I agree Suzanne. I think Darcy is too strong, responsible and honourable, as well as proud, to become in any way non-functional after Hunsford. He was naturally angry and bitter at Eliz's rejection and her manner of it, as he said, he begun his letter of explanation in a "spirit of bitterness" and it took him "some time" to do her reproofs justice, but by the time of the Pemberley meeting, he already realized that. I don't think he was suddenly so civil to the Gardiners just because he became civil at that moment. I think he was already improving his manners before that, and was already learning to be more considerate of other people. He decided to attend to her reproofs for his own sake, not for hers, he did not seek her out to show off that he had improved, their meeting was an unexpected shock to both of them.
In some ways I think there's a resemblance between Darcy and Fredrick Wentworth, they were both proud, honourable men, though proud in different ways because of their different social and financial circumstances. Frederick was proud and confident of his abilities, and was bitter and resentful when Anne apparently doubted it and broke off their engagement. I think in a way, the experience of rejection did both gentlemen good. Darcy decided to improve his manners and the way he looked upon people outside his own circle, (the people who were too high for his charity, but whom he regarded as too low to be his equals). Frederick, who had previously been "spending freely" his naval prize money, became more prudent, saved and invested wisely.
In some ways I think there's a resemblance between Darcy and Fredrick Wentworth, they were both proud, honourable men, though proud in different ways because of their different social and financial circumstances. Frederick was proud and confident of his abilities, and was bitter and resentful when Anne apparently doubted it and broke off their engagement. I think in a way, the experience of rejection did both gentlemen good. Darcy decided to improve his manners and the way he looked upon people outside his own circle, (the people who were too high for his charity, but whom he regarded as too low to be his equals). Frederick, who had previously been "spending freely" his naval prize money, became more prudent, saved and invested wisely.