"Pride and Prejudice" Elizabeth's visit to Pemberley.

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The importance of Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley in “Pride and Prejudice”

        In “Pride and Prejudice” Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley is a very key episode in the story as it expresses her change of heart towards Darcy. This visit reveals the true and real Darcy which proves that Elizabeth’s assumptions were wrong which follows on from Darcy’s explanatory letter at Hunstanton, of his and Wickems situation. Elizabeth is shocked to hear of Wickems unforgivable behaviour and his lies but her prejudices of Darcy remain.

        The house and grounds of Darcy reflect his character and tastes. Mrs. Reynolds (housekeeper) words reveal the truth concerning Darcy and Wickem, and Darcy also makes a good impression on Elizabeth and her relatives.

        Mr. Darcy’s house and grounds reflects his personality especially his landscaping. Elizabeth particularly noticed this.

        “Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or when natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.”

        The nature of it was complemented by art such as by the artificial landscaping. Here Jane Austen expresses the beauty of the grounds as “a beautiful wood” and “a large handsome stone building”. This automatically has an effect on Elizabeth.

        “She felt that to be a mistress of Pemberley might be something”

        Elizabeth realises that if she accepted Darcy’s marriage proposal she would be the mistress of Pemberley which was beautiful estate.

        “The hill, crowned with wood, from which they had descended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance, was a beautiful object”.

        Darcy’s character is also revealed at the interior of the house, the furniture and rooms in particular”.

        “The rooms were lofty and handsome” and “Elizabeth saw, with admiration of his taste that is was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine, with less of splendour, and more real elegance, than the furniture of Rosings”.

        There is great contrast between Darcy’s house and grounds and Lady Catherine’s house and grounds at Rosings.

        Elizabeth begins to realize what she had rejected and begins to regret it, which presents more evidence of Elizabeth changing her feelings towards Darcy.

        “This was a lucky recollection – it had saved her from something like regret”.

        Elizabeth best impressions were reinforced by Mrs. Reynolds. The housekeeper is very friendly and down to earth the complete opposite to Lady Catherine. She’s not what Elizabeth had expected her to be.

        “The housekeeper came; a respectable looking elderly woman, much less fine, and more civil, than she had any notion of finding her”.

        Mrs. Reynolds description is crucial to Elizabeth’s feelings for Darcy. Her comments reveal Darcy’s real character, and also confirm Wickems

        Firstly he is very loving towards his sister, and his generosity proves this as he buys her a piano- a very expensive but meaningful gift.

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        “Whatever can give his sister any pleasure is sure to be done in a moment. There is nothing he would not do for her”.

        This also shows that he would do anything to make his sister happy.

        Mrs. Reynolds description of Darcy is completely different from what it had appeared to have been towards Elizabeth.

        “I do not know is good enough for his good temper”.

        The newspaper recalls this from an early age which shows that he had a polite character.

        “I have never had a cross word from him in my life, and I’ve known him ever since ...

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