How does Austen present the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth? Novel : Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen
How does Austen present the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth?Awareness of social status is a central theme of the novel. The pride and prejudice of both Darcy and Lizzy, and the strong-willed stubbornness of their characters make them an unlikely match. However, Austen begins to show how, despite the inferiority of her connections; Lizzys superior intellectuality makes her an ideal companion for Darcy.
Austen portrays Lizzys supercilious nature through her response to Mr. Darcys request for a dance. On approaching Lizzy, Darcy asks her to seizethe opportunity of dancing a reel, to which she replies that she know[s] the spiteful motive behind his innocent offer that he might have the pleasure of despising [her] taste. Her complete confidence and self assurance in her own intellectuality here, gives the assumption an arrogant and proud tone. She continues: I always delight in overthrowing thoseschemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. Here we can see her pompous and prejudiced attitude towards Darcy; she believes that she understand[s] him perfectly; the irony is that we as the reader know Darcys request to be genuine.
Her use of the verb I always delight in gives her reply an extremely arrogant air, as if she is so intellectually superior that the process of seeing through Darcys request is like a game to her. On the other hand the word overthrowing shows that she is taking this intellectual battle quite seriously. There is a subtle irony however in her accusation. She sees his offer as premeditated contempt when in fact it is her who is prejudging the situation. Also, Lizzy believes she has beaten Darcy by overthrowing his plan but the fact that her conceited, almost childish prejudgment is completely wrong and fairly unprovoked, gives Darcy a subtle victory and makes the reader begin to have some sympathy for Darcy. The unfairness of Lizzys assumption alters the readers allegiance between the two characters.
By contrasting Miss
Austen portrays Lizzys supercilious nature through her response to Mr. Darcys request for a dance. On approaching Lizzy, Darcy asks her to seizethe opportunity of dancing a reel, to which she replies that she know[s] the spiteful motive behind his innocent offer that he might have the pleasure of despising [her] taste. Her complete confidence and self assurance in her own intellectuality here, gives the assumption an arrogant and proud tone. She continues: I always delight in overthrowing thoseschemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. Here we can see her pompous and prejudiced attitude towards Darcy; she believes that she understand[s] him perfectly; the irony is that we as the reader know Darcys request to be genuine.
Her use of the verb I always delight in gives her reply an extremely arrogant air, as if she is so intellectually superior that the process of seeing through Darcys request is like a game to her. On the other hand the word overthrowing shows that she is taking this intellectual battle quite seriously. There is a subtle irony however in her accusation. She sees his offer as premeditated contempt when in fact it is her who is prejudging the situation. Also, Lizzy believes she has beaten Darcy by overthrowing his plan but the fact that her conceited, almost childish prejudgment is completely wrong and fairly unprovoked, gives Darcy a subtle victory and makes the reader begin to have some sympathy for Darcy. The unfairness of Lizzys assumption alters the readers allegiance between the two characters.
By contrasting Miss
Bibliography: Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen