He implies that during some future visit she will stay at Rosings. Elizabeth thinks that he must be referring to a possible match between herself and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and is distressed by the implication. He tells her that Darcy keeps delaying their departure. They talk about money, and Elizabeth is embarrassed when Colonel Fitzwilliam states that he could not marry 'without some attention to money' p. She turns the conversation to a humorous evaluation of the price for a prospective wife for a man in his position.
She learns that Fitzwilliam is a joint guardian with Darcy of Georgiana Darcy. Elizabeth infers that there has been some trouble with her, and changes the subject to speak of the Bingleys. For himself, he is dependent, being the younger son. Elizabeth doubts he suffers much. He needs to marry someone wealthy. Elizabeth privately wonders if he is talking about her.
Elizabeth wonders why Mr. She assumes it is because of his responsibility to his sister. Colonel Fitzwilliam tells her that he shares the guardianship of Miss Darcy with her brother. She asks if Miss Darcy likes to have her own way and whether she has given them cause for uneasiness.
His reaction confirms that this has occurred, and he wonders why she asks. Elizabeth assures him she has heard nothing but praise for Miss Darcy. When Elizabeth mentions Mr. Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam replies that he protects Mr. In fact, he recently interfered with Mr. Bingley getting into an unwise marriage. Elizabeth is angry and says Mr. Darcy had no right to judge—but then, for the sake of propriety and not wanting to reveal it was her sister that Mr.
Darcy had played a part in separating Mr. Bingley from Jane, but she had thought Miss Bingley had been behind the plot. Now she realizes it was Mr. She is angry over the pain it has caused her sister and how it might be permanent. She believes the objections Mr.
Wickham squandered the money, tried to get more from Darcy, and when that failed, tried to elope with Darcy's sister. Darcy directs Elizabeth to ask Colonel Fitzwilliam for confirmation of anything she questions in his letter. At first, Elizabeth refuses to believe the letter, but after rereading it and thinking back on the circumstances Darcy recounts, she soon realizes, with a great deal of shock and chagrin, that it is completely true.
Reflecting upon her former behavior and views, she is horrified and ashamed and exclaims, "I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself. These chapters are among the most important of the novel. They present the plot's climax — the turning point of the action of the novel — and the beginning of the denouement — the resolution of the plot. Here, Elizabeth experiences her great self-revelation about her prejudices, and Darcy receives a similar blow to his own expectations and perceptions of the world.
Austen has carefully structured the plot so that Darcy's proposal comes at the height of Elizabeth's anger toward him. Elizabeth's conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam leaves her so upset and resentful of Darcy that she makes herself sick thinking about how he has harmed her sister.
Her feelings are such that she cannot bear the thought of seeing him. At the same time, Darcy's feelings for Elizabeth have reached the point of compelling him to go to her and expose his heart, leading to his outburst, "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.
The proposal itself is filled with pride as Darcy refers to all the obstacles which he has had to overcome in order to make himself take this step. Rather than emphasizing his love for Elizabeth, he focuses on the negatives of the situation and makes disparaging comments about her family. Meanwhile, the proposal completely stuns Elizabeth. She has been blind to Darcy's affections for her because she has been so prejudiced against him.
Note that throughout the scene, Darcy accuses Elizabeth of pride, while Elizabeth accuses him of prejudice — an ironic reversal of the way readers have viewed each character.
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