Student Question
In Pride and Prejudice, when does Elizabeth confront Mr. Darcy about Jane and Mr. Bingley's relationship?
Quick answer:
Elizabeth confronts Mr. Darcy about his interference in Jane and Mr. Bingley's relationship in Chapter 34, during his first proposal to her. She harshly criticizes him for ruining her sister's happiness, expressing her disdain and anger. This confrontation is pivotal as it leads Darcy to write a letter explaining his actions, prompting Elizabeth to reconsider her views and slowly change her attitude towards him, setting the stage for her eventual realization of her love for Darcy.
This part of the novel comes in Chapter 34 after Mr. Darcy finally gets his act together and proposes to Lizzie Bennet for the first time. Of course, the manner of Darcy's proposal leaves a lot to be desired, and Lizzie uses this proposal as an opportunity to vent forth on a number of issues that have embittered her against Mr. Darcy, one of which, being, of course, the way he interfered in the relationship of her sister, Jane, and Mr. Bingley. Note what she says:
"Had not my own feelings decided against you, had they been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?"
Of course, this is a very one-sided attack, and we only are able to see things from Mr. Darcy's point of view when he writes his letter in response to Lizzie in the next Chapter. What is interesting to note is how Lizzie changes in her attitude towards Mr. Darcy and begins to see this and other situations from a different point of view - she is learning to change, which of course sets the stage for her eventual discovery that she is in love with Mr. Darcy too.
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