"You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everyone?" (Austen 300).
Compared to herself, Lady Catherine affronts Elizabeth as if she were a simpleton. Elizabeth is odious in the eyes of Lady Catherine because Lady Catherine believes if Elizabeth and Darcy were to get married, his reputation will cease to subsist because her family's poor status will bring them both. From the text, the audience knows that Mr. Darcy has proposed to Elizabeth once before. The dramatic irony between the audience and the characters exemplifies the characters' personalities. Lady Catherine is this snobbish upper class gentlewoman that has no alacrity for people beneath herself. Lady Catherine begins to disdain Elizabeth, trashing on her family and her status. Lady Catherine believes Elizabeth would only want to marry Mr. Darcy to bring her social status up: a selfish act on Elizabeth's part. Verbally assaulting Elizabeth is the defense mechanism Lady Catherine utilizes in order to keep these two people apart. The condescending question Lady Catherine concludes with sets off a malicious tone. Regardless of Lady Catherine's portentous warnings, Elizabeth preserves through the insults, highlighting Elizabeth's independent, quick-witted personality.
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