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There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others.

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813

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The story behind the card

Elizabeth Bennet says this in chapter 31 of Pride and Prejudice (1813), at Rosings, home of Darcy's aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh. While she plays the piano, Darcy stands where he can watch her face. She turns and teases him: if he means to frighten her, he will fail, because her courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate her. It is playful, but sums up her character: she will not be cowed by rank or wealth. A few chapters later Darcy proposes, and she turns him down.

Türkçe oku
Bende, başkaları istiyor diye korkmaya asla razı olmayan bir inat var.
Jane Austen, Gurur ve Önyargı, 1813

Elizabeth Bennet bu sözü Gurur ve Önyargı'nın (1813) 31. bölümünde, Bay Darcy'nin teyzesi Lady Catherine de Bourgh'un görkemli malikânesi Rosings'te söyler. Elizabeth piyano çalarken Darcy gelip yüzünü görebileceği bir yere dikilir. Elizabeth dönüp ona takılır: Onu korkutmaya niyetliyse boşuna uğraşmaktadır, çünkü biri onu korkutmaya kalktıkça cesareti artar. Tonu şakacıdır, ama söz Elizabeth'in karakterini iyi özetler: Ne mevki ne servet karşısında siner. Birkaç bölüm sonra Darcy ona evlenme teklif eder, Elizabeth de onu geri çevirir.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Jane Austen
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