Mr. Darcy makes the first proposal to Elizabeth Bennet when she visits her friend Charlotte and Mr. Collins. Elizabeth rejects the request since she found out that Darcy had ruined Jane and Mr. Bingley’s marriage.
Detailed answer:
Elisa is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. The parents are anxious to find rich husbands for their daughters and get them married. Elizabeth rejects the old priest, Mr. Collins. Her friend Charlotte accepts his offer. Elisa comes to visit Charlotte at her new house next to the Rosings Park estate. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Darcy’s aunt, owns it. She dreams that he will marry her daughter to join the capitals. However, Mr. Darcy has other plans.
After he meets Elizabeth at Rosings Park, he proposes to her. Darcy was fascinated by Elizabeth at Netherfield, where he spent time with his friend Charles Bingley. Rumors reached Elizabeth that Darcy had ruined Jane’s wedding with Mr. Bingley. So, she angrily rejects his proposal.
Darcy tries to justify himself. He explains that he did so to save a friend from an unhappy marriage of convenience. Elizabeth reproaches Darcy for having deprived George Wickham of a post. But later, it turns out that this was due to Wickham’s multiple debts. Therefore, Elizabeth’s first refusal illustrates her prejudices that she must deal with to find love. At the same time, pride prevents Mr. Darcy from being a more open person. These two qualities form the title of the novel Pride and Prejudice.