Read the following passage from Chapter 34 of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice (1813).
(1) "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed.
(2) You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
(3) Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured,
(4) doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the
(5) avowal of all that he felt, and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He
(6) spoke well; but there were feelings other than those of the heart to be detailed,
(7) and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His
(8) sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which
(9) judgment had always opposed to his inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth
(10) which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely
(11) to recommend his suit.
(12) In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the
(13) compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not vary
(14) for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he must receive; till,
(15) roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she lost all compassion in
(16) anger. She tried, however, to compose herself to answer him with patience, when
(17) he should have done. He concluded with representing to her the strength of
(18) that attachment which, in spite of all his endeavours, he had found
(19) impossible to conquer; and with expressing his hope that it would now be
(20) rewarded by her acceptance of his hand. As he said this, she could easily see
(21) that he had no doubt of a favourable answer. He spoke of apprehension and
(22) anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security. Such a circumstance
(23) could only exasperate her further, and, when he ceased, the colour rose into
(24) her cheeks, and she said:
(25) "In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established custom to express
(26) gratitude for the feelings declared, however unequally they may be returned.
(27) It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I could feel gratitude,
(28) I would now thank you. But I cannot—I have never desired your good opinion,
(29) and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly. I am sorry to have
(30) occasioned pain to any one. It has been most unconsciously done, however, and
(31) I hope will be of short duration. The feelings which, you have told me, have
(32) long prevented the acknowledgment of your regard, can have little difficulty
(33) in overcoming it after this explanation."
The passage suggests that Darcy's internal conflict during his proposal is primarily a result of which of the following?
- the tension between his rational judgment of Elizabeth's social standing and his emotional inclination toward herCevap
- Bthe pressure of family expectations directly opposing his sense of moral duty to marry for love
- Cthe contrast between his verbal expressions of anxiety and his internal sense of complete social security
- Dthe author's moral condemnation of upper-class arrogance and societal decay in nineteenth-century England
- Ehis realization that Elizabeth's family obstacles make a successful marriage impossible