pride and prejudice
In a time where love was not the most important factor to a marriage, Jane Austen proves in her novel Pride and Prejudice that love can indeed conquer all. The love of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy faces many barriers that were eventually overcome as a result of their love for one another. When Darcy and Elizabeth first meet, Elizabeth does not want to get too close to Darcy because he insulted her and also because she would have to constantly measure up to his standards. He has advantages over her in terms of his social status and wealth and consequently Darcy views Elizabeth as inferior to him. As the novel progresses, their love is revealed, but they were not able to marry without overcoming several obstacles first. After facing many obstacles to be together, such as Miss Bingley's snobbery and Mrs. Bennett's constant embarrassments, the greatest obstacle is finally overcome. This final obstacle occurs in the end of the novel and is Lady Catherine's attempt to control her nephew, Mr. Darcy. She does this by going to Elizabeth's home in Longbourn and trying to convince Elizabeth that she cannot marry Darcy. "This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never," (Austen, Sec
ond Edition, Volume III, chapter XIV, p 271). Lady Catherine is extremely snobby because of her money and high social standing. As a result, she feels she can control the decisions of someone like Elizabeth, who is of much lower social standing than Lady Catherine herself. "Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application, have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by persuasions such as these," (Austen, Volume III, chapter XIV, p 273). Elizabeth does not know that Darcy is going to propose to her again, but her pride and love for Darcy allow her to not be intimidated by Lady Catherine. Elizabeth clearly exhibits a great deal of self-respect here because she does not allow the constraints of society to stand in her way of possible happiness. Lady Catherine had come to Longbourn in order to prevent the marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth, but when Darcy hears the manner in which Elizabeth answered Lady Catherine, he realizes that Elizabeth regards him differently. He saw that her attitude of him had changed which prompted him to make his second marriage proposal. "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," (Austen, Volume III, chapter XVI, p 280). Darcy had once before confessed his love to Elizabeth and she blatantly rejected him. The first time he proposed he stressed that she was not socially equivalent to him. By doing so he insults her, rather than confessing his love for her. Her rejecting him humbled him in a way and he demonstrates his hope of his feelings being returned by telling her that his feelings are the same as they were before. Darcy's arrogance is
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Approximate Word count = 1289
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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