She especially does this with Mr. Darcy. For instance, she exercises power over Darcy when "she smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question with some surprise to her silence" (Austen 46). Darcy asks Elizabeth a question and when she does not answer, he is surprised as he typically is the one to have all of the power and not reply to questions. Generally, women politely do everything men request and men are used to this. However, Elizabeth does not think the same way as the rest of society. She uses her power to say “no” and to assure the man she one day marries is the right man. Moreover, her denying Darcy’s proposal caused him rethink his life, his attitude, and eventually made him a better man fit to marry Elizabeth. Furthermore, when Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, she replies, “do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever the happiness of a most beloved sister” (Austen 168). Elizabeth displays power over Darcy when rejecting his marriage proposal. Both Lydia and Charlotte have low expectations of marriage and if they were placed in the same position, they would have immediately replied, ‘yes’ to Darcy’s proposal; unlike Elizabeth who kept her integrity and used her power to say no to Darcy as he had ruined her sister’s
She especially does this with Mr. Darcy. For instance, she exercises power over Darcy when "she smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question with some surprise to her silence" (Austen 46). Darcy asks Elizabeth a question and when she does not answer, he is surprised as he typically is the one to have all of the power and not reply to questions. Generally, women politely do everything men request and men are used to this. However, Elizabeth does not think the same way as the rest of society. She uses her power to say “no” and to assure the man she one day marries is the right man. Moreover, her denying Darcy’s proposal caused him rethink his life, his attitude, and eventually made him a better man fit to marry Elizabeth. Furthermore, when Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, she replies, “do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man, who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever the happiness of a most beloved sister” (Austen 168). Elizabeth displays power over Darcy when rejecting his marriage proposal. Both Lydia and Charlotte have low expectations of marriage and if they were placed in the same position, they would have immediately replied, ‘yes’ to Darcy’s proposal; unlike Elizabeth who kept her integrity and used her power to say no to Darcy as he had ruined her sister’s