Lydia's Letter

"My Dear Lizzy,

I wish you joy. If you love Mr. Darcy half as well as I do my dear Wickham, you must be very happy. It is a great comfort to have you so rich; and when you have nothing else to do, I hope you will think of us. I am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much, and I do not think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. Any place would do of about three or hour hundred a year; but, however, do not speak to Mr. Darcy about it, if you had rather not.

Your, etc." (Chapter 61)

This letter sent from Lydia to Elizabeth gives a pretty insightful look into Lydia's character. While she does congratulate Elizabeth on her engagement, the sole purpose of this letter comes back to money. Lydia really is the product of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's ill parenting. Much like her parents, Lydia's sole focus is on money, material possessions, and social standing. Lydia marries Wickham for the same reasons as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet: looks and good humour. While we see that Lizzy is not looking for a marriage of convenience (if she were, Collins would have been the perfect suitor), it is she who ends up with the wealth. It would be interesting to see how this step up in social standing changes how Elizabeth's family views her, as well as how they view the role they are supposed to play in relation to Elizabeth and Darcy's new union.

Darcy: growing into his own man

"I was spoiled by my parents, who though good themselves..allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world...such I might still have been but for you!" (Chapter 58).

Here Darcy admits to all of his faults, attributing them primarily to the parenting he received as a child. However, rather than repeating the cycle, Darcy is able to overcome those negative personality traits and grow into a respectable man. It is interesting how both he and Elizabeth acknowledge the bad parenting in their childhoods, and work to create lives for themselves that do not mirror what they are taught by their parents.

Darcy's last attempt

“If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affection and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.”

Here, Darcy is making one last dash to the finish line. He thought and somewhat hoped that in the time since his first proposal he would lose his feelings for Elizabeth, but they persisted. Darcy makes one last attempt to court Elizabeth and puts the ball in her court in the decision process. He is more humble in his asking this time.

Lydia Wickham!

“when I write to them and sign my name ‘Lydia Wickham.” What a good joke it will be!”

Lydia sees her marriage to Wickham as a joke or some sort of playful gesture. Her view of marriage is similar to that of Mrs. Bennet, in the sense that neither of them see it as emotional, but for other reasons. Lydia is caught up in her own playfulness while Mrs. Bennet only thinks of the monetary values.

Darcy's letter- Courtship

“I write without any intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten”

Darcy opens his letter to Elizabeth still loving her, but without the intention of wooing her at this particular point. He admits his wrong doings, but does not continue in pursuing the lady he loves. By doing this, Elizabeth begins to see the other side to Darcy which did not seem apparent in the first half of their relationship. Sometimes, the best way to win someone’s heart is by not trying to do so and being yourself.

True Love Couples

"With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms." (Volume III, Chapter XIX).

The last paragraph of the book, Austen makes about the two couples who's marriage is true. I find it interesting that the couple Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are closest with the one other couple that appreciates each other company. Even though we don't know if the Gardiners were in love when they first got married, we do know that they have grown to love each other. The Gardiners are the one couple we see, before Elizabeth and Darcy get together that want to be around each other and enjoy having a close relationship with one another. With Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and Mr. and Mrs. Collins we see that one of the people in the relationship always has to go have a place were the other one does not go, so that they can have sometime to themselves. That is not the case with the Gardiners, and even though they have no children of there own they are still better parents to Elizabeth and Jane than the Bennetts. I think that Austen has these two couples together in the last paragraph because that is what Mr. and Mrs. Darcy want to have there relationship turn out like, which means never growing apart.

4. Distinctions of rank

"You, who so well know my feelings towards Mr. Darcy, will readily comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise enough to assume even the appearance of what is right. His pride, in that direction, may be of service, if not to himself, as I have suffered by" (Chapter 41, page 226: Penguin Classics).

It is no surprise that Elizabeth continues to feel the same way towards Darcy, that despite how attractive he may appear, she will never truly fall for him. She doesn't approve of Darcy, because of his selfish, overbearing nature as Austen describes consistently throughout the text. However, it is amazing how fast her views can change of Darcy when all it took was a friendly encounter at Pemberly. A few chapters later Austen goes to the trouble to describe that "the occurences of the day were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth much attention for any of these new friends; and she could do nothing but think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's civility, and above all, of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister" (Chapter 43, page 247: Peguin Classics). I just think it is interesting how Elizabeth can express her hate of his personal flaws, yet adore his civility a few chapters later. Even her aunt and uncle didn't understand why Elizbaeth thought Darcy was arrogant when Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner believe "he is perfectly well behaved, polite, and unassuming" (Chapter 43, page 246).