Austen created Elizabeth's
image to be that of a very strong-willed, independent, intelligent woman.
She is so strong-willed that she is actually a bit rebellious. She even thinks very
highly of her intelligence and her ability to judge. Hence, when Darcy delivers a
proposal saying that it was against his better judgement to ask her to marry him and
even a degradation of his pride, it is no surprise that she refuses him, due to her
independent, strong-willed, self-admiring spirit,.
We first see
Elizabeth's independent, strong-willed, witty, intelligent nature when she is snubbed by
Darcy at the ball. When Darcy says that Elizabeth is "tolerable; but not handsome enough
to tempt me(it)," instead of being put out by the insult, Elizabeth finds it humorous.
Someone who was more dependent on others for his/her happiness and less self-assured
might have let Darcy's comment become hurtful. However, Austen describes Elizabeth as
later telling the story to her friends "with great spirit," because she has a "lively,
playful disposition, which delight[s] in any thing ridiculous" (Ch. 3).
Later, we see Elizabeth's independent nature in her dealings with
Darcy, specifically when she is staying at Netherfield with her ill sister. She very
frequently makes impertinent remarks to Darcy. For example, when he asks her if Miss
Bingley's piano playing makes her want to dance a reel, or jig, her response
is:
You wanted
me, I know, to say "Yes," that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I
always delight in overthrowing those kinds of schemes. (Ch.
10)
Elizabeth is again being
the wit here by overthrowing what she thinks is another opportunity for Darcy to insult
her, thereby again demonstrating her independent and strong-willed
mind.
Hence, since Elizabeth is so very independent, strong-willed,
and thinks so very highly of herself, it is absolutely no surprise that she rejects
Darcy's proposal when in his proposal he says that she's beneath
him.
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