Which character says 'I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine'?
Answer
Elizabeth Bennet
Answer
Elizabeth Bennet
Elizabeth Bennet says, “I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.” She is speaking about Mr Darcy early in Pride and Prejudice.
The remark occurs after the assembly at Meryton, where Darcy refuses to dance with Elizabeth and dismisses her as not handsome enough to tempt him. Charlotte Lucas argues that Darcy’s wealth, family, and social position give him some reason to feel proud. Elizabeth agrees that she might forgive his pride, but says she cannot overlook the personal insult to her own dignity.
The line captures Elizabeth’s first impression of Darcy and anticipates the novel’s central themes. She is perceptive about his arrogance, but her wounded pride also makes her especially ready to believe Wickham’s account of Darcy’s character. Later, Elizabeth learns that her judgment has been incomplete, just as Darcy must confront his own pride. The quotation is sometimes misattributed to Jane Bennet because Jane discusses Darcy sympathetically, but the speaker is clearly Elizabeth in the original conversation.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026