Darcy Demonstrates Pride During The Proposal Scene In Pride And Prejudice

His role in the story is to be the overqualified man that overlooks pre existing prejudice about money needed for a marriage, in seek of true love. Because of Mr. Darcy’s prestige and money he is a mere bystander at the beginning of the story, repeatedly acting above his peers. For example after the first ball, the mother of Elizabeth, Mrs Bennett said “‘But I can assure you,’ she added, ‘that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy; for he is the most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring him!” (10, Austen) This quote and the character of Darcy as a whole is Austen commenting on the english tradition of|high class men who have their life set because of the power that comes with their money. On the satirical scale, this is Austen being highly judgemental in a negative way about this tradition. But that’s the beauty of the evolution of Darcy’s character. He turns from this classic role into someone who breaks social norms by marrying Elizabeth Bennett. Darcy says himself “But there were other causes of repugnance--Causes which, though still existing, and existing to an equal degree in both instances, I had myself endeavoured to forget, because they were not immediately before me….-- The situation of your mother's family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison of the want of propriety so frequently.” (169,

His sense of her inferiority–of its being a degradation of–the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclinations were dwelt on...” (Austen 12). These words reflect Mr. Darcy’s excessive pride and heightened awareness of social status, while inducing him to recount all the ways in which he and Elizabeth are an illogical union, rather than relaying anything complimentary. In response to this insult-ridden proposal, Elizabeth proclaims that if he had acted in a more “gentlemanlike manner,” she would have been more inclined to express sympathy following her rejection of his advances. Despite Elizabeth’s clear message that she will not observe his insensitive words in submission, Mr. Darcy endures in the conviction that his prideful manners toward Elizabeth are well-justified and merely detail the truthful, adverse nature of her inferior social standing with the utmost sincerity.

In this novel, many characters show moments of consideration for their peers as they strive to do things that will benefit others. An example of this selflessness would be Mr. Darcy’s payment to Mr. Wickham. He felt the need to help the Bennet family

Darcy believes that Elizabeth is beneath him. After Mr. Bingley suggest that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth dance, Mr. Darcy makes eye contact with Elizabeth and states, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men” (Chapter 3). In this quote, Darcy is saying that Elizabeth falls below his standards and he would rather not waste effort on someone no other man seems interested in. Elizabeth immediately takes offense to Mr. Darcy’s statement, and even makes fun of him for it. “She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous” (Chapter 3). In other words, Elizabeth’s first impression was that Mr. Darcy was

The reader is first acquainted with Mr. Darcy's arrogance at the Meryton Ball. Speaking of Elizabeth Bennet, he so snobbishly says that she was, "…tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me" (Austen 9). His feelings of superiority to the people of the town

      Mr. Darcy, as one of the main characters, is for the better part of the novel a focus of the theme of pride. His pride is very obvious. It is a part of his nature and is seen in his mannerisms and in his speech. Darcy has such a high opinion of himself that he does not care what others think of him or his prideful actions. He believes that he is the best in every way possible and finds that his standing in society gives him the right to be critical of those not as perfect as he.

or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so little expense

The progress between Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s relationship, in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice (1813) illustrates and explores several the key themes in the novel. Their relationship highlights class expectations, pride and prejudice, and marriage, and how they play a major role in determining the course of their association. These are outlined through their first prejudiced dislike of each other when they first meet, the stronger feelings for Elizabeth that develop on Darcy’s side, her rejection in Darcy’s first proposal, then her change of opinion and lastly the mutual love they form for one another. Pride and Prejudice is set up as a satire, commenting on human idiocy, and Jane Austen

The contrast between Mr Collins' proposal and Mr Darcy's proposal is highlighted by the proposals’ varying styles, which shows the reader the emotions fuelling the proposals. Austen portrays Collins' proposal as arrogant and rehearsed, and this juxtaposes Darcy's proposal which is portrayed as much more authentic. Collins during the proposal is described as having ‘no feelings of diffidence’ (chap 19). Darcy, on the other hand, is tenser, even though in the Regency period it was rare for a woman of Elizabeth's status to ever turn down a man of his eligibility. Darcy's proposal is said, ‘in an agitated manner'. This shows that Darcy is expressing his feelings and is "agitated" because he is not sure they are reciprocated.  Collins proposal is overly rehearsed, for example, he lists his reasons for wanting to marry Elizabeth, "My reasons for marrying are,

Elizabeth's reaction to Darcy's stinging words reveals the extent of her imprudent pride. In expressing her resentment toward Darcy's abhorred prideful manner, she says, "I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine." Elizabeth's indignation comes mostly because she respected his pride, but he did not respect hers.

Elizabeth and Darcy must avoid and surmount numerous differences in order for their relationship to survive. For example, Darcy and Elizabeth need to overcome the faltering blocks of their ego and bigotry. During their first encounter, Darcy’s prejudice against Elizabeth’s social standing blinds him to her many virtues, “She

Darcy’s pride and his sense of superiority are considered rude and ungentlemanly behavior, and no amount of money or fine looks can save him from falling into disgrace with the people of Hertfordshire. Later, when Darcy first proposes to Elizabeth, she shocks him when she angrily exclaims that “had [he] behaved in a more gentleman-like manner” (168), then she may have felt

Elizabeth’s relationship to Darcy also involved the pressure of living up to society’s expectations of social classes. Darcy is prideful of his wealth and wants to maintain his fame. His reputation is challenged when he meets Elizabeth.

Beginning with Mr. Darcy's failed proposal and his later letter of explanation, Elizabeth's proud and judgemental nature is altered by the pressure placed on her to decide if she wishes to marry Mr. Darcy or not. Introspection and her eventual acceptance of her romantic feelings for Mr. Darcy demonstrate that strenuous emotional situations can lead to a change in character, by allowing her to open up her prejudiced mind and see that the opinions she has are not always correct. Prior to her relations with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth is a young woman who sees little point in marrying if she does not find a man whom will bring her happiness in life. This provides a foundation from which she can change, placing her in an ideal position to change in response to the

Through the use of literary devices, Pride and Prejudice reveals Jane Austen’s attitude towards the novel’s theme of true love through the actions of the suitors; the process of courtship in the 1800s articulates characterization, foreshadowing, and irony. The novel opens with the line, “it is a truth acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of wife,” (Austen 1) which foreshadows the conflict of finding a significant other . During the Victorian age, men and women courted others of the same education, wealth, and social status; it was considered uncommon for someone to marry beneath them or to marry for love. Jane Austen uses Elizabeth Bennett’s encounters with different characters of varying