Georgiana Darcy Quotes

Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest of the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy’s praise occupied the chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on, and Caroline boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former letter.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 24. Jane receives a letter from Caroline Bingley to say that her brother Charles and the family have settled in London. Caroline, who pretends to be Jane’s friend, is trying to break up the relationship between Jane and Charles. To Jane’s dismay, Caroline writes of the growing intimacy between Charles Bingley and Georgiana Darcy and predicts their marriage to each other.

This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned as she considered that Jane would no longer be duped by the sister at least. All expectation from the brother was now absolutely over. She would not even wish for any renewal of his attentions. His character sunk on every review of it; and as a punishment for him, as well as a possible advantage to Jane, she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. Darcy’s sister, as by Wickham’s account, she would make him abundantly regret what he had thrown away.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 26. Jane has written from London to Elizabeth saying that she hasn’t heard from Charles Bingley since he left Netherfield. Elizabeth is pained by her sister’s situation, but her spirits lift when she considers that Jane will no longer be duped by Caroline Bingley. She hopes that Mr. Bingley ends up marrying Georgiana Darcy, a match that Caroline has been trying to bring about.

About a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her in London; and last summer she went with the lady who presided over it to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by design; for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her excuse…Mr. Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 35. Mr. Darcy, in a letter, reveals to Elizabeth how George Wickham attempted to elope with Darcy’s 15-year-old sister Georgiana, aided by his sister’s governess Mrs. Younge. Wickham’s sole aim was to obtain young Georgiana’s fortune. Darcy is explaining the reason for his quarrel with Wickham. This is foreshadowing that Wickham will later elope with Lydia Bennet, suggesting that Elizabeth and her family do not take seriously Darcy’s warning about Wickham.

On reaching the spacious lobby above they were shown into a very pretty sitting-room, lately fitted up with greater elegance and lightness than the apartments below; and were informed that it was but just done to give pleasure to Miss Darcy, who had taken a liking to the room when last at Pemberley.
"He is certainly a good brother," said Elizabeth, as she walked towards one of the windows.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 43. Family is important to Darcy and he is a good and caring brother, Elizabeth discovers when she is taken into an attractive sitting room. His sister Georgiana took a liking to the room when she last visited Pemberley, so Darcy had it more elegantly fitted out for her pleasure.

Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were very easy and pleasant, encouraged her communicativeness by his questions and remarks; Mrs. Reynolds, either by pride or attachment, had evidently great pleasure in talking of her master and his sister.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 43. The housekeeper at Pemberley Mrs. Reynolds is very proud to speak about her master Mr. Darcy and his sister Georgiana to the visiting Gardiners and Elizabeth. The longer Elizabeth is at Pemberley the more good things she learns about Darcy.

The picture-gallery, and two or three of the principal bedrooms, were all that remained to be shown. In the former were many good paintings; but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art; and from such as had been already visible below, she had willingly turned to look at some drawings of Miss Darcy’s, in crayons, whose subjects were usually more interesting, and also more intelligible.
In the gallery there were many family portraits, but they could have little to fix the attention of a stranger. Elizabeth walked in quest of the only face whose features would be known to her. At last it arrested her – and she beheld a striking resemblance to Mr. Darcy, with such a smile over the face as she remembered to have sometimes seen when he looked at her. She stood several minutes before the picture, in earnest contemplation, and returned to it again before they quitted the gallery. Mrs. Reynolds informed them that it had been taken in his father’s lifetime.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 43. There is much homage to family in Darcy’s portrait gallery in Pemberley, Elizabeth discovers when she views it. Many family portraits are on view. Elizabeth is interested in the drawings of Georgiana but is particularly drawn to the portrait of Mr. Darcy himself. She stands for several minutes before Darcy’s likeness in deep contemplation, even returning for a second look after they quit the gallery. Darcy is wearing the same smile that Elizabeth remembers when he sometimes looked at her. Elizabeth learns from the housekeeper that the picture was taken in his father’s lifetime.

Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do. She wanted to ascertain the feelings of each of her visitors; she wanted to compose her own, and to make herself agreeable to all; and in the latter object, where she feared most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley was ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined, to be pleased.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 44. Elizabeth is surprised when Mr. Darcy, Georgiana and Charles Bingley show up for a visit at the inn at Lambton where she is staying with her aunt and uncle. Initially nervous at their sudden appearance a day before they were expected, she soon regains her self-confidence as they meet face to face. Anxious to please her company, Elizabeth need not have worried. For Austen describes beautifully how Elizabeth finds them "prepossessed in her favour" with each in turn "ready," "eager" and "determined" to be pleased – three words that sum up the mood of her visitors. Any barriers that may have existed before, including those of class and misunderstanding, appear to have melted away. They meet as equals. Elizabeth goes on to observe that Bingley and Georgiana are not romantically interested in each other, proving Caroline Bingley’s claim a fiction. She also finds that Mr. Darcy continuing to show good manners.

Miss Bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on Elizabeth’s person, behaviour, and dress. But Georgiana would not join her. Her brother’s recommendation was enough to ensure her favour: his judgment could not err, and he had spoken in such terms of Elizabeth as to leave Georgiana without the power of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 45. After Elizabeth and her aunt leave Pemberley, Caroline just can’t stop herself making spiteful comments about Elizabeth. But Georgiana refuses to join in, she trusts her brother Fitzwilliam Darcy’s good judgement that Elizabeth is nothing other than "lovely and amiable." The close family bond between Georgiana and her brother is evident here. There is much irony in Caroline criticizing Elizabeth’s behavior, since she herself is guilty of behaving badly.

Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth; though at first she often listened with an astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively, sportive, manner of talking to her brother. He, who had always inspired in herself a respect which almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of open pleasantry. Her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen in her way. By Elizabeth’s instructions, she began to comprehend that a woman may take liberties with her husband, which a brother will not always allow in a sister more than ten years younger than himself.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 61. After their marriage Elizabeth doesn’t waste any time in educating Darcy in how to enjoy being laughed at. And she has a very willing pupil in Darcy’s younger sister Georgiana, who learns that a wife can take liberties with her husband that a younger sister cannot.
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