Discussion Questions for Group 1: KE, JP, MP
1. After speculation that Darcy has interest in Elizabeth, Charlotte questions Elizabeth’s true prejudice. Charlotte chooses to drop the subject thinking that, “The danger of raising expectations which might only end in disappointment; for in her opinion it admitted not of a doubt, that all her friend’s dislike would vanish, if she could suppose him to be in her power” (VOL II, CH 9, p. 160.) What motives would Elizabeth have to marry Darcy?
2. When Darcy visits Elizabeth at Rosings, Charlotte states, “I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me” (VOL II, CH 7). How does Darcy’s growing affection towards Elizabeth cause him to put aside his pride?
ENGH 202: Why Women Read Romance 
I think Darcy’s growing affections towards Elizabeth causes him to put aside his pride because he realizes that even though she is beneath him in society, she has a unique attraction that seems maybe somewhat irresistible to him. Normally, Darcy would not make a trip to visit people, especially someone like Elizabeth, but he is starting to see Elizabeth in a different light than everyone else as he falls in love with her. Instead of it being a necessity to see her, it seems as though he actually wants to see her and is making excuses to do so. The fact that he is so attracted to Elizabeth is forcing him to put aside his pride of his social status.
Lizzie’s motives to marry Darcy would be for stability and security, like any woman during that time. Darcy is a very wealthy man, and she would never have to want for anything. She would always be taken care of, and she would most likely be seen as a respected woman of the community. Everyone from her side would approve of her marrying up in class.However, that would not be the only reason. In Elizabeth’s case, she would also marry for love. She has established with her decline of Mr. Collin’s proposal that she will not alone marry to have a man.
Elizabeth’s motive to marry Darcy would be to not only have a lifelong companion, but also a sense of confidence and security that she will be taken care of for life. Darcy is the epitome of the kind of man women during this time period craved. He is wealthy, self-confident, and highly respected among the community. The marriage would mean that Lizzie would never have to struggle and she would always be looked after. Additionally, Lizzie is the type of woman who genuinely yearns for true love and admiration in a partner. With Darcy’s growing affection, it wouldn’t come as a surprise that Lizzie should recognize the potential of having a marriage filled with both stability and love.
I agree with the previous comment. Mr. Darcy knows that Elizabeth is beneath him in social status, but he still likes her. I find it ironic that he has Mr. Bingely move away from Jane, to prevent the two from falling in love and marrying simply because Jane is of a lower social status. Because Mr. Darcy like Elizabeth so much he even visits her on multiple occasions, which is out of character for him.
Mr. Darcy reveals his attraction towards Elizabeth and supports his words by coming and visiting her. When Mr. Collins proposed to Lizzie, she turned him down because she could not be happy and in love with him. Although he would be able to support her and provide stability, she turned him down which then upset her mother. The prejudice is that she now is looking to Mr. Darcy, someone she couldn’t stand earlier in the novel, and sees him as giving her the stability and confidence that she will be protected throughout her life. However, I don’t find it fully prejudice against Mr. Collins because she does have an attraction towards Darcy as time continues whereas with Mr. Collins she had zero. Mr. Darcy’s pride gets pushed aside because he no longer is focused on how would this make me look and focuses on his attraction towards Lizzie, wanting to pursue her. Instead of being stuck in a social status, there is the realization that marry her would be beneath him, but that no longer gets in his way. Mr. Darcy’s arrogance that was earlier in the novel begins to disappear and he develops into a more attractive character that Lizzie could love since she has made claims that she longs for true love and happiness and won’t be one to just settle, like Charlotte.
Elizabeth’s would have a laundry list of motives for marrying Darcy, he would be in a sense security and a male figure (other than her father) in her life. Since during those times, the men were always the provider for the families, the women wouldn’t have to work or do any type of hard labor. She wouldn’t have to do anything as well, she would marry an extremley wealthy man and live an extremley wealthy life.
Also, it has cause him to put his pride to the side because, he now understands that he has true feelings for Elizabeth. Not because she doesn’t have as much money as he has or anything like that but true love feelings for her. Being a man, it takes alot to put your pride on the side and your heart in your hand.
I think that Lizzy secretly is starting to like Mr. Darcy and is scared of her new feelings so she pushes him away even more by making snide comments and being more rude. She sees that Mr. Darcy is showing her more attention. Her motives to marry Darcy would be, like Anslie stated, to have the stability and security that her mother wants for her daughters, but also that she has growing feelings for him. A major set back though, for the growing feelings would be how he kept Bingley from Jane. Also, I think that Mr. Darcy is exactly what Lizzy needs, in that he challenges her and doesn’t seem bothered by her pride and strong character. I think it’s what she needs.I think the visit to see Elizabeth kind of secured the fact of his growing fondness and even love for her. She recognizes that he is falling for her and even goes along with the awkward conversation that they share.
As for Darcy, he begins to put aside his pride the more he sees Lizzy interact with others and the more they share conversations. Though he tries to hide his fondness for her, it comes through with his efforts in having a conversation with her, and they way he makes her feel adequate with her skills at the piano forte. As for the visit to Mr. Collin’s house, him just making the effort to talk to her shows that he is slowing letting his pride guard down and wants to talk to her on a more intimate level, even if it is weird.