21 Bingley. Mr. Darcy also takes a part in separating them. He admits it when
Elizabeth Bennet confronts him about what he has done to Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley. He says,
“I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Towards
him I have been kinder than towards myself,
” Pride and Prejudice, p. 156. As stated by Collins 1974, he concludes
“coercion and the ability to “force” others to behave a certain way are the pr
imary basis of conflict” p.56, Mr. Darcy makes Jane Bennet separated from Mr. Bingley. It is because Mr. Darcy thinks Jane only
wants Mr. Bingley’s wealth. The conflict that Jane has to face is that she is always prevented by
Caroline Bingley to meet Mr. Bingley. In this point, Jane Austen describes that high class society is hardly being a friend with middle and even low class society.
There is always a gap between these two classes and Jane Austen is successfully describes it in the novel.
2. Conflict between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy
This part describes the conflict that Elizabeth Bennet has to face. Elizabeth has to face the conflict between Mr. Darcy and her. The conflict is about their
pride and prejudices to each other . Mr. Darcy’s pride in their first meeting makes
Elizabeth dislike Mr. Darcy. The conflict is even getting worse when Elizabeth meets Mr. Wickham who tells a fake story about him and Mr. Darcy. He tells
Elizabeth that he is cheated out of piece of inheritance from Mr. Darcy’s father.
Yes – the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best
living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. I
22 cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, and
thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given elsewhere. Pride and Prejudice, p. 67
At first, Elizabeth really trusts Mr. Wickham, but soon after her family gives careful warnings to her about Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth leaves him.
However, she becomes curious about the true relationship between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham. The peak of the conflict between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet
happens when they meet again and Mr. Darcy tells Elizabeth that he loves her and he proposes her. Elizabeth refuses him and she opens up all her opinions about
what he has done to Jane in her relationship with Mr. Bingley. Why with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you chose to
tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character? Was not this some excuse for incivility, if I was
uncivil? But I have other provocations. You know I have. Had not my own feelings decided against you, had they been indifferent, or had they even
been favorable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever, the
happiness of a most beloved sister? Pride and Prejudice, p. 156
Elizabeth continues to confront him and tell him about what has happened between him and Mr. Wickham in the past. She tells everything to Mr. Darcy just
like what has been told by Mr. Wickham when they meet. She tells how Mr. Darcy makes Mr. Wickham feel that he has been cheated out by Mr. Darcy.
You have reduced him to his present state of poverty, comparative poverty. You have withheld the advantages, which you must know to have
been designed for him. You have deprived the best years of his life, of that independence which was no less his due than his desert. You have done all
this And yet you can treat the mention of his misfortunes with contempt and ridicule. Pride and Prejudice, p. 157
23 Meanwhile, the conflict between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is
solved when Elizabeth reads the letter from Mr. Darcy after her confrontation. He explains everything about the problems that Elizabeth has mentioned.
Mr. Darcy’s letter reminds Elizabeth the moment when she met Mr. Darcy for the first time.
The letter m akes Elizabeth’s opinion about Mr. Darcy change. Suddenly, she feels
ashamed of herself. “She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. – Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial,
prejudiced, absurd ” Pride and Prejudice, p. 170.
Mr. Darcy’s letter leads Elizabeth Bennet to reveal the solution of her conflict with Mr. Darcy. This conflict is one of the conflicts that the Bennets have
to face, especially for Elizabeth, who really dislikes Mr. Darcy. Meanwhile, Elizabeth also has to face the harsh rejection from Lady de Bourgh. Lady de
Bourgh warns Elizabeth not to marry Darcy, as her daughter is supposed to marry him
. “Let me be rightly understood. This match, to whom you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to
my daughter. Now what have you to say?” Pride and Prejudice, p.284. She uses
her “power” as high class people to oppress Elizabeth and to make Elizabeth obey her words.
3. Conflict between the Bennet family and Mr. Wickham
