Darcy and the Accomplished Woman — Linda Phelps

What is Darcy seeking in the woman he will marry? Is it mastery of the pianoforte or the ability to sketch a scenic vista? Is it good breeding and social standing? Is it a fortune that will complement his own? The words one says are not necessarily as honest as the words one writes in one's journal. Here Mr. Darcy, Caroline Bingley, and Georgiana Darcy confide their feelings about the various events in Pride and Prejudice to the pages of their journals with much more honesty than they would in conversation. However, are they aware of the nature of their feelings, or do they deceive themselves as they deceive each other? Both Caroline Bingley and Georgiana Darcy can take pride in their status as "accomplished" women, but how can Elizabeth Bennet with her lack of education and tutelage cause them such consternation?