Pemberley House as the setting in “Pride and Prejudice”

Answer

Describe Pemberley House as the setting in “Pride and Prejudice” and show the importance of Elizabeth’s visit there. [NU: 2018]

Jane Austen (1775-1817) uses Pemberley House as a beautiful and powerful setting in Pride and Prejudice (1813). It is not just a big house. It also shows Mr. Darcy’s true nature. When Elizabeth visits Pemberley, her heart starts to change. This visit becomes a turning point in the story.

Pemberley Shows Darcy’s Real Character: When Elizabeth first sees Pemberley, she is amazed. The house is big, clean, and full of taste, but not too showy. It is beautiful, but simple. Austen writes,

“It was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine.”

Elizabeth realizes that Darcy is not as proud or selfish as she thought before. His home shows that he is gentle and noble. She starts thinking: if he lives like this, maybe he is a good man after all.

The Housekeeper’s Words Change Elizabeth’s Mind: At Pemberley, the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, praises Darcy. She says he is kind, good to servants, and the best master. Elizabeth is shocked. She thought he was rude and proud. But the housekeeper says,

“He is the best landlord, and the best master.”

Now Elizabeth begins to feel sorry for misjudging him. She thinks about the good sides of Darcy that she didn’t see before.

Darcy’s New Behavior Touches Elizabeth: When Darcy sees Elizabeth at Pemberley, he is very polite. He doesn’t act proud. He speaks kindly to her and her relatives. He even invites Mr. Gardiner to fish. Elizabeth sees a new Darcy, a man full of love and respect. This visit helps Elizabeth fall in love with him. Pemberley becomes the place where their love starts to grow.

Pemberley is more than a house. It is a symbol of Mr. Darcy’s heart, rich, deep, and beautiful. Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley opens her eyes. It shows her the truth about Darcy. Pemberley brings them closer to love and understanding.