In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen wavers between an absolute respect for rank and authority, and an unbridled distain for the idea of one’s life being dictated by someone else simply due to societal status. The former is displayed in the pristinely in Elizabeth Bennet’s sudden growth of respect for Mr Darcy on seeing him in his natural circumstances at Pemberley. Meanwhile, the latter strikes through the text in Lizzie's later meeting with Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
At the beginning of the book, we cannot imagine Lizzie seeing Mr Darcy as anything than a "proud, disagreeable man", in Mrs Bennet's words. His attitude towards her instigates the sculpture of him she carves in her mind, he donates the marble and she and Wickham gleefully cut into it. Lizzie will not respect anyone without their earning it. Though Darcy perhaps deserves to be seen as an authoritative figure; Elizabeth is unaware of the reasons why, and refuses. She slowly climbs in her understanding of Darcy, and her growth in understanding is accompanied by admiration and respect. By realising his true circumstances and character, and combining these, Lizzie finally has that lucid image of him she so desperately craves. Her knowledge of his character is drawn mainly from his actions regarding Lydia's affair with Wickham. He acts here with determination, power and authority, revealing these qualities of his, and giving him a new standing in the novel. Lizzie is forced to acknowledge his authority when she visits Pemberley. In seeing all the land and people he is responsible for she has an epiphany, discovering his true social status and material value for the first time.
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