P&P #8

"She grew absolutely ashamed of herself.-Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd"(Austen 159)

It is interesting how Elizabeth's views changed after reading Darcy's letter. Here she accuses herself of having the very qualities she had once seen in Mr. Darcy. She feels geniune shame after realizing where her prejudice had gotten her, and cannot think of anything else. Perhaps she will later appologize to Darcy for her accusations. I would not expect such behavior from Elizabeth at the beginning of the novel, but she has clearly eveolved into a different character.

"Mr. Darcy's letter, she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She studied every sentence: and her feelings towards the writer were at times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, she was full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself"(163)

Elizabeth seems to have become obsessed with Darcy's letter and has receded into a state of self-loathing. Since reading the letter, she's become very introspective, which is one of Darcy's most prominent characteristics. It appears that Darcy rubs off on her more and more with every action he does. With a mere letter, he was able to turn her from spiteful to remorseful. One can only wonder what would have happened had he verbally relayed his message