One of the things I find interesting, and really compelling, about the ending chapters of P&P is that they basically seem to say: the characters’ arcs and story aren’t over, this is just the end of this particular segment of their lives. For instance, after Darcy’s second proposal, we get:
She [Elizabeth] remembered that he [Darcy] had yet to learn to be laughed at, and it was rather too early to begin.
So this raises the possibility of a more open and easy dynamic than we’re going to see in this exact moment. We get hints of that dynamic during the engagement, but where it’s really affirmed is in this overview of the future:
Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth, though at first she often listened with an astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively, sportive manner of talking to her brother. He, who had always inspired in herself a respect which almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of open pleasantry.
But there’s also another transition that’s subtler, to the point that you could probably argue that it’s not reallyan evolution—but which I personally think is one and a very intriguing one.
Elizabeth is (very understandably) indignant during her confrontation with a more than usually rude and snobbish Lady Catherine, and proclaims:
“No principle of either [duty, honour, or gratitude] would be violated by my marriage with Mr Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former wereexcited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment’s concern”
As we know, Lady Catherine proceeds to insult Elizabeth so badly in her letter to Darcy that he cuts her off. However:
But at length, by Elizabeth’s persuasion, he was prevailed on to overlook the offence, and seek a reconciliation; and, after a little further resistance on the part of his aunt, her resentment gave way, either to her affection for him, or her curiosity to see how his wife conducted herself; and she condescended to wait on them at Pemberley
So it seems like Lady Catherine’s resentment did, in the end, give Elizabeth some concern. And, I mean, I think it’s entirely possible that Darcy and Lady Catherine are similar enough to have stayed stubbornly estranged for an indefinite length of time if Elizabeth hadn’t taken it upon herself to interfere and (effectively) bring Lady Catherine to Pemberley. So our last vision of Elizabeth is not of Elizabeth in isolation from the world, but of the Elizabeth at Pemberley who gets over her own rightful sense of offense and successfully works to create a family circle that pulls together their sisters, Mr Bennet, the Gardiners, and yes, Lady Catherine.
