Pride and Prejudice 14

"I am only 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 to me" (Austen 346).

In this quote, Elizabeth fights with Lady Catherine after she calls her too low class for Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth was questioning her chances of getting married to Mr. Darcy. She felt that her initial rejection of him would discourage him from proposing at all. Elizabeth was swayed by Mr. Darcy's letter that explained the truth in the false claims that she made when rejecting him. Elizabeth was surprised that he would have the courtesy to clear his name in the manner that he did. She is even more surprised when Lady Catherine informs her that Mr. Darcy plans to propose again. However, Lady Catherine attempts to talk Elizabeth into denying Mr. Darcy once again. She refuses to see her nephew married to such a simpleton as Elizabeth. The above quote is Elizabeth's reaction to Lady Catherine's proposal. Elizabeth knows what she wants and does not want. Considering the tough times she endured, Elizabeth needed some happiness. Having to take orders from Lady Catherine was hardly her idea of happiness. In this example, Lady Catherine can be seen as representing Elizabeth at the time when she rejected Mr. Darcy. Lady Catherine acts upon impulse, accusing everyone and referencing every prejudice she can attribute to any particular situation, which in this case would be class differences. when Elizabeth rejected Mr. Darcy, she did so by accusing him for causing Mr. Wickham trouble and implying her family's prejudices towards him that he is uncaring and proud. This quote represents a shift in Elizabeth's character, because now she sees how ungrateful and reckless she was before. In witnessing the marriage of Charlotte to Mr. Collins for financial reasons and the relationship between Lydia and Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth feels that she has seen enough lousy relationships and decides that it is the job of Jane and herself to marry well and set an example for Kitty, the last unmarried daughter left in the Bennet family.

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Which of the following terms best expresses the tone of the conversation between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth?
A.) transgressive
B.) panegyrical
C.) apathetic
D.) solemn