Jane Austen - How does Elizabeth's reaction to Darcy change throughout the novel? You should include their first meeting up to her departure from Pemberley.

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Emma Wilson 10G 02/05/07

How does Elizabeth’s reaction to Darcy change throughout the novel? You should include their first meeting up to her departure from Pemberley

Elizabeth’s reaction to Darcy drastically changes throughout the novel. At the start of the novel Elizabeth was determined to dislike Darcy. However, as the novel develops Elizabeth’s grudge against him slowly and gradually turns into love, which appears to be unrequited when she leaves Pemberley to clean up the mess that her sister has made, who’s immorality and foolish decision is shameful to her family.

When they first met at Mr Bingley’s ball, Mr Darcy came across as extremely proud, as Jane Austen states;  

          ‘He was discovered to be proud, to be above his company and

above being pleased.’

While Darcy is sitting down for two of the dances, Elizabeth overheard a conversation between Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley. Mr Bingley was trying to convince Mr Darcy to dance with one of the young ladies at the ball and then offered to introduce him to Elizabeth. Mr Darcy then replied coldly;

                                                                  “she is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me.”

Although deep down Elizabeth was agitated by what Darcy had said, Jane Austen expresses;

                “she told the story however with great spirit among her friends.”

This shows she does not like to show that she was hurt by Mr Darcy to her friends.

When they next met at Longbourne Mr Darcy began to find Elizabeth attractive.  

Jane Austen says;

‘he began to find her face was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.’

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Darcy also found that;

                                    “he had never been so bewitched by any women as he was by her.”

When Elizabeth ever looked at Mr Darcy he would permanently be watching her every move. Elizabeth tried to ignore this, as she believed he was observing her, only to criticise.  

Elizabeth’s grudge against Mr Darcy rapidly grew into hatred when Mr Wickham (a man she found very agreeable) told her a falsehood about why he and Mr Darcy are enemies. He ...

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