Student Question
In Pride and Prejudice, what do Elizabeth and Darcy discuss during their walk?
Quick answer:
On their walk at the end of Pride and Prejudice, Darcy reiterates his love for Elizabeth, and she finally confesses that she loves him in return. They apologize to each other for their past mistakes and begin to see the past few months through the other's eyes, piecing together the whole story of how they have come to love each other.
At the end of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Darcy find themselves walking together after Kitty leaves their party to call on Maria Lucas. Though they have seen each other since parting ways after the announcement of Lydia's elopement with Wickham, this is the first time they have been able to speak in private, and it results in the final turning point in their relationship.
Prior to their walk, Elizabeth has found herself admiring Darcy more and more for his generosity and kindness to her family and for his efforts to save Lydia from ruin. However, she has been unable to speak to anybody about these feelings, as she knows he would want his actions to remain anonymous to the rest of her family. While walking alone with Darcy, she is finally able to thank him for all he has done for her.
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Prior to their walk, Elizabeth has found herself admiring Darcy more and more for his generosity and kindness to her family and for his efforts to save Lydia from ruin. However, she has been unable to speak to anybody about these feelings, as she knows he would want his actions to remain anonymous to the rest of her family. While walking alone with Darcy, she is finally able to thank him for all he has done for her.
"Let me thank you again and again, in the name of all my family, for that generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble, and bear so many mortifications for the sake of discovering them."
"If you will thank me," he replied, "let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you, might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owes me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe, I thought only of you."
Darcy reveals that his feelings for Elizabeth have not changed, and Elizabeth finally admits her own feelings for him as well.
Now in each other's confidence, they are able to talk through the past few months and all of their own personal perspectives and misunderstandings about the other's behavior. Darcy reveals that it was Elizabeth's refusal to promise Lady Catherine de Bourgh that she would not marry Darcy that gave him hope that she might in fact love him. The two discuss their past encounters at Pemberley and at Rosings and explain all of the feelings they experienced then that they could not speak of at the time. They apologize to each other for their past prejudices and missteps, for finding fault in each other and criticizing each other so harshly at the beginning of their acquaintance, and agree to put the past behind them.
"We will not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that evening," said Elizabeth. "The conduct of neither, if strictly examined, will be irreproachable; but since then, we have both, I hope, improved in civility."
Though they have always spoken frankly with each other, this is the first time they are able to speak openly, with no fear of misstep or reproach. It is this confession of Elizabeth and Darcy's feelings that results in their subsequent engagement.