Pride and Prejudice #6

"Lady Catherine was a tall, large women, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them, such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented" (Austen 139).

In this section, the narrator introduces the reader to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Darcy's aunt. She is described to be insolent, to be authoratative over others, and to make others question their social standing. Before meeting Lady Catherine, Elizabeth is asked to change her apparel by Mr. Collins. He said, "'I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for anything more...She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved'" (Austen 138). Just like her nephew, the fastidious Lady Catherine beleives that vanity is a very important aspect when meeting someone for the first time. This can infer that she is somewhat judging, much like Elizabeth is. After experiencing Lady Catherine, Elizabeth can see where Darcy's attitude inherited from. Later in this section, Lady Catherine questions Elizabeth about her upbringing. During this conversation, Lady Catherine is far from amiable, for she beleives that Elizabeth and her sisters did not have a proper upbringing.