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ring true. Elizabeth starts to think back on her conversations with Mr. Wickham and sees what
she did not before: “She saw the indelicacy of putting himself forward as he had done, and the
inconsistency of his professions with his conduct….His attentions to Miss King were now the
consequence of views solely and hatefully mercenary….His behavior to [Elizabeth] could now
have had no tolerable motive” (181–82). Elizabeth’s blinders, first formed from insult and
strengthened by rumor and first impressions, fall apart. Finally, she sees Mr. Wickham for who
he is.

These revelations also force Elizabeth to rethink her judgements of Mr. Darcy. If Mr.
Darcy was justified in his conduct with Mr. Wickham and had selfless motivations in his
interference with Mr. Bingley and Jane, then there is nothing on which Elizabeth can solidly base
her distaste on any longer. When she first read Mr. Darcy’s words, she read her own feelings into
them: “it was all pride and insolence” (179). But Mr. Darcy wrote truthfully, and the truth speaks
to Elizabeth’s reason. The facts all line up. Additionally, the contents of the letter make him and
his sister vulnerable to Elizabeth’s discretion, and she must recognize that. Why would he open
his family up to rumor without reason? Finally, his confidence in the corroboration of Colonel
Fitzwilliam and his friendship with Mr. Bingley—both men in whose characters Elizabeth
trusts—further justify him and force Elizabeth to clear him of accusation.

Although Elizabeth has been strongly guided by personal feelings and thoughts, her
reason ultimately triumphs. Mr. Darcy’s letter was the catalyst which caused Elizabeth to cease
allowing her prejudice towards others to guide her actions, and instead allow reasonable concern
for her family and herself to dictate her behavior. This change shows in several ways, one of
which being her willingness to step up and attempt to correct the behavior of her family.
Additionally, when Elizabeth speaks with Jane from this point on in the novel, Elizabeth is not as

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