Question 119·Medium·Command of Evidence
In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813), Elizabeth Bennet repeatedly resists social pressure to marry for status or wealth. Which quotation from a commonly cited edition of the novel most clearly demonstrates Elizabeth’s commitment to marrying only on her own terms?
For evidence-based literature questions, first restate the claim in your own words (here: Elizabeth insists on choosing a husband based on her own idea of happiness, not social pressure). Then, scan each option for the one that directly and specifically matches that claim, focusing on key ideas and phrases (independence, own opinion, ignoring others’ wishes). Avoid being distracted by quotes that “sound like” the character but don’t clearly support the exact idea in the question.
Hints
Clarify the core idea
Ask yourself: what does it mean to “marry only on her own terms”? It’s about independence, personal choice, and not giving in to other people’s expectations.
Look for explicit, not implied, meaning
You want the quote that directly states Elizabeth will make decisions based on her own judgment of happiness, not just one that shows she is angry, surprised, or brave.
Check for reference to other people’s influence
Which option clearly mentions ignoring or not considering other people’s opinions or pressure when deciding what to do?
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate what the question is really asking
The prompt mentions that Elizabeth resists social pressure to marry for status or wealth and wants to marry only on her own terms.
In simpler words, you need a line where Elizabeth clearly says she will decide for herself what makes her happy in marriage, instead of listening to others or following social rules.
Identify the key ideas to match in the quote
Pull out the key ideas from the question:
- Independence in making decisions
- Focus on her own happiness
- Refusing to be influenced by other people’s opinions or pressure
- Specifically about marriage or choosing a partner
The correct quote should strongly and clearly connect to Elizabeth choosing for herself and not caring about what others want her to do.
Scan each option for independence and rejection of outside pressure
Now, look at the meaning of each option:
- One quote talks about her pride being hurt.
- One quote talks about realizing something about herself.
- One quote talks about deciding to act based on what she believes will bring her happiness, without considering other people’s views.
- One quote talks about feeling braver when someone tries to intimidate her.
Only one of these directly says she will act based on her own opinion of her happiness, with no reference to other people, which matches the idea of marrying only on her own terms.
Match the best evidence to the prompt
The quotation that directly states Elizabeth is “resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me” is the strongest evidence.
It explicitly shows she will follow her own opinion of what will make her happy and will not base her decision on the wishes of others, which is exactly what the question describes. Therefore, that quotation is the correct answer.