What Is The Meaning Of The Quote I Was In The Middle Before I Knew That I Had Begun?

Question

Answer

After Darcy proposes to Elizabeth on his second attempt, she finally accepts and she makes fun of him about how he fell in love with her and he remembers, "I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun". Darcy realizes that his affection for Elizabeth was concealed behind his pride for a long time.

Answer

In Chapter 60 of Jane Austen's pride and Prejudice, Darcy proposes to Elizabeth for the second time and she finally accepts his proposal. Elizabeth she wants Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. "How could you begin?" she says. "I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?". On this Darcy remembers: "I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." He now realizes that his affection for Elizabeth was concealed behind his pride for a long time. He confesses that he is not aware of it, for he knew that he was in the middle of his love for her with no going back. As we see in the novel, his admiration for Elizabeth begins with her visit to Netherfield. Even various occasions in which they were put together added to the possibility of understanding her better.