Pride and Prejudice (Part Two)
Over the course of this novel, Darcy overcomes his pride and Elizabeth overcomes her prejudice. Darcy says Elizabeth is not pretty enough to dance with him initially. Elizabeth discovers that Darcy paid for the marriage between Lydia and Wickham, saving the Bennet family from financial ruin.
Lydia and Wickham eloped and Wickham asks Mr. Bennet for a small income to marry Lydia. The Bennets believe this income is supplied by their relatives, the Gardiners. Darcy secretly pays Wickham the 10,000 pounds he requires. Lydia and Wickham are totally oblivious to the financial problems they have caused with the Bennet family.
Lady Catherine comes to visit Elizabeth and she tells Elizabeth not to accept Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth because Elizabeth's family is not wealthy enough to be tied to Darcy's family. Elizabeth tries not to lose her temper with Lady Catherine despite de Bourgh's rude nature. Lady Catherine tells Elizabeth her family will pollute the walls of Pemberley because the Bennets are basically trash. Lady Catherine acknowledges the need to keep the upper classes and their bloodlines separated from the lower classes. This shows that Austen was in such a powerful position that she was able to critique all social classes in society.
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