In this quote, Mr. Darcy reveals his feelings for Elizabeth before proposing to her. This is the first time that expresses his affection for her.
Detailed answer:
The quote “you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” is from Chapter 38 of Jane Austen’s novel. In this part of the book, Mr. Darcy expresses his feelings for Miss Elizabeth. This Chapter is a turning point because both characters begin to change their attitudes to each other.
Before this, Darcy and Elizabeth had several encounters. The latter viewed Darcy as an arrogant young man. Moreover, he never showed any signs of affection and even described her as “not handsome enough.” Before saying these words, Darcy emphasizes the inferiority of her social status. He points out some obstacles that did not allow him to reveal his love earlier.
This quote means that Darcy could not resist his feelings for Elizabeth. He understood that they belonged to different social classes, which could become a problem. But he admits that despite this, he admires her. Elizabeth rejects Darcy, but starts to see him in a different light. These events and the feelings expressed in this quote allow the main characters to change the way they perceive each other.
