In this quote, Mr. Darcy reveals his feelings for Elizabeth before proposing to her. It is the first time he expresses his affection for her.
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The quote “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” is from Chapter 38 of Jane Eyre’s novel. In this part of the book, Mr. Darcy reveals his feelings to Ms. Elizabeth. It is a turning point in the story. At this point, both characters begin to change their attitudes towards each other. Before this, Darcy and Elizabeth had several encounters. The latter had a perception of Darcy as an arrogant young man.
Moreover, he never showed any signs of affection and described her as “not handsome enough.” Before saying the words from the quote, Darcy made a big mistake. He emphasized the inferiority of her social status, pointing out obstacles that stopped him from revealing his love earlier.
These words mean that Darcy could not resist his feelings for Elizabeth. He understood that class differences could become a problem. However, he admits that despite this, he admires her. Elizabeth rejects him but begins to see Darcy in a different light. These events led to the main characters’ change in their attitudes to each other.