Pride and Prejudice

Explain the analogy Elizabeth draws between her piano playing and Darcy's behavior at the ball when they first met.

Chapter 31 page 128

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Elizabeth's performance is poor because she doesn't practice her pianoforte as much as is necessary....... Darcy's manners are poor, and he is a poor conversationalist because he doesn't take the time to practice his conversational skills.

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done."

"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I would not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution."

Darcy smiled, and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you, can think any thing wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers."

Source(s)

Pride and Prejudice/ Volume II/ Chapter 8