The son of a wealthy, well-established family and the master of the great estate of Pemberley, Darcy is Elizabeth’s male counterpart. The narrator relates Elizabeth’s point of view of events more often than Darcy’s, so Elizabeth often seems a more sympathetic figure. The reader eventually realizes, however, that Darcy is her ideal match. Intelligent and forthright, he too has a tendency to judge too hastily and harshly, and his high birth and wealth make him overly proud and overly conscious of his social status. Indeed, his haughtiness makes him initially bungle his courtship. When he proposes to her, for instance, he dwells more on how unsuitable a match she is than on her charms, beauty, or anything else complimentary. Her rejection of his advances builds a kind of humility in him. Darcy demonstrates his continued devotion to Elizabeth, in spite of his distaste for her low connections, when he rescues Lydia and the entire Bennet family from disgrace, and when he goes against the wishes of his haughty aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by continuing to pursue Elizabeth. Darcy proves himself worthy of Elizabeth, and she ends up repenting her earlier, overly harsh judgment of him.

it would be like a celebrity marrying some one from the middle of nowhere with a minimum wadge job

Elizabeth’s family has lesser wealth than Darcy’s. For this reason Darcy believes any connection with Elizabeth’s family will be seen (by others in his class), as a disapproved connection, overall being a ‘step-down’ considering his own high class.

Such situations also arise in higher classes in Europe, Asia, and even in America. Royalty and extremely wealthy business people seek to marry their children into families of smiliar or higher status/social class/wealth bracket (not lower classes)- for it will fortify, or bring up their own standards. Marrying into a lower class will usually ruin their reputation, and will be a ‘step-down’.