Lady Catherine And Elizabeth Comparison Essay

775 Words2 Pages

The Same but Different In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Lady Catherine and Elizabeth Bennet reveal their personalities in their conversation in the copse; Lady Catherine through her mordant commentary paints herself as a reputable and resolute woman, whereas Elizabeth, despite her lower status, exhibits her cunning and headstrong attitude. [2] The two ladies both use precise diction and artfully crafted sentences to convey their characters. Lady Catherine arrives at the Bennet estate with preconceived notions of how she will conduct the conversation, but once they begin talking, Elizabeth crushes her expectations, and rises above the condescending Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine, having heard of the rumor that Darcy intends to propose …show more content…

Unforgivingly stating to Elizabeth, “I am not to be trifled with,” Lady Catherine demonstrates her overbearing nature, impressing upon Elizabeth that she demands respect (255). Furthermore, Lady Catherine uses litotes to make her point very clear, and her angry countenance accentuates the serious attention Lady Catherine calls for. When Lady Catherine staunchly proclaims, “I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require,” she establishes the persistence with which she approaches the conversation with Elizabeth, refusing to concede until she attains her wish (258). However, Lady Catherine is not only obstinate in her opinions, but she also places a high worth on rank, especially because she is so well-off and respected. Defending her demand to Elizabeth to refuse Darcy’s proposal, “Because honour, decorum, prudence—nay, interest, forbid it,” Lady Catherine adds the final details to her portrait, focusing specifically on the value she places on status (256). By using the verb to forbid, Lady Catherine further exemplifies her stubborn demeanor, suggesting that Elizabeth’s refusal is quite simply, impossible. Zooming out from the finer details, Lady Catherine attempts to shut down Elizabeth and her argument, all the while being sure to emphasize the importance of social

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