We are introduced to Mr Darcy at the Meryton assembly. He is known as a good friend of Mr Bingley. When he first arrives at the assembly he causes a stir and he becomes the talk of the ball instead of Bingley. He was “fine, tall, handsome…having ten thousand a year” so here we get an insight to his physical appearance and his character. These are the features that present him as handsome. His character turns to an object of disgust when his infamous pride emerges. Darcy is portrayed as condescending and snobbish, this is shown when he refuses to dance with Elizabeth and says within Elizabeth’s hearing “she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.” This gives us an idea about Darcy’s character, he feels that the people at the Meryton are inferior to him. Additionally, Darcy said this within Elizabeth’s hearing; This leads Elizabeth to create a negative impression about Darcy. The people at the assembly are exposed to his sense of social superiority when he makes this comment. However he calls her “tolerable” which means that there is an essence of attractiveness about her. Austen makes Darcy epitomise the typical 19th century, upper class person; haughty and pompous. His wealth, status and handsome features seem to be reason for such behaviour. Austen uses the tool of contrasting Darcy to Bingley because Bingley has “unaffected manners” whereas Darcy’s “manners gave a disgust.”
There is a party at Lucas Lodge in chapter 5. Mr Darcy grows more affectionate towards Elizabeth. He notices “the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.” The eyes are a gateway to the soul and it represents Elizabeth’s charm and intellect. The word “beautiful” means impressive to look at so Darcy has developed feelings for her so instead of being “tolerable” she is beautiful. But he is still critical and analytical because he observes the “failure of perfect symmetry in her form.” Darcy acts rudely towards Sir Lucas when Sir Lucas tries to have a conversation with him, Darcy talks in a manner of self- importance and arrogance. When Sir Lucas tries to get Elizabeth and Darcy dancing together, Darcy is happy that he says to Elizabeth “it is cruel to deny the happiness of seeing you” this indicates that his attitude towards Elizabeth has changed in comparison to chapter 3.
On a visit to Netherfield Elizabeth’s sister Jane falls sick and has to stay there. Elizabeth decides to go there by walking which gets her clothing dirty. The Bingleys and Darcy discuss this. Instead Darcy’s fondness of her eyes develops he answers them by saying her eyes were “brightened by the exercise,” leading us to believe that Darcy has some sort of affection towards Elizabeth. Darcy and Elizabeth find out that they have a similar interest which is reading. Austen uses this show that Elizabeth and Darcy can have something in common. Nevertheless they remain two different people. The witty exchange shows that Darcy has high standards in what he defines as an “accomplished woman.” However Elizabeth thinks his description is impossible. Austen may have used this to show that Darcy has high standards in a woman which he may never meet.
As the novel progresses Darcy’s feelings for Elizabeth develops as he “approached to claim her hand” at the Netherfield ball. Darcy has become more open and less reserved. As he talks more in comparison to earlier on. Elizabeth and Darcy are similar, “there is a similarity in their turn of minds.” Because the story is mainly from Elizabeth’s point we see that Darcy and Elizabeth have things in common so he may not be as bad as he seems.
Whilst Elizabeth is in her room, Darcy unexpectedly proposes to her. We can see his character is progressing, he gets what he is trying to say across although it sounds rude. He says; “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.” Darcy’s proposal of marriage to Elizabeth in Chapter 34 displays how his feelings toward her changed since the Meryton Ball. Elizabeth rejects his proposal. The proposal sets the climax of the novel. Even though it is a marriage proposal the language used by Darcy is very dense which shows his dense and difficult feelings towards Elizabeth. The quote states that he “struggled,” he spent more time acknowledging how unsuitable it would be for them to get married and how socially indifferent they are rather than complimenting her. However he says that he “admires and loves her” this comes as shock to the reader showing that his emotions have completely changed in contrast to the beginning of the novel. However it differs to Mr Collins’ proposal, Collins just talks about what he can do for and keeps on repeating the point that he needs a wife to look and will just about marry anyone who is available whereas Darcy uses the word “love” and shows some affection. It is a turning point because Elizabeth starts to see Darcy positively and realises that he had a reason for doing all the things that she had considered “wrong”. Her judgement of Darcy came from her first impression and prejudice towards him. Nevertheless Darcy must make love his first priority to win Elizabeth over.
After the proposal Darcy wants to communicate his true emotion to Elizabeth. The letter is a reply the proposal in chapter 35. The letter is an important technique used by Austen to express Darcy’s actual feelings as he found it hard to do previously. One of the main forms of communication in the 19th century. Letters play a significant role in the novel- it develops the plot. The letter helps is used to resolve all the complicated plot points; Wickham and Jane & Bingley. Here, Darcy is revealed as being pleasant ,moral and honest. This is a sharp comparison to the impression that Wickham had given her. It says “This madam is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have be concerned with each other..” Whilst we may have previously understood Darcy to be haughty and contemptuous; the letter shows us that he is actually just shy and analyses fact before making his judgement. Here the reader can see that Darcy in fact is naturally shy and quiet. Instead we see the deceptive nature of Wickham.
In chapter 43 our ideas about Darcy begin to change. Elizabeth visits Pemberley with her uncle and aunt “the Gardiners.” When they arrive the house is describes as “a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned.” The house is referred to as “handsome” this could be an indirect comparison to Darcy, the house symbolises Darcy’s character, it has “natural importance” reminds the reader of Darcy and about his pride and sense of self importance and but without “any artificial appearance” shows his honesty also the phrase “formal, nor falsely adorned” shows that Darcy is formal but always tell the truth. This scene demonstrates Elizabeth’s growing attraction towards Darcy as she imagines what it would be like to be the mistress of the house. When she converses with Mrs. Reynolds she hears about Darcy’s generosity and how kind he is as a master. She calls him “ good-natured” “sweetest-tempered” and “generous-hearted,” this is a wide contrast to the idea of Darcy we have had from previous chapters. We see that his housekeeper who has known him since childhood thinks that “some people call him proud; but I am sure I never saw anything of it. To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle away like other young men." Here Darcy’s character is revealed. Elizabeth meets Darcy unexpectedly, that when we start to see Darcy character has completely changed.
The reader’s attitude toward Darcy have totally changed comparing to the beginning of the novel. Darcy and Elizabeth finally realise they love each other. Darcy is now “properly humbled” as he re-proposes to Elizabeth. Unlike his first proposal he is not confident about Elizabeth’s reaction. Elizabeth accepting the proposal concludes the novel, after all the events that lead up to it like Wickham running of with Lydia which made Elizabeth see that Darcy really cared about him. Also Lady Catherine de Bourgh arrival at the Bennett’s made the reader have that idea that Darcy might propose again. She accepts Darcy’s proposal “immediately,” Elizabeth permits herself to admit that her love has changed her long-standing prejudice, .
Our overview of Darcy has changed throughout the novel. Darcy is from of a wealthy, well-established family and the proprietor of the estate of Pemberley, Darcy is Elizabeth’s male counterpart. The story is told in the point of view of Elizabeth rather than Darcy, so it seems as if Elizabeth is in the wrong, it is was written in an another perspective we could have realised that Darcy’s character has not changed, he just decided to open up to Elizabeth. The reader notices that they are an ideal match for each other. They are both intelligent and slightly prejudiced however he was overly conscious of his social class. In the first proposal we see his pride and haughtiness after he is rejected his character becomes more humble. He does everything to win Elizabeth over like when he rescues Lydia and the entire Bennet family from disgrace, and when he goes against the wishes of his haughty aunt, Lady Catherine de Burgh, by continuing to court Elizabeth.