"'Becuase honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family and friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never be mentioned by any of us" (Austen 298).
At this point in the novel, lady Catherine has come to visit Elizabeth at her home to talk about Darcy. Lady Catherine's visit has to do with the fact that she heard a rumor regarding a proposal between Elizabeth and Darcy. Lady Catherine insists that it is ridiculous, given Elizabeth’s low status and the supposed engagement of Darcy to her own daughter. Lady Catherine affronts Elizabeth, possibly to intimidate her out of marrying Darcy, if he ever proposes to her. Lady Catherine's haughty attitude has started to vex Elizabeth, for she says that Darcy will not fully appreciate Elizabeth because of her social status.
This convergence between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth emphasizes the tensions that their difference in social status has created. Elizabeth handles the conversation with intelligence and lack of pretense. Lady Catherine responds to Elizabeth’s boldness with a sense of snobbery that shows her obsession of social status and demonstrates her lack of appreciation for the zest of Elizabeth’s character.
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