Pride and Prejudice Chapters 56-60
Lady Catherine arrives to talk to Elizabeth about rumors she has heard that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are planning to marry. The indignant Lady Catherine insists that this will not happen, since her own daughter (Anne) is the most qualified candidate to become Mr. Darcy’s wife. Lady Catherine also takes time to point out how unworthy Elizabeth is, with her inferior genetics, worthlessness, and lack of family connection.
Elizabeth is not intimidated, and refuses to state that she would refuse a marriage to Mr. Darcy. While Elizabeth has no idea that such a marriage is possible, she refuses to acquiesce to Lady Catherine’s insulting demands.
Angrily, Lady Catherine leaves, insisting that she will discuss the matter with Mr. Darcy. She implies that he will be offended at Elizabeth’s failure to make the promise to Lady Catherine. Elizabeth is resolved to the notion that if she never sees Mr. Darcy again, that he will have chosen against her.
Mr. Collins writes a letter to Elizabeth’s father. He had also heard the rumor, and disapproves, due to Lady Catherine’s wishes. Mr. Bennet thinks that the rumor is without merit, and laughs the matter off.
A few days later, Mr. Darcy calls, accompanied by Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth expresses to Mr. Darcy how grateful she is for facilitating the marriage of Lydia and Mr. Wickham. Mr. Darcy’s response is that he is madly in love with her, and that he wishes to marry her. Elizabeth tells him that she loves him as well.
Mr. Darcy explains that he has realized that when she rejected his first proposal, that he had looked within himself, and realized that his pride and his prejudice had stood in the way of his ability to be a good man. He forced change to his own behavior, thanks to his understanding of his own flaws.
Announcement of their engagement is met with great surprise, as many had believed that Elizabeth had a very firm dislike for Mr. Darcy, based upon her initial comments. However, once the family is convinced of the sincerity of the proposal, the family is very happy.
Mr. Bennet is sad to see Elizabeth leave, but he is ecstatic to learn that Mr. Darcy is the one who paid off Mr. Wickham’s debts (Mr. Bennet had previously believed that it was Mr. Gardiner who had paid the debts, which would have obligated Mr. Bennet to pay him back… which is not the case with Mr. Darcy paying the debt).
Analysis:
Elizabeth’s dignity and resistance to intimidation from Lady Catherine demonstrate her maturity, and hint that she herself is worthy of becoming a member of a higher class in society. Her journey of self-awareness and change for the better is coming to fruition.
We learn as well that Mr. Darcy has also been on a similar journey, that of becoming a better person by recognizing his own failures, and then correcting them. He admits to some of his weaknesses, and has faced his flaws with a resolve to fix them.
The marriage proposal by Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth brings closure to the mystery of whether or not the two of them would overcome their own shortcomings. This comes as an uncoordinated reward for both, as their growing virtue has brought them together.
Again, though irony shows through, as Lady Catherine’s goal of ensuring that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are never married backfires gloriously, and in fact, becomes a critical catalyst that results in Mr. Darcy’s proposal. If he had not heard of Elizabeth’s refusal to promise not to marry him, he may have never been aware of her feelings towards him. Elizabeth’s refusal of Lady Catherine’s demand gave him the courage to request her had yet again, this time with success.
