Final answer:
Mr. Darcy's primary reason for paying Wickham's debts and arranging his marriage to Lydia is likely to win Elizabeth's favor and gratitude, although protecting his and the Bennet family's reputations and a sense of personal guilt may also play a role.
The correct options are B) To protect his own reputation and the Bennet family's honor, C) To win Elizabeth's favor and gratitude, D) Because he felt guilty for his past actions
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason Darcy pays Wickham's debts and arranges for his marriage to Lydia in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice can be multifaceted, but one prominent motivation is likely C) To win Elizabeth's favor and gratitude.
While Darcy's actions may partly stem from a sense of responsibility and guilt for not exposing Wickham's true nature earlier, which would fall under D) Because he felt guilty for his past actions, his principal driving force seems to be his unspoken love for Elizabeth.
By resolving the scandal involving Lydia and Wickham, Darcy helps to protect the honor of the Bennet family, which in turn protects his own reputation and any future relationship with Elizabeth.
Therefore, it's reasonable to infer that while there may be elements of A) Out of kindness and concern for Lydia and B) To protect his own reputation and the Bennet family's honor, winning Elizabeth's favor and gratitude appears to be a significant factor in his decision-making.