Chapter 56

A week following Jane and Bingley's engagement, Lady Catherine de Bourgh pays a visit to the Bennet household. She insists on speaking with Elizabeth and prompts her to join her for a conversation outdoors. There, Lady Catherine informs Elizabeth that there is a rumor circulating about Darcy planning to marry her. Lady Catherine vehemently rejects this idea, considering it preposterous due to Elizabeth's low social standing and Darcy's implicit engagement to her own daughter.

Elizabeth conceals her surprise and maintains a composed demeanor. She admits that she and Darcy are not engaged but refuses to promise Lady Catherine that she won't enter into an engagement with him, despite the noblewoman's demands. Lady Catherine asserts that Elizabeth is obligated to obey her out of duty, honor, and gratitude. She reiterates the common objection that the Bennets' social connections are of such low quality that Darcy marrying Elizabeth would ruin his reputation among his friends and make him a subject of ridicule. Elizabeth defends her family, declaring that she is a gentleman's daughter, asserting her independence from the domineering control exerted by individuals like Mr. Collins, Miss Bingley, and Lady Catherine herself. She states that she will act in a manner that brings her happiness without regard to such individuals. Lady Catherine leaves, infuriated and frustrated, and Elizabeth keeps their conversation confidential.

Chapters 57–58

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Collins sends a letter suggesting that an engagement between Darcy and Elizabeth is imminent. The letter reaches Mr. Bennet, who reads it to Elizabeth and comments on the implausibility of such a union, considering Darcy's history of scrutinizing women and implying he has never really noticed Elizabeth.

Not long after Lady Catherine's visit, Darcy returns to stay with Bingley at Netherfield. The two friends visit the Bennets, and everyone takes a walk together. During a private moment, Elizabeth expresses her gratitude to Darcy for his generosity in preserving Lydia's reputation. Darcy responds that he did it out of concern for her, as Lydia is her sister. He then reveals that his feelings for her have not changed since his previous proposal. Elizabeth informs him that her own feelings have evolved, and she is now willing to marry him.

Chapters 59–60

That evening, Elizabeth shares the news of Darcy's intention to marry her with Jane, who is astonished and questions whether Elizabeth truly loves Darcy. Elizabeth assures Jane of her love. The following day, Darcy and Elizabeth walk together once more, and that night, Darcy seeks Mr. Bennet's consent for their engagement.

Like Jane, Mr. Bennet requires assurance from Elizabeth that she genuinely cares for Darcy. After receiving her assurance, she discloses to him that Darcy paid off Wickham's debts. Mrs. Bennet is eventually informed of her daughter's engagement, and she is initially rendered speechless before bursting into delighted cries.

Darcy and Elizabeth discuss the development of their love. Darcy writes to inform Lady Catherine of their engagement, while Mr. Bennet sends a letter to Mr. Collins to convey the news. The Collins family comes to Longbourn to congratulate the couple, as do the Lucases and Mrs. Phillips.

Chapter 61

Following the weddings, Bingley acquires an estate near Pemberley, and the Bennet sisters frequently visit one another. Kitty is kept away from Lydia and her negative influence and matures significantly while spending time at her older sisters' homes. Lydia and Wickham remain unrepentant, frequently seeking money from Darcy and visiting the Bingleys so frequently that even the good-natured Bingley grows weary of them. Elizabeth forms a close friendship with Georgiana and even manages to interact cordially with Miss Bingley. Lady Catherine eventually accepts the marriage and visits her nephew and his wife at Pemberley. Darcy and Elizabeth continue to regard the Gardiners as dear friends, thankful for their role in bringing Elizabeth to Pemberley and facilitating their union.

 

Analysis: Chapters 56–61

Lady Catherine is the last of the many obstacles facing the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s confrontation with her marks the heroine’s finest moment. This encounter crystallizes the tensions that their difference in social status has created. All of the qualities that Elizabeth has embodied thus far—intelligence, wit, lack of pretense, and resistance to snobbery—are evident in her dialogue. Lady Catherine, with the weight of birth and money on her side, responds to Elizabeth’s brazenness with a snobbishness that reflects her unassailable preoccupation with social concerns and demonstrates her lack of appreciation for the richness of Elizabeth’s character. Elizabeth, of course, has not yet received a new proposal of marriage from Darcy and has no way of knowing if one is forthcoming, but her pride in herself and her love of Darcy allow her to stand up to the domineering Lady Catherine. With the expression of her beliefs, Elizabeth demonstrates the enduring strength of her will and self-respect.

After the dynamic confrontation between these two firebrands, Darcy’s proposal, theoretically the climax of the novel, is almost a letdown. As noted previously, Austen rarely stages successful proposals in full; accordingly, the narrator summarizes Elizabeth’s affirmative response to Darcy’s bid in a brief paragraph. Some critics argue that the novel becomes simplistic in this third and final part—that Darcy’s character changes too drastically from the arrogant figure of the opening chapters. One can also argue, however, that his initial pride feeds to some extent off of Elizabeth’s initial prejudice, and that as one dissolves as its bearer matures, so does the other.

It is the nature of Austen’s novels that romance must win out over all of the obstacles, whether social or personal, that it faces. Just as love triumphs over pride in social status for Darcy, it triumphs over prejudice for Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s friends and family, thinking that she dislikes Darcy, ask her if she is marrying for love; in the end, in Austen, despite the undeniably relevant social issues of class, money, and practicality, this question always proves most important.