In one of the final chapters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the narrative dwells on the reflections about Lizzy and Mr. Darcy’s upcoming marriage, relationship, and their stance on love and class. The chapter is devoted to both the new perspective of the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and their view on families’ responses. Hence, to render the emotive component of the chapter, the overall atmosphere of the chapter is an intimate and calm setting, created with the help of interpersonal dialogues between Elizabeth and Darcy and their exclusive point of view on their plotline.
To begin with, throughout the novel, the story of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, presented mostly from Elizabeth’s point of view, has been addressed through the lens of social gap and class disparities. Hence, the plotline, which stands for the course of events and features in the novel, left little space for the interaction between the genuine emotions of lovers. Contrary to the tension looming over the first proposal, this chapter demonstrates how letting go of pride and prejudice paves the way to harmony. As a result, the atmosphere of the chapter, which stands for the setting and the environment of the story, manifests intimacy and aspiration to build a future together despite each other’s flaws.
The intimacy of the setting is presented to the reader at the very beginning of the chapter, as Lizzy and Darcy finally discuss their relationship from the moment they saw each other to define when the feelings sparked in both of them. Although Mr. Darcy says that he cannot remember, as he “was in the middle before I knew I had begun,” the whole conversation still manifests their pure feelings for each other undefined by class and social burden (Austen, 2003, p. 558).
The calm and confident mood of the setting is also justified by the fact that both Lizzy and Darcy are no longer preoccupied with feelings other than the ones they cherish together, as they feel obligation rather than guilt when informing their relatives about the upcoming marriage. The “storm” of anger expressed by Lady Catherine “was blown over” without taking a toll on Mr. Darcy and his future spouse (Austen, 2003, p. 563). Indeed, they understood that by letting go of the frustrating weight of status, the concern for others’ opinions could turn into pity towards the ones obsessed with class. Hence, it can be concluded that seemingly discomforting comments about the upcoming union were rendered with ease and genuine intimacy between the couple.
While Chapter 60 delights the reader with the expected union of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, major attention should be paid to their separate behavioral patterns rather than their image as a whole. Thus, the final decision to marry each other is a distinct symbol of the characters’ inner change and growth throughout the story. When speaking of Lizzy in particular, the dynamic of her character is manifested through the reflection on her past behavior, immunity to comments on her social class, and acceptance of Darcy’s point of view.
While the character of a novel can be represented as flat, round, static, and dynamic, the image of Elizabeth Bennet in Chapter 60 is rendered by Jane Austen as round and dynamic. A round character is a three-dimensional persona who has a complex number of personal traits that resemble real-life individuals. Lizzy is a person who, despite living by moral principles and honesty, frequently perceives the world as black and white, not letting people enter a gray area full of obstacles and challenges. However, in Chapter 60, one may recognize how her perception changes as she accepts and resonates with Darcy’s point of view on their complex relationship and social status.
Such a change of personality traits justifies the dynamics of her persona. A dynamic character is someone who demonstrates personality change and knowledge, as the story elaborates. In the case of Lizzy, the reader can notice how during the conversation with Mr. Darcy, she manifests understanding and empathy for his feelings and prior concerns about their union. If previously, Elizabeth would be upset with Darcy’s fear of announcing their union, now, she gently asks Darcy whether he is emotionally ready to break the news to Lady Catherine: “Shall you ever have the courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to befall her?” (Austen, 2003, p. 561).
At the end of the chapter, a reader can see how impulsive and idealistic Lizzy becomes a calm and hopeful woman who tolerates snobs for the sake of spending the rest of her life with the man she cherishes: “and though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it added to the hope of the future” (Austen, 2003, p. 564). This dynamic contributes immensely to the central idea of the novel, as the embodiment of pride and prejudice in Elizabeth and Darcy disappear in the face of genuine feelings. By joining Lizzy on her journey of self-discovery and reflection, readers are able to resonate with the “realness” of the character and her ability to leave pride and categoricalness in the past.
Reference
Austen, J. (2003). Pride and prejudice. Barnes & Nobles Classics.