Elizabeth And Darcy's Relationship example essay topic

Pride And Prejudice Essay The novel Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen (1775-1817). She is often regarded as the greatest of English women novelists on the strength of her six completed novels. The two main characters are Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy and their relationship is influenced by the social structure of the time. Pride and Prejudice was written in 1813. However Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship is delayed by their incompatible social backgrounds, but they must overcome all of this in order for their relationship to succeed.

Elizabeth and Darcy's first meeting is very brief and takes place at the Meryton Assembly. At the beginning of their meeting their relationship is not going to be a smooth one, as Elizabeth feels that Darcy is far too bothered with his own social class than he is in making new acquaintances. Darcy shows no interest in getting to know people in the new area in which he now lives because he thinks that their social status is far below his own. When Darcy first enters the room he " draws the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien" (Ch 3 pg 10). Darcy's looks aren't the only thing that draws the attention to him, but the rumours of his great fortune begin to circulate. Many peoples' opinions change as they find out that his character has been misunderstood and that he is a very proud man who takes no pleasure in talking to or making friends with people very much below his own status.

As Elizabeth is sitting down after not being able to dance two dances due to the scarcity of gentlemen, Bingley suggests Darcy dance: ' Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance. ' (Ch 3 pg 11).

Bingleys attempt to persuade Darcy to maybe dance with another woman in the room other than one of his party fails. Darcy declines as he feels that there is no other woman in the room which he would want to dance with other than Miss Bingley, Mrs Hurst, or even the eldest and the loveliest Miss Bennet. Mr Bingley agrees that Jane Bennet is the " ' most beautiful' " (Ch 3 pg 11) girl he ever saw. As Bingley's attention is drawn around the room he notices Elizabeth sitting down and then tries to persuade Darcy to dance with her but Darcy responds by saying:'s he is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.

' (Ch 3 pg 11) Elizabeth overhears this remark and makes sure that she repeats the incident with "great spirits" (Ch 3 pg 12) among her friends, but she also vows to never dance with Darcy as her pride has been hurt. At this stage in the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship is mainly associated with their social status. Elizabeth's father, Mr Bennet is a gentleman but has married a woman below his status. Their marriage has produced five daughters and no heirs, so the family's estate will be entailed away to Mr Bennet's nephew, Mr Collins.

Even though Mr Bennet is a gentleman he only receives two thousand pounds per year. We are constantly reminded of Mrs Bennet's family connections and ill breeding: She had a sister married to a Mr Phillips, who had been a clerk to their father and had succeeded him in business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade. (Ch 7 pg 24) The novel's hero Fitzwilliam Darcy is a man born into a very wealthy family. He is returned ten thousand pounds per year from his estate, Pemberley. During Austin's time, a man of Darcy's wealth was usually expected to marry a woman of equal status.

Elizabeth and Darcy's next major meeting is at the Netherfield ball that was held by Mr Bingley. (As this encounter is like the last one we can expect it to be an awkward one.) Elizabeth and Darcy finally connect and talk to each other face to face. Darcy approaches Elizabeth to ask her if she would like to dance with him. Elizabeth is busily talking to Charlotte Lucas (her dear friend) when Darcy comes over to her and even though she has vowed that she would never dance with him she accepts his offer to dance. During their dance together it is with much awkwardness that they do so and they continue in silence.

As the silence begins to take over, Elizabeth feels tempted to mention her new friend Mr Wickham, but as Charlotte advised her before she left to dance with Darcy: "not to be a simpleton, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man of ten times his consequence". (Ch 18 pg 73) A few moments later Sir William Lucas (Charlotte's father) appears trying to pass through their dance set but is distracted by the lovely sight of Bingley and Jane. Sir William begins to comment on such superior dancing to Darcy and says that he hopes it will continue", 'when a certain desirable event shall take place. ' " (Ch 18 pg 75) Elizabeth feels extremely embarrassed about this remark as she knows that Darcy would never agree with the marriage because of the Bennet family's low connections in life and the fact that compared to Bingley's fortune the Bennet family were considerably poorer. As Darcy and Elizabeth part from dancing together Elizabeth is faced with another embarrassing situation, her family. Her cousin, Mr Collins satisfies himself by introducing himself to Mr Darcy as he has found out that he is the nephew of his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Her mother began raising her voice while she is talking about the supposed marriage between Bingley and Jane. To Elizabeth it appeared, that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirits or finer success. (Ch 18 pg 82) Elizabeth is extremely embarrassed by her family and how they act. Their common manners are not received well by the company around them. Darcy, Miss Bingley, Mr and Mrs Hurst are shocked at their behaviour. Again, social structure in the form of Mrs Bennet's poor impropriety, affects the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy.

During Elizabeth's stay with her dear friend Charlotte and her husband Mr Collins. (Elizabeth's cousin) Elizabeth and Darcy encounter each other on a number of occasions. Elizabeth travelled to Hunsford with Sir William Lucas and his younger daughter Maria, in March. When Elizabeth met Colonel Fitzwilliam (Darcy's cousin) there was a mutual liking of each other. This attracted Darcy's attention and that of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

' His eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity. ' (Ch 31 pg 135) Darcy calls at the Collins' house a number of times and Charlotte believes that it is all for Elizabeth because she thinks that he has a secret love for her. They also meet while Elizabeth is walking and at Lady Catherine's home, Rosings Park. During the meals at Rosings Lady Catherine's acidic remarks about Elizabeth's family and her performance at the piano could make Darcy's opinion of Elizabeth surely changes because she is being humiliated and this might make him feel uncomfortable. While the rest of the party are dining at Rosings, Elizabeth complains of a headache so stays back at the Collins' home, she is interrupted by a call from Darcy alone. After a silence of several minutes, Darcy spoke, saying: '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. ' (Ch 34 pg 147) Elizabeth was far beyond amazement. She was astonished. She could not believe what she had just heard, but she was filled with anger as she knew that Darcy was the man who stopped her elder sister's hopes for happiness by making sure that Mr Bingley was safely kept in London, which was too far from Jane to reach him.

Elizabeth is also hurt by Darcy's comments about her family and their connections, which are far lower than his own. After Darcy has talked about how he feels towards Elizabeth he clearly states his reluctance in asking Elizabeth to marry him because for her such low connections. Elizabeth rejects his offer and tells him that he would be the last man she could ever have married no matter how he proposed. Darcy then leaves with his pride that has been severely damaged. When Darcy arrives back to Rosings he begins to write a letter explaining to Elizabeth why he split Bingley and Jane up, but also his dealings with Mr Wickham and how his family was betrayed by him because he tried to elope with Darcy's younger sister, Georgiana, just so he could claim her money that she was due to claim each year. Darcy also justifies his concerns about her family and their total want of propriety, which was betrayed by her mother, her three younger sisters, and occasionally her father.

Elizabeth does not keep to the unwritten rules of her society as she refuses Darcy's proposal of marriage. Most young women wouldn't really mind how much their partner detested their connections if they were to marry someone of a great fortune. However Elizabeth believes that the riches of a man do not count if only he is pleased with her family and their connections. While visiting Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle Gardiner Elizabeth meets Darcy at his home, Pemberley. She is extremely impressed by its elegance and the humility and begins to think of Darcy's proposal and how she could have been the mistress of the estate.

She resigns herself to think that if she had married Darcy then her family could never visit her, but as the small party are shown around by the housekeeper Elizabeth learns that Darcy is never cross, is good natured and very generous. They are shown a picture of Darcy smiling and Elizabeth looks at the picture twice, this shows that her fondness of Darcy is growing. As they are walking out on the grounds of Pemberley Elizabeth runs into Darcy, but she feels slightly embarrassed as she thought that Darcy wouldn't be at Pemberley until the next day, but Darcy appears to be very polite and gentle, especially towards Mr and Mrs Gardiner. After their meeting at Pemberley Elizabeth is introduced to Darcy's younger sister, Georgiana. Georgiana takes a great liking to Elizabeth, as does Elizabeth to her. Mr and Mrs Gardiner and Elizabeth are invited to dine at Pemberley with Darcy, Georgiana, Bingley, Miss Bingley and Mr and Mrs Hurst and after this occasion Darcy reveals his true feelings about Elizabeth: " 'for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.

' " (Ch 46 pg 208) Elizabeth and Darcy begin to grow closer during Elizabeth's stay in Derbyshire, until she receives the awful news of her youngest sister's, Lydia, elopement with Wickham. When Elizabeth receives the terrible news Darcy enters the room just after she has finished reading the letter but appears to leave abruptly after hearing her news. Elizabeth thinks it is because he wants nothing more to do with her family. Elopement in Austin's time was disapproved of because it was against everything that they morally believed in. The elopement between Lydia and Wickham could have damaged the other girls' chances of marrying well because no man would want to be associated with them because of the elopement. 'For who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family.

' (Ch 48 pg 227) This is how the Bennet family will be treated if the elopement does not result in marriage. At this stage of the novel the great emphasis on social structure begins not to matter as much. This is maybe because Elizabeth begins to realise that she has feelings for Darcy deep down, and Darcy's feelings are unchanged. Elizabeth really realises that she has feelings for Darcy when she finds out how he helps Lydia and Wickham marry and paying for the debts that Wickham has managed to build up. After having returned from Derbyshire Elizabeth has the privilege of a visit from Lady Catherine de Bourgh. This meeting is filled with tension from the start.

The tension builds even before they speak as Elizabeth has a secret suspicion why she has come, Darcy. Even when entering a past guest's home Lady Catherine is still rude to Elizabeth, Mrs Bennet and Kitty. She immediately takes Elizabeth into the garden to speak in private. As they had entered the garden Lady Catherine's mood seemed to change, dramatically.

She seemed very angry to be there, having this conversation with her. She assumed that Elizabeth was aware why she was here, but Elizabeth denied her knowledge. Lady Catherine is under the impression that Darcy (her nephew) has made Elizabeth an offer of marriage, but she has no time to let Elizabeth explain the situation and just gives her reasons for not wanting Elizabeth to marry Darcy. She believes that Darcy and her daughter, Anne, are engaged to be married. She feels that Elizabeth is of " 'inferior birth. ' ' " (Ch 56 pg 273) Lady Catherine also states that Elizabeth " ' is of no importance in the world.

' " (Ch 56 pg 273) Elizabeth responds to Lady Catherine's remarks by acknowledging that their mothers arranged the supposed engagement between Miss de Burgh and Darcy but the completion of their plans depends on the two other people. Elizabeth cannot understand that if Darcy should make her an offer of marriage then why should she refuse? After all explains that " 'He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter: so far we are equal. ' " (Ch 56 pg 274) She also explains that if Darcy has no problems with her or her family, then why should she? The out come is the exact opposite of Lady Catherine's desire as their discussion just made Elizabeth determined to marry Darcy. In the last chapter the social structure impeding their relationship is noticeable in the disagreement between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth.

Elizabeth really stands up for her family and connections. Although we can see that the social structure begins to fade away when Elizabeth and Darcy finally proclaim their true feelings towards each other and get married. Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship does gradually develop through the number of meetings that they observe each other. Their relationship is hindered during the novel by the social structure of the time, as Fitzwilliam Darcy is a proud man who comes from a very wealthy family of high breeding.

Whereas Elizabeth Bennet is a more pleasurable character that comes from a gentile family, so they do have enough money to live on sufficiently.