This quotation occurs in Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, when Elizabeth is with her aunt and uncle touring the countryside, and sees Darcy’s house and the things within at Pemberley for the first time. Elizabeth touring Pemberley is a moment of irony and transformation. Here, Austen has Elizabeth contemplating marriage to a man she dislikes, which is ironic considering that she is basing her new “admiration” for his house and “furnishings” on the very materialistic views and considerations, which are the very things that she had looked down on her good friend Charlotte for when she became engaged to Mr. Collins (260). This is also the moment of transformation for Elizabeth because here she is given the opportunity to learn more about …show more content…
When Elizabeth looks past Pemberley’s “lofty and handsome” rooms, she sees that the furnishings are “suitable” and have a purpose rather than being overly ornamental and “gaudy” when compared to that of Rossings, speaks to the importance the house and furnishings representation of Darcy’s characterization. Elizabeth seeing these things in Darcy’s home allows her to see into who he is, which is something she has never seen because of his rigid and guarded personality. Austen also uses satire to illustrate marriage and the fact that having social class and wealth does not necessarily guarantee taste, an opinion Austen uses throughout Pride and Prejudice as well as all of her novels. As Elizabeth sees the grounds she fantasizes being “mistress of Pemberley might be something!" and once again when she is touring the house she imagines what it would be like to be “mistress” of such a house (259, 260). The more of the grounds and house she sees, the more enamored with Pemberley, and as a result, a softening towards Darcy occurs. This transformation is a result of Elizabeth letting the material things around her, the “furniture” and “elegance,” sway her into having a change of heart for the owner of the estate