In this article you will (you can jump to the sections in the contents above):
Darcy’s Letter to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice – here’s a full translation and quick answer to the significance of the letter. Including important quotes for your essay or exam.
There’s no denying it but 2500 words for a letter of apology requires another letter of apology! Pride and Prejudice is an incredible story with a strangely realistic and sensible meaning for modern society.
The message of Pride and Prejudice
The way Elizabeth and Darcy overcome their pride and lose their prejudices to change their behaviours, admit their mistakes and learn new ideas about life from each other help push the messages that:
- Arrogance and stubbornness leads to ignorance and discrimination.
- Also that love and relationships should be a balance of logic and emotion.
Why Character Development Matters in Pride and Prejudice.
In English literature, you should always be concerned with how a character is presented at the beginning and how they develop and change over the text to hopefully grow and mature at the end.
Their change helps society to learn lessons that we can apply in our own lives.
A Quick Summary of Darcy’s Letter to Elizabeth
Here’s a quick breakdown of the letter. BUT I’d definitely take 5 minutes to read the translation of the letter because it is the key turning point of the whole text.
What is Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth about?
- Darcy pretends that he is only concerned with clearing his name and reputation.
- He hopes that, through this letter, Elizabeth will realise that he is not a cruel man.
What Darcy’s letter says about his proposal to Elizabeth
- Darcy begins by telling Elizabeth to not worry: the letter will not be another proposal.
- He feels that she was “disgusted” by his proposal.
- He seems hurt, wants to move on and avoid further embarrassment.
What Darcy’s letter says about Bingley
- Darcy explains how he saw Jane’s behaviour towards Bingley.
- He thought Jane didn’t love Bingley, so he discouraged the match.
- Darcy admits he disapproved of the Bennet family’s behaviour.
- This influenced his decision to keep Bingley away.
- He admits to hiding Jane’s presence in London from Bingley.
- Darcy says this action might have been wrong.
What Darcy’s letter says about Wickham
- Darcy explains Wickham’s background and his father’s support for him.
- He describes how Wickham wasted his inheritance and lived idly.
- Wickham later tried to run away with Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, for her money.
- Darcy stopped the elopement and fired Mrs. Younge for helping Wickham.
- He regrets not telling Elizabeth about this sooner.
- Darcy suggests Colonel Fitzwilliam can confirm his story is true.
- He ends the letter, hoping Elizabeth will see him differently now.
What Is The Significance of Darcy’s Letter In Pride and Prejudice?
Put simply, Darcy’ letter to Elizabeth is a turning point in both their characters’ development.
Both Darcy and Elizabeth are full of pride and prejudice at the beginning.
Darcy is more obviously arrogant because he believes class, status, appearances and reputation are the most important considerations, even above a person’s other qualities. This is why he rejects the idea of dancing with Elizabeth at a ball near the beginning of the story.
Elizabeth is also arrogant because her strength and stubbornness stem from a belief in her being right about how to conduct life. She believes that relationships should be about love and respect and not at all about the security that comes from wealth.
Therefore she judges Darcy without really getting to know him just as he did about her.
Both come to realise that relationships and marriage should be built on a combination of passion, respect, and security.
So how does the letter fit into all of this?
Is Darcy a changed man in his letter?
You’ll see below that he begins the letter by claiming he wants to clear his name which still depicts him as pridefully concerned with his reputation in “my character required it to be written and read.”
In writing the letter, we can see the beginning of change in Darcy. Even though he plays down his motives, the night before he had proposed to Elizabeth who rejected him. Despite this, he cares what she thinks of him implying that deep down, he loves her and respects her opinion depicting his movement away from being prideful.
It is important to understand the tone of the letter is of a wounded and defensive man that only gives just enough apology to ensure that Elizabeth makes it through the letter and reads his version of events.
He hasn’t changed fully in the letter.
It’s only after the letter, does Darcy become more humble and even helps others because of his love for Elizabeth, leading Elizabeth to eventually fall in love with him.
Does Elizabeth fall in love with Darcy because of his letter?
No. It also only begins the change in her.
Similarly, after reading Darcy’s letter, Elizabeth, shocked by her own arrogance and prejudice, begins to realise that she is not always right about everything and begins to understand the importance of reputation as it can sometimes indicate a person’s good deeds. She also begins to accept a more realistic idea of a love that combines passion and security.
Slowly, as the story progresses, she begins to find out more about Darcy leading to her eventual realisation.
Full Translation of Darcy’s Letter in Pride and Prejudice
This is one seriously long letter. It’s all here – all 2500 words of it. But I’ve broken it up into manageable chunks for you (but please note that the original letter is written in one long paragraph).
Important quotes are highlighted in bold and then explained in the section after the translation below.
| Original Text of Darcy’s Letter | Modern Translation of Darcy’s Letter |
|---|---|
| Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments, or renewal of those offers, which were last night so disgusting to you. | Do not worry, madam, when receiving this letter, that it contains any repetition of my romantic feelings or offers of marriage that were so offensive to you last night. |
| I write without any intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes, which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten; and the effort which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion, should have been spared, had not my character required it to be written and read. | I am not writing to upset you again, nor to humiliate myself by repeating my marriage proposal that, for both our sakes, should be quickly forgotten. Writing this letter is only necessary because my reputation requires it to be written and read. |
| You must, therefore, pardon the freedom with which I demand your attention; your feelings, I know, will bestow it unwillingly, but I demand it of your justice. | Please forgive the boldness with which I ask for your attention, as I know your feelings make it difficult, but I ask it out of fairness. |
| “Two offences of a very different nature, and by no means of equal magnitude, you last night laid to my charge. The first mentioned was, that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley from your sister, | You accused me of two wrongs last night, both very different in nature and not equally serious. The first was that I separated Mr. Bingley from your sister without caring about their feelings. |
| —and the other, that I had, in defiance of various claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. | The second, far more serious, was that I ruined Mr. Wickham’s future and prospects because I unfairly sought revenge on him. |
| Wilfully and wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged favourite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect its exertion, would be a depravity, to which the separation of two young persons whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could bear no comparison. | To cast off my childhood friend, my father’s favourite, a young man who had no other support than our family, and who was raised to expect that support, would be an act far worse than separating two young people whose affection had only grown for a few weeks. |
| But from the severity of that blame which was last night so liberally bestowed, respecting each circumstance, I shall hope to be in future secured, when the following account of my actions and their motives has been read. | Given how severely you blamed me last night for both situations, I hope my explanation of my actions and motives will clear things up. |
| If, in the explanation of them which is due to myself, I am under the necessity of relating feelings which may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity must be obeyed, and further apology would be absurd. | If I have to share feelings that may offend you, I’m sorry, but it’s necessary. Apologising further would be pointless. |
| I had not been long in Hertfordshire before I saw, in common with others, that Bingley preferred your elder sister to any other young woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance at Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious attachment. | I had seen him in love before. At that ball, when I danced with you, Sir William Lucas told me that Bingley’s attraction to your sister had led people to expect their marriage. He spoke about it as if the only thing left to decide about the marriage was the timing. |
| From that moment I observed my friend’s behaviour attentively; and I could then perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennet was beyond what I had ever witnessed in him. Your sister I also watched. | From that point on, I closely observed Bingley’s behaviour and could see that his preference for Miss Bennet was stronger than anything I’d ever seen in him before. I also watched your sister. |
| Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard; and I remained convinced, from the evening’s scrutiny, that though she received his attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment. | She was as friendly, cheerful, and engaging as always, but there was no clear sign of any special feelings. I became convinced that, while she enjoyed his company, she didn’t encourage him through her own emotions. |
| If you have not been mistaken here, I must have been in an error. Your superior knowledge of your sister must make the latter probable. If it be so, if I have been misled by such error to inflict pain on her, your resentment has not been unreasonable. | If you weren’t mistaken in this, then I must have been wrong. You know your sister better, so that’s more likely. If I’ve misjudged and caused her pain, your anger isn’t unreasonable. |
| But I shall not scruple to assert, that the serenity of your sister’s countenance and air was such as might have given the most acute observer a conviction that, however amiable her temper, her heart was not likely to be easily touched. | But I still believe your sister’s calm and composed manner could convince even the sharpest observer that, while she is kind, her heart wouldn’t be easily won by Bingley. |
| That I was desirous of believing her indifferent is certain; but I will venture to say that my investigations and decisions are not usually influenced by my hopes or fears. I did not believe her to be indifferent because I wished it; I believed it on impartial conviction, as truly as I wished it in reason. | It’s true that I wanted to believe she did not appear to be romantically interested in Bingley, but my judgments aren’t usually swayed by my hopes or fears. I didn’t think she was uninterested because I wanted it to be so; I believed it because I was convinced it was true. |
| My objections to the marriage were not merely those which I last night acknowledged to have required the utmost force of passion to put aside in my own case; the want of connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me. | My objections to their marriage weren’t just the ones I mentioned last night about my own situation. The lack of connection would not have been as serious for my friend as it was for me. |
| But there were other causes of repugnance; causes which, though still existing, and existing to an equal degree in both instances, I had myself endeavoured to forget, because they were not immediately before me. These causes must be stated, though briefly. | There were other reasons for my disapproval, reasons which still exist and apply equally in both cases, but I had tried to forget them since they weren’t directly in front of me. I must briefly explain them. |
| The situation of your mother’s family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison of that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father:—pardon me,—it pains me to offend you. | Your mother’s family’s situation is a problem, but it is nothing compared to the bad behaviour so often shown by your mother, your three younger sisters, and sometimes even your father. Forgive me, it pains me to say this and cause offence. |
| But amidst your concern for the defects of your nearest relations, and your displeasure at this representation of them, let it give you consolation to consider that to have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like censure is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your eldest sister than it is honourable to the sense and disposition of both. | Even though you’re understandably upset by this portrayal of your relatives, take comfort in knowing that you and your eldest sister have always acted in a way that avoids such criticism. This is well-recognised and reflects highly on both of you. |
| I will only say, farther, that from what passed that evening my opinion of all parties was confirmed, and every inducement heightened, which could have led me before to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy connection. He left Netherfield for London on the day following, as you, I am certain, remember, with the design of soon returning. | From what happened that evening, my opinion of everyone involved was confirmed, and my determination to protect my friend from what I believed to be an unfortunate match only grew stronger. He left for London the next day, planning to return soon, as I’m sure you remember. |
| The part which I acted is now to be explained. His sisters’ uneasiness had been equally excited with my own: our coincidence of feeling was soon discovered; and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in detaching their brother, we shortly resolved on joining him directly in London. | Now, I’ll explain my part in this. His sisters shared my concerns, and we quickly realised we both wanted to keep him away from your sister. |
| We accordingly went—and there I readily engaged in the office of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I described and enforced them earnestly. But however this remonstrance might have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not suppose that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it not been seconded by the assurance, which I hesitated not in giving, of your sister’s indifference. | So, we went to London together, and I made it clear to him how bad the situation could be. I strongly argued against the match. But I don’t think that alone would have stopped the marriage if I hadn’t also told him that your sister didn’t care for him. |
| He had before believed her to return his affection with sincere, if not with equal, regard. But Bingley has great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgement than on his own. To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself was no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, was scarcely the work of a moment. I cannot blame myself for having done thus much. | He had previously believed that she liked him too, maybe not as strongly, but sincerely. However, Bingley is naturally modest and he values my advice. So, convincing him that he was mistaken wasn’t difficult. Persuading him not to return to Hertfordshire once he believed was easy. I can’t blame myself for doing what I did. |
| There is but one part of my conduct, in the whole affair, on which I do not reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister’s being in town. | There is only one part of my actions that I don’t feel good about—it’s that I lowered myself to hide from him that your sister was in town. |
| I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have met without ill consequence is, perhaps, probable; but his regard did not appear to me enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this concealment, this disguise, was beneath me. | I knew, as did Miss Bingley, but Bingley still doesn’t know. It’s possible that they could have met without any problems, but I thought he still liked her and he might fall for her again. Maybe hiding this was beneath me. |
| It is done, however, and it was done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say, no other apology to offer. If I have wounded your sister’s feelings, it was unknowingly done; and though the motives which governed me may to you very naturally appear insufficient, I have not yet learnt to condemn them. | Still, it’s done, and it was for the best. I have nothing more to say on this or any further apology to offer. If I hurt your sister, it wasn’t intentional, and while my reasons might seem weak to you, I can’t regret them. |
| —With respect to that other, more weighty accusation, of having injured Mr. Wickham, I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his connection with my family. Of what he has particularly accused me I am ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate I can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity. | Regarding the more serious accusation of wronging Mr. Wickham, I can only clear my name by explaining his full history with my family. I’m not entirely sure what he has specifically accused me of, but I can back up what I’m about to say with more than one trustworthy witness. |
| Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who had for many years the management of all the Pemberley estates, and whose good conduct in the discharge of his trust naturally inclined my father to be of service to him; and on George Wickham, who was his godson, his kindness was therefore liberally bestowed. | Wickham is the son of a highly respected man who managed the Pemberley estates for many years. My father, appreciating his loyal service, felt inclined to support Wickham, his godson, generously. |
| My father supported him at school, and afterwards at Cambridge; most important assistance, as his own father, always poor from the extravagance of his wife, would have been unable to give him a gentleman’s education. | My father paid for Wickham’s schooling and later supported him at Cambridge. This was important help since Wickham’s own father, due to his wife’s extravagant spending, couldn’t afford to give him a gentleman’s education. |
| My father was not only fond of this young man’s society, whose manners were always engaging, he had also the highest opinion of him, and hoping the church would be his profession, intended to provide for him in it. | My father not only enjoyed Wickham’s company because of his charming manners, but he also thought highly of him. He hoped Wickham would enter the church and even intended to secure a position for him in that profession. |
| As for myself, it is many, many years since I first began to think of him in a very different manner. The vicious propensities, the want of principle, which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his best friend, could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself, and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments, which Mr. Darcy could not have. Here again I shall give you pain—to what degree you only can tell. | As for me, I started seeing Wickham very differently many years ago. The bad habits and lack of morals, which he carefully hid from my father, didn’t escape my notice. Being a young man close to his age, I had the chance to see him in unguarded moments, something my father couldn’t. I know this will hurt you, but only you can say how much it will hurt. |
| But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr. Wickham has created, a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from unfolding his real character. It adds even another motive. | No matter how people feel about Mr. Wickham, I won’t let that stop me from revealing his true character. In fact, it motivates me even more. |
| My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly recommended it to me to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow, and if he took orders, desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant. | My father passed away about five years ago, and his attachment to Wickham remained so strong that he instructed me in his will to help further Wickham’s career however I could. He also wanted Wickham to receive a valuable position in the church as soon as it became available, if Wickham chose to take holy orders. |
| There was also a legacy of one thousand pounds. His own father did not long survive mine; and within half a year from these events Mr. Wickham wrote to inform me that, having finally resolved against taking orders, he hoped I should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate pecuniary advantage, in lieu of the preferment, by which he could not be benefited. He had some intention, he added, of studying the law, and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would be a very insufficient support therein. | In addition to the position in the church, my father left Wickham one thousand pounds. Shortly after my father’s death, and not long after his own father passed away, Wickham wrote to tell me he had decided against joining the church. He hoped I wouldn’t find it unreasonable for him to ask for a financial payout instead of the church position, which he wouldn’t benefit from. He said he intended to study law and that one thousand pounds wouldn’t be enough to support that plan. |
| I rather wished than believed him to be sincere; but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to his proposal. I knew that Mr. Wickham ought not to be a clergyman. The business was therefore soon settled. He resigned all claim to assistance in the church, were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to receive it, and accepted in return three thousand pounds. | I wanted to believe he was sincere, though I doubted it. Still, I agreed to his request. I knew Wickham wasn’t suited to being a priest. We settled the matter quickly—he gave up all idea of joining the church and accepted three thousand pounds instead. |
| All connection between us seemed now dissolved. I thought too ill of him to invite him to Pemberley, or admit his society in town. In town, I believe, he chiefly lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence; and being now free from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation. | After that, our connection seemed to end. I thought so little of him that I didn’t invite him to Pemberley or spend time with him in town. He mostly lived in town, but his supposed law studies were just an excuse. With no obligations holding him back, his life became one of idleness and wastefulness. |
| For about three years I heard little of him; but on the decease of the incumbent of the living which had been designed for him, he applied to me again by letter for the presentation. His circumstances, he assured me, and I had no difficulty in believing it, were exceedingly bad. | For about three years, I heard little from Wickham. But after the clergyman passed away, for whom the church position was originally intended, Wickham wrote to me again asking for it. He claimed his circumstances were terrible, and I believed him. |
| He had found the law a most unprofitable study, and was now absolutely resolved on being ordained, if I would present him to the living in question—of which he trusted there could be little doubt, as he was well assured that I had no other person to provide for, and I could not have forgotten my revered father’s intentions. You will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every repetition of it. | He told me that studying law had been a failure and that he was now fully committed to becoming ordained, if I would give him the position. He was confident that I had no one else to consider for the role and assumed I hadn’t forgotten my father’s wishes. You can hardly blame me for refusing his request, and for resisting every time he asked again. |
| His resentment was in proportion to the distress of his circumstances—and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me to others as in his reproaches to myself. After this period, every appearance of acquaintance was dropped. How he lived, I know not. But last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on my notice. | His anger matched the difficulty of his situation, and I’m sure he spoke as harshly about me to others as he did to my face. After that, we completely lost contact. I don’t know how he lived, but last summer, he forced his way back into my life in the worst way. |
| I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself, and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold to any human being. Having said thus much, I feel no doubt of your secrecy. | I must now bring up something I’d rather forget and wouldn’t share unless it was absolutely necessary. Having said that, I trust in your discretion and secrecy. |
| My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to the guardianship of my mother’s nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and myself. About a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her in London; | My sister, who is more than ten years younger than me, was under the care of Colonel Fitzwilliam, my mother’s nephew, and myself. About a year ago, she left school and settled in London. Last summer, she went to Ramsgate with Mrs. Younge, who was in charge of her. |
| and last summer she went with the lady who presided over it to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by design; for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her connivance and aid he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love and to consent to an elopement. | Mr. Wickham followed them there, clearly with a plan, as he had known Mrs. Younge before. Unfortunately, we had been deceived by her character. With Mrs. Younge’s help, Wickham gained my sister’s trust, and since she remembered his kindness from her childhood, she believed she was in love and agreed to run away with him. |
| She was then but fifteen, which must be her excuse; and after stating her imprudence, I am happy to add, that I owed the knowledge of it to herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement; and then Georgiana, unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father, acknowledged the whole to me. | She was only fifteen at the time, which excuses her poor judgement. Thankfully, she told me the truth herself. I arrived unexpectedly just before the planned elopement, and Georgiana, unable to bear the thought of hurting or disappointing me—her brother, whom she saw almost as a father—confessed everything. |
| You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. Regard for my sister’s credit and feelings prevented any public exposure; but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who left the place immediately, and Mrs. Younge was of course removed from her charge. | You can imagine how I felt and how I acted. To protect my sister’s reputation and feelings, I kept the matter private. I wrote to Wickham, who left immediately, and I dismissed Mrs. Younge from her position. |
| Mr. Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement. His revenge would have been complete indeed. | Mr. Wickham’s main goal was undoubtedly my sister’s fortune, which amounts to thirty thousand pounds. However, I also believe that his desire for revenge against me was a strong motivator. If he had succeeded, his revenge would have been complete. |
| This, madam, is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as false, you will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. Wickham. | This, madam, is a true account of everything that has happened between us, and if you don’t reject it as false, I hope you will no longer consider me cruel towards Mr. Wickham. |
| I know not in what manner, under what form of falsehood, he has imposed on you; but his success is not perhaps to be wondered at, ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either. Detection could not be in your power, and suspicion certainly not in your inclination. | I’m not sure exactly what lies Wickham told you or how he deceived you, but it’s not surprising he succeeded since you knew nothing about either of us at the time. |
| You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night. But I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be revealed. For the truth of everything here related. | You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night. But I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be revealed. For the truth of everything here related. |
| I can appeal more particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, from our near relationship and constant intimacy, and still more as one of the executors of my father’s will, has been unavoidably acquainted with every particular of these transactions. | I can especially rely on the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam. Because of our close relationship, his role as one of my father’s executors, and our constant association, he knows all the details of these events. |
| If your abhorrence of me should make my assertions valueless, you cannot be prevented by the same cause from confiding in my cousin; and that there may be the possibility of consulting him, I shall endeavour to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the morning. I will only add, God bless you. “Fitzwilliam Darcy.” | If you distrust me because of your feelings, you can still trust him, as your dislike for me won’t affect his honesty. I’ll try to make sure you get this letter by morning. I will just add, God bless you. “Fitzwilliam Darcy.” |
Important quotes from Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth.
Though this letter is a turning point in the development of both Darcy and Elizabeth, it does not mean that Darcy has completely changed his arrogant and defensive ways to become all fluffy.
In fact there is not really a lot of apologising in here, just Darcy giving his side of the story to mainly protect his reputation.
However, the fact that he cares what Elizabeth thinks of him is a start towards being softer, cuddlier and more in touch with his feelings.
(Please don’t write ‘cuddlier’ in your essay for goodness sake).
There is no in-depth character language analysis here (you’ll find that elsewhere in this site) – it’s more to explain what Darcy’s comments reveal about his state of mind and character at this stage.
Don’t use quotes below in your exam – they are too long and purely to help you understand this moment of the letter better so that you don’t make a mistake in the exam.
Darcy is not yet a changed man – he has mixed reasons for writing to Elizabeth because he is beginning to change and not being totally honest with himself.
| Quotes from Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth | What this reveals about Darcy |
|---|---|
| Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments, or renewal of those offers, which were last night so disgusting to you. | Translation Do not worry, madam, when receiving this letter, that it contains any repetition of my romantic feelings or offers of marriage that were so offensive to you last night. What this reveals about Darcy Darcy seems hurt and defensive about Elizabeth’s rejection of his marriage proposal. The use of “disgusting” is Darcy being passive aggressive and dramatic; it’s an exaggeration designed to make Elizabeth feel bad about her reaction |
| My character required it to be written and read. | Translation My reputation requires it to be written and read. What this reveals about Darcy He begins the story as obsessed with appearances and reputation. At this stage, rather than admit that he loves her and cares about her opinion, he claims to still be motivated by reputation. We could argue that he is an unreliable narrator, that lies to protect his feelings. He can’t possibly go from loving her and wanting to marry her to feeling nothing the very next day. |
| I am under the necessity of relating feelings which may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity must be obeyed, and further apology would be absurd. | Translation If I have to share feelings that may offend you, I’m sorry, but it’s necessary. Apologising further would be pointless. What this reveals about Darcy He appears to apologise here but it’s not for his actions around Wickham and Jane. He is apologising for saying new things that he believes are truths about Elizabeth’s family. |
| —pardon me,—it pains me to offend you. | Translation Forgive me, it pains me to say this and cause offence. What this reveals about Darcy It may hurt him to offend Elizabeth but it still pains him more to have his reputation questioned implying that though he cares enough about her impression of him, it is still secondary to his concerns about himself. That’s why this point of the story is only the beginning of the change in him. |
| There is but one part of my conduct, in the whole affair, on which I do not reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister’s being in town. | Translation There is only one part of my actions that I don’t feel good about—it’s that I lowered myself to hide from Bingley that your sister was in town. What this reveals about Darcy This is a big moment though. Darcy admits that his actions were not honest. This is the beginning of tiny growth in his character. |
| Perhaps this concealment, this disguise, was beneath me. | Translation Maybe hiding this was beneath me. What this reveals about Darcy Notice that he doesn’t apologise for this! However, he does suggest that his behaviour was not of the standard of behaviour he would like from himself. |
| It is done, however, and it was done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say, no other apology to offer. | Translation Still, it’s done, and it was for the best. I have nothing more to say on this or any further apology to offer. What this reveals about Darcy He is still a very proud man and blame is not readily accepted nor do apologies come easily. |
| if you do not absolutely reject it as false, you will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. Wickham. | Translation if you don’t reject it as false, I hope you will no longer consider me cruel towards Mr. Wickham. What this reveals about Darcy His main concern was to give his side of the story. He feels he has nothing to apologise about in regards to Wickham and Jane – which is probably true. (Wickham was a money grabbing cheat and liar, whereas Jane admitted to playing hard to get with Bingley). Notice that the letter does not excuse his arrogant behaviour towards her or the way he insulted her status during his marriage proposal. This letter is designed to make Elizabeth feel bad about her attraction to Wickham which prompts her to question her judgement about good character in people. |
Conclusion: The Significance of Darcy’s Letter to Elizabeth
Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice marks the beginning of change with Darcy and Elizabeth as opinions and values slowly begin to meet in the middle.
Key points about the letter:
Good luck!
Stephen.
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