darcy proposal to elizabeth

Pride And Prejudice: What Did Darcy Say to Elizabeth in Proposal

by maria on Aug 8, 2010

It is one of most wonderful parts that Darcy proposed to Elizabeth. What did Darcy say to Elizabety?

Upon rereading Pride and Prejudice the other day (or perhaps that should be re-re-re-re-re…reading it) I came to a most shocking realisation… The words Mr Darcy uses to propose to Elizabeth for the first time are not actually given to us in the book! We have only the first four introductory sentences of his speech. After that we are given only a summary of the proposal that so offended Elizabeth. Since it’s one of the most important scenes of the story, screenwriters have had to fill in the gaps with their own ideas. I’ve transcribed the most famous attempts to do so, from the 1940, 1980, 1995 and 2005 Pride and Prejudice adaptations. But first, here is the passage from the novel:

“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

...Read More >>