- "'The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! -- I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind' ... 'you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person.'" (p. 113)
Elizabeth's admirable character is captured in this passage as she defends Lady Catherine's discourteous, personal questions. Lady Catherine asks Elizabeth about her upbringing and criticizes every one of her answers. Jane Austen exposes Elizabeth's outspoken character as she doesn't allow Lady Catherine to make her feel pathetic and question her self worth. It's not often that anyone dares to stand up for themselves against Lady Catherine, (especially Mr. Collins) so Elizabeth's clever responses take her by complete surprise. Elizabeth's straightforward personality is similar to another independent women we have read in previous literature this year: Jane Eyre. Resembling Jane Eyre, Elizabeth is
consistently direct with people despite their gender or social status, and stays faithful to her morals.
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