Analysis of Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth

The first 200 words of this essay...

Look again at the Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth that is made in this novel. Choose at least two and, write responses to the following questions:

* under what circumstances does Darcy propose

* how does Elizabeth respond and why

* how does Austen present the proposal to the reader

That evening, just before Mr. Darcy comes to meet Elizabeth , she rereads Jane's letters and finds out Mr. Darcy's 'shameful boast' of misery that inflicted Jane's happiness and it gives her a 'keener sense of her sister's sufferings'.

To Elizabeth's 'utter amazement', Darcy enters the room approaching her 'in a hurried manner' enquiring after her health. He 'sat for a few moments', got up, and 'walked about the room'. Mr. Darcy's body language shows that he is nervous and agitated. Then he took several minutes to say his true love for her that how 'ardently' he 'admires' and 'loves' her. However, the reader later realises that his nervousness is not due to his love for Elizabeth is so great but due to the hesitation, whether it is a good idea to propose considering the inferiority of her family and social background.

Mr. Darcy