrogant, non-conceiting character, but for her to even utter this sentence displays a large sense understanding and development. Jane Austen uses these specific interactions between Wickham, and similar conversations with other characters, to establish a setting for Darcy’s character development as he rounds out his originally flat personality.

Elizabeth’s molding outlook on Darcy is subject to more positive change in the coming chapters, as Darcy himself presents his many decent and fundamental attributes. While touring Darcy’s Pemberley estate, Elizabeth is told the many qualities of Darcy that have gone unnoticed in the past. For example, while touring the estate, the housekeeper Mrs. Reynolds remarks that Darcy was “the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world” (210) and that there were never any issues in the home. Taken aback, Elizabeth begins to seriously reconsider her perception of Darcy, and even goes as far as to picture herself as Darcy’s wife: “…and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something”. Jane Austen promotes the idea of an increasing development between Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship, and indicates future examples of how the two will grow closer together. As Darcy’s character begins to round out, the construct of a typical romantic comedy begin to take shape and the original negative perceptions of Darcy begin to diminish.