Research Essay on Pride and prejudice
...of returning to Netherfield. Elizabeth doubts that Darcy want to keep Bingley and Jane apart. All the above questions can get the answers from Darcy’s letter. In this letter, Darcy admits that he persuaded Bingley to leave Jane because he doesn’t believe that Jane loves Bingley. “Your sister I also watched ¼ I was desirous of believing her indifferent is certain,” (2: 130). Darcy thinks that Jane’s feelings are not deeply involved because he can’t find any indication of her attachment. “My objections to the marriage were not merely those ¼ to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy connection.” (2: 130-131). Elizabeth’s mother, her three younger sisters, and even her father’s improper actions at the ball make Darcy’s decision more reasonable. As for Wickham, Darcy reveals that he is a greedy man. Darcy gave Wikham money to study law after he gave up the chance to be a clergyman. Wickham squandered the money and came back to ask more. After rejected by Darcy, he tried to elope with Darcy’s sister. This letter is the pivotal point of the whole story, from which Elizabeth gradually eliminates her prejudice to Darcy and finally accepts his second proposal. Marilyn Butler refers to this letter in “Jane Austen and the War of Ideas: Pride and Prejudice”. Marilyn Butler points out that “There, in his letter to her rejection of his proposal, Elizabeth begins to see Darcy’s character in a different ‘light’ and to recognize how badly she has misjudged him” (310). In addition, Wickham’s plan of the elopement with Darcy’s sister foretells his later elopement with Lydia. Darcy’s comment about Elizabeth’s younger sisters causes her later argument with her father. Elizabeth believes that Lydia’s flightiness will affect the reputation of her family and Jane’s marriage again, so she asks her father to forbid Lydia’s visiting to Mrs. Forster at Brighton. Therefore, Darcy’s letter reveals several important secrets and leads to further development of the plot. Similarly, Jane’s two letters tell Elizabeth and the reader about Lydia and Wickham’s elopement, and convey the plot to the next step ¾ the solution of the elopement. Likewise, Mrs. Gardiner’s letter explains that it is Darcy who persuaded Wickham to marry Lydia with the compensation from Darcy. At the same time, this letter also implies Darcy’s strong feeling to Elizabeth, which causes his second proposal occurring in the later chapters. Another function of letters in “Pride and Prejudice” is to reveal characters’ inner thoughts and personalities. Because this story is mostly narrated from Elizabeth’s point of view, we have no chance to approach to Darcy’s mind only from his outward behavior until we read his letter. In this letter, Darcy admits his role of separating Bingley from Jane and explains the reason ¾ he is convinced what he has observed, and his intention is to prevent his friend from a loveless marriage. This explanation indicates Darcy’s loyalty to his friend and his sincerity. In order to expose Wickham’s revenge and greed, Darcy tells Elizabeth his sister’s elopement with Wickham. The adventure of losing his family’s reputation shows Darcy’s trust to Elizabeth and his honesty. Contrasted with Darcy’s letter, Collins’ letters are filled with excessive verbiage. His first letter provides readers with a chance to preview his personality before ...