Happy ending (Chapter 56-61)

“Elizabeth was much too embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her companion added, “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances.”


This proposal and Elizabeth’s acceptance mark the climax of the novel, occurring in Chapter 58. The proposal and acceptance are almost a foregone conclusion by this point. Darcy’s intervention on behalf of Lydia makes obvious his continuing devotion to Elizabeth, and the shocking appearance of Lady Catherine de Bourghin the previous chapter, with her haughty attempts to forestall the engagement, serves to suggest strongly that a second proposal from Darcy is imminent.


The clunky language with which the narrator summarizes Elizabeth’s acceptance serves a specific purpose, as it captures the one moment of joyful incoherence for this supremely well-spoken character. She accepts Darcy’s proposal “immediately,” the narrator relates, but “not very fluently.” As Elizabeth allows herself to admit that her love has supplanted her long-standing prejudice, her control of language breaks down. The reader is left to imagine, with some delight, the ever-clever Elizabeth fumbling for words to express her irrepressible happiness

Dispelled misunderstanding (Chapter 50-55)

Elizabeth realizes that her opinion of Darcy has totally changed that if he proposes again, she will accepts. She feels that Darcy is “exactly the man, who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her” To Elizabeth, “she became jealous of his esteem, when she could no longer hope to be benefited by it . . . she wanted to hear of him, when there seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence.” Even if Darcy is still interested in her, the Lydia-Wickham affair serves as a reminder of Darcy’s original objection to marrying Elizabeth. And Elizabeth believes that he must consider the poor condition of her family and an example of the embarrassment that association with her family..

While Elizabeth’s hope of Darcy’s still loving her slowly grows in these chapters, and Darcy’s feelings for her have never altered. Elizabeth’s instincts tell her: “Her heart did whisper, that he had done it for her.” The happy conclusion to Bingley’s courtship of Jane suggests that Darcy no longer cares about the Bennet sisters’ low social status. As evidence that Darcy has overcome this important obstacle at least to some, he does nothing to dissuade his friend from tying himself to a disreputable family. Previously, Darcy disrupted the romance between Bingley and Jane in order to protect his friend’s social status. However now, he allows their love to triumph over their class difference, without considering Lydia’s elopement scandal, which he could easily have used as an excuse to distance himself and his friends from the Bennets.

Lydia's folly (Chapter 46-49)

After knowing Lydia’s folly, Elizabeth turns immediately to Darcy, illustrating the closeness developing between them. Their shared sense of guilt about failing to expose Wickham’s true nature aligns them emotionally and gives them a common purpose. The Bennet parents come across as highly inadequate at this point in the text—Mrs. Bennet’s stupidity and Mr. Bennet’s refusal to take responsibility of his children.
During the crisis, the Gardiners again step forward to act responsibly. It is Mr. Gardiner, rather than Mr. Bennet, who takes charge of the search in the city. On the contrary, Mr. Bennet even returns home after a time. Mr. Gardiner finds Lydia, and even pays Wickham to convince him to marry her, who is filling the adult role that the Bennet parents have vacated.

Pride and Prejudice is critical of the difficulties faced by women in English society of the period. Elizabeth, the voice of reason and common sense at this point in the novel, condemns Lydia’s behavior as “infamy” and declares that if Lydia does not marry Wickham, “she is lost forever.” The only voice of moral relativism belongs to Mrs. Bennet, who is so happy to have Lydia married that she does not care about the manner of the marriage’s accomplishment. While Lydia may have escaped social stigma, Mr. Bennet still condemns her and Wickham, saying, “I will not encourage the impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn.”

Visit to Pemberley (Chapter 43-45)

“They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;—and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!”


These lines open Chapter 43 and provide Elizabeth’s introduction to Darcy’s grand estate at Pemberley. Her visit to Darcy’s home, which occupies a central place in the narrative, operates as a catalyst for her growing attraction toward its owner. In her conversations with the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, Elizabeth hears testimonials of Darcy’s wonderful generosity and his kindness as a master; when she encounters Darcy himself, while walking through Pemberley’s grounds, he seems altogether changed and his previous arrogance has diminished remarkably. This initial description of the building and grounds at Pemberley serves as a symbol of Darcy’s character. The “stream of some natural importance . . . swelled into greater” reminds the reader of his pride, but the fact that it lacks “any artificial appearance” indicates his basic honesty, as does the fact that the stream is neither “formal, nor falsely adorned.” Elizabeth’s delight, and her sudden epiphany about the pleasure that being mistress of Pemberley must hold, prefigure her later joy in Darcy’s continued devotion.

Elizabeth's Prejudice (Chapter 37-42)

Elizabeth can almost retell Darcy’s letter. When she thinks of the style of his address, she still feels indignation; but when she considers how unjustly she has condenmed and upbraided him, her anger turns against herself. She has sympathy on his disappointed feelings, his attachment excited gratitude and his general character respect. Hoever, she can not approve him.
After she returns back to her home, she can’t wait telling her sister Jane about Darcy’s proposal and the truth of Wickham’s former words. There was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the godness, and the other all the apearence of it.

Darcy's first proposal (Chapter 30-36)

“‘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.”

Darcy’s proposal of marriage to Elizabeth in Chapter 34 demonstrates how his feelings toward her transformed since his earlier dismissal of her as “not handsome enough.” While Elizabeth rejects his proposal, this event marks the turning point in the novel. Before Darcy asks Elizabeth to marry him, she feels only contempt for him; afterward, she begins to see him in a new light, as certain incidents help illustrate the essential goodness of his character. At this moment, however, Elizabeth’s eventual change of heart remains unforeseen—all she thinks of is Darcy’s arrogance, his attempts to interfere in Bingley’s courtship of Jane, and his alleged mistreatment of Wickham. Her judgment of Darcy stems from her initial prejudice against his snobbishness, just as his pride about his high social status hampers his attempt to express his affection. As the above quote makes clear, he spends more time emphasizing her lower rank and unsuitability for marriage to him than he does complimenting her or pledging his love. “He was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride,” the narrator states; Darcy must -prioritize love over his sense of superiority before he is worthy of Elizabeth’s hand.

The charactor of Elizabeth (Chapter 24-29)

Jane and Elizabeth’s attitude and opinion toward people are quite different, which represents conflict between traditional and treasonous mind.

As Elizabeth says, Jane is so good that her sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic. She wishes to think the entire world respectable, and feels hurt if Elizabeth speaks ill of anybody. What’s more, even her sister praises her as perfect, she sets herself against it.

On the other hand, compared with Jane, Elizabeth has her own evaluation and attitude toward different people. There are few of whom she thinks much and even fewer that she loves. The more she observes of the world, the more she dissatisfies with it. Everyday life confirms her belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense. She also reminds her sister that “you shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavor to persuade yourself or me that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger, security for happiness.”

Elizabeth’s idea doesn’t satisfy the expectation of that time. She is a modern woman who loves independent and freedom, and also hopes that her family member can have their own lives, never under the control of others. Her such character embodies obviously in the conversation between she and Lady Catherine. Being the first creature who has ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence, she showed her dignity and bravery.