Epiphany
Throughout Pride and Prejudice, various events have happened to lead up to the climax of the book, Elizabeth's epiphany. During this time Elizabeth deals with many internal conflicts, all revolving around the same person: Mr. Darcy. During the proposal, Darcy tells her all the things that are wrong with her family and her own "inferiority." (160) Despite all this, he still loves her. Darcy seems sure she will accept, but Elizabeth's dislike of his pride and arrogance make it impossible for her to agree. They then proceed to start a heated argument, and each throw insults back and forth. Elizabeth first turns down his proposal by saying, "why with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you choose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character" (161-162). Darcy's convinced Elizabeth that he wants a wife inferior to him, something she would never stand for.
Mr. Darcy
English: "Mr Darcy with him" - Mr. Darcy and Mr. B...
Detail of a C. E. Brock illustration for the 1895 ...She goes on to accuse him of many things, concluding with, "You have done all this! And yet you can treat the mention of his misfortunes with contempt and ridicule" (163). She later goes on to say, "You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it" (164). After a few more words, Darcy hastily left the room, leaving Elizabeth to cry and reflect on what had happened. She was left with many thoughts passing through her head, thoughts of how Darcy's proposal was "gratifying" (164), as well as thoughts of his "abominable pride" (164). Later on, when Elizabeth receives the letter from Darcy, she realizes many things, and many internal conflicts are forced upon her. She had before believed so strongly against Mr. Darcy and favored Wickham,