Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen
A. SUMMARY
Pride and Prejudice is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their five unmarried
daughters. They live in the estate of Longbourn in Hertfordshire, a rural district about thirty miles
from London. The family is not rich. Their property is ‘entailed’ to pass to the nearest male heir
in the family, in this case to Mr. Collins. The main concern of Mrs. Bennet’s life is to see that all
her daughters are married, preferably to men with large fortunes. She sees an opportunity for
her eldest daughter Jane when Mr. Charles Bingley, a wealthy gentlemen from the city,
occupies the nearby estate of Netherfield Park. In her excitement, she urges her husband to
visit Mr. Bingley on the very first day of his arrival, before any of the other neighbors. Mr. Bennet
complies to his wife’s request and visits Mr. Bingley, but withholds information about his visit
from the family.

At the next social gathering in Meryton, Bingley brings along his two sisters, Caroline Bingley
and Louisa Hurst. But more importantly, he brings his closest friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Bingley, who is charming and social, is immediately attracted to the modest and gentle Jane
Bennet. Darcy, in contrast to Bingley, is proud, rude, and disagreeable. When Bingley suggests
that Darcy dance with Elizabeth Bennet, he refuses and negatively comments on her looks.
Elizabeth overhears the comment and develops a strong prejudice against Darcy. At the next
ball in Netherfield, Darcy feels an attraction for Elizabeth and asks her for a dance. She refuses
to dance with him, thereby avenging the earlier insults.

Jane and Bingley continue to be attracted to one another. Caroline Bingley invites Jane to
Netherfield for a visit. While at Netherfield, Jane falls ill and Elizabeth comes to look after her
sister. While at Netherfield, Elizabeth is forced to confront Darcy. She approaches him with wit
and sarcasm. Since Darcy has known only flattery from others, he is charmed by Elizabeth’s
frankness. During her short stay at Netherfield, Elizabeth realizes Caroline is very contemptuous
of her family, its social status, and Mrs. Bennet’s vulgarity. Elizabeth concludes that Caroline’s
friendship and cordiality towards Jane is only a pretense.

The male relative to whom the Longbourn estate is ‘entailed’ is Rev. William Collins of Hunsfort.
Mr. Collins pays a visit to Longbourn with the intention of proposing marriage to one of the
Bennet daughters. His pompous manners and his bloated rhetoric disgust everyone, except
Mrs. Bennet, who looks upon him as a prospective son-in-law. Collins is attracted to Jane, but
Mrs. Bennet informs him that she is about to be engaged. He then turns his attention to
Elizabeth and makes a ridiculous proposal of marriage to her. When Elizabeth rejects him, he
proposes to her friend Charlotte Lucas, who, to everyone’s shock, accepts him. Mrs. Bennet is
distressed by Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins because it is the one opportunity she has of
keeping the Longbourn estate in the family.

Bingley and his companions soon depart for London. Both Bingley and Caroline write to Jane to
say that they have closed Netherfield and have no plans of returning to it in the near future.
Jane is very disappointed. As Jane feels frustration over Bingley, Elizabeth finds a new
attraction. She meets Mr. Wickham and is foolishly and magnetically drawn to him. They have a
friendly conversation in which she reveals her dislike of Darcy. Taking advantage of this
information, Wickham concocts a story and tells Elizabeth that he has been cheated by Darcy.
Elizabeth takes pity on him and almost falls in love. Mrs. Gardiner, however, warns Elizabeth
about Wickham, who soon marries Miss King.

At the invitation of the Gardiners, Jane goes to London for some rest and change of air. She
hopes that she sees Bingley, even accidentally. Jane makes many attempts to get in touch with
him, but Caroline does not even inform her brother about Jane’s presence in London. Jane is
heart broken, but grows to accept her rejection.

Elizabeth goes to Hunsford to visit Mr. Collins and his new wife Charlotte, who is Elizabeth’s
dear friend. During Elizabeth’s stay in Hunsford, Darcy happens to visit his aunt, who also lives
there, and attempts to build a relationship with Elizabeth. To her surprise, Darcy proposes
marriage to her in a language so arrogant that Elizabeth turns him down indignantly. She asks
him how he dares to propose to her after separating Jane and Bingley, who were in love with
each other, and after victimizing Wickham. She ends her tirade by saying that she would not
marry him even if he were the last man on the earth. Darcy is upset and leaves in a huff. The
next morning he meets Elizabeth when she goes out for a walk and hands her a long letter that
answers all her accusations. He explains to her that he did not believe that Jane was really in
love with Bingley. He also tells her the truth about Wickham. Elizabeth is shocked by his
answers.

There is also another shock awaiting her. Her youngest sister Lydia has been invited to Brighton
by a young officer’s wife. Lydia is very excited about the trip; but Elizabeth knows how stupid,
scatter brained, and flirtatious Lydia is. She tries to persuade her father not to allow Lydia to go
to Brighton. Her father, however, dismisses Elizabeth’s fears.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner plan a tour of the Lake District and take Elizabeth with them. At the last
minute, however, the tour is cut short and the Gardiners decide to restrict their trip to
Derbyshire, where Darcy has his vast estate in Pemberley. Elizabeth makes sure that Darcy is
away on business and then agrees to visit Pemberley, out of sheer curiosity. Pemberley is one
of the most beautiful places she has ever visited, and Darcy’s elegant tastes are evident
everywhere. To top it all, Ms. Reynolds, the housekeeper who has known Darcy since his
childhood, speaks very highly of him, saying he is just and fair. Elizabeth cannot believe that
she has made such a mistake in judging his character. As Elizabeth is looking over Pemberley’s
lovely grounds, Darcy himself appears, returning a day before he is expected. He looks
surprised to see Elizabeth, and she is intensely embarrassed. He is polite to her and the
Gardiners, and Elizabeth notices that there is no trace of pride in him.

The following day, Bingley calls on Elizabeth, and his anxious inquiries about Jane indicate that
he is still in love with her. Darcy and his beautiful sister, Georgiana, also call on Elizabeth at the
inn to invite her and the Gardiners to dinner. Elizabeth accepts the dinner invitation. During the
dinner, Caroline tries her best to destroy the friendly relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth
by running down Elizabeth’s family, but she does not succeed. Darcy is fond of Elizabeth.

News comes that Lydia has eloped with Wickham, so Elizabeth leaves Derbyshire with the
Gardiners to return home. All attempts at tracing the runaway couple have failed. Darcy,
touched by Elizabeth’s distress over Lydia, seeks to find her and catches up with the couple in
London. Darcy convinces Wickham to marry Lydia, gives him ten thousand pounds, pays up his
debts, and persuades him to settle in the North of London. Darcy then requests that the
Gardiners not reveal his help to the Bennet family. Elizabeth, however, finds out the truth about
Darcy’s assistance. She is impressed with his kindness.
Bingley makes an unannounced reappearance at Netherfield Park, and renews his courtship of
Jane. They are soon engaged. Lady Catherine also arrives unannounced and acts very haughty
towards the Bennet family. She threatens Elizabeth with dire consequences if she marries
Darcy, but Elizabeth refuses to promise that she will not accept a proposal from Darcy. A few
days later, Darcy comes to visit and makes a second proposal of marriage to Elizabeth. This
time she accepts wholeheartedly. He thanks Elizabeth for teaching him the lesson of humility.

The two couples, Jane and Bingley and Elizabeth and Darcy, are married on the same morning.
Mrs. Bennet is overjoyed at having three of her daughters married, two of them to very rich
young men. After a year’s stay at Netherfield Park, Bingley purchases an estate in Derbyshire.
His mother-in-law’s tiresome company and her vulgar behavior are too much even for his calm
temperament. The novel finally ends on a note of reconciliation with all of the characters trying
to forgive and forget past insults.
 B. ANALYSIS
PLOT

The novel centres on Elizabeth Bennet, the second of the five daughters of a country
gentleman. Elizabeth's father, Mr Bennet, is a bookish man, and somewhat neglectful of his
responsibilities. In contrast Elizabeth's mother, Mrs Bennet, a woman who lacks social graces,
is primarily concerned with finding suitable husbands for her five daughters. Jane Bennet, the
eldest daughter, is distinguished by her kindness and beauty; Elizabeth Bennet shares her
father's keen wit and occasionally sarcastic outlook; Mary is not pretty, but is studious, devout
and musical albeit lacking in taste; Catherine, sometimes called Kitty, the fourth sister, follows
where her younger sister leads, while Lydia is flirtatious and unrestrained.

The narrative opens with news in the Bennet family that Mr Bingley, a wealthy, charismatic and
sociable young bachelor, is moving into Netherfield Park in the neighbourhood. Mr Bingley is
soon well received, while his friend Mr Darcy makes a less favourable impression by appearing
proud and condescending at a ball that they attend (he detests dancing and is not one for light
conversation). Mr Bingley singles out Jane for particular attention, and it soon becomes
apparent that they have formed an attachment to each other. While Jane does not alter her
conduct for him, she confesses her great happiness only to Lizzie. By contrast, Darcy slights
Elizabeth, who overhears and jokes about it despite feeling a budding resentment.On paying a
visit to Mr Bingley's sister, Caroline, Jane is caught in a heavy downpour, catches cold, and is
forced to stay at Netherfield for several days. Elizabeth arrives to nurse her sister and is thrown
into frequent company with Mr Darcy, who begins to act less coldly towards her. Mr Collins, a
clergyman, and heir to Longbourn, the Bennet estate, pays a visit to the Bennets. Mr Bennet
and Elizabeth are much amused by his obsequious veneration of his employer, the noble Lady
Catherine de Bourgh, as well as by his self-important and pedantic nature. It soon becomes
apparent that Mr Collins has come to Longbourn to choose a wife from among the Bennet
sisters (his cousins) and Jane is initially singled out, but because of Jane's budding romance
with Mr Bingley, Mrs Bennet directs him toward Elizabeth. After refusing his advances, and
much to the consternation of her mother, Elizabeth instead forms an acquaintance with Mr
Wickham, a militia officer who relates having been very seriously mistreated by Mr Darcy,
despite having been a godson and favourite of Darcy's father. This accusation and her attraction
to Mr Wickham increase Elizabeth's dislike of Mr Darcy.

At a ball given by Mr Bingley at Netherfield, Mr Darcy becomes aware of a general expectation

that Mr Bingley and Jane will marry, and the Bennet family, with the exception of Jane and
Elizabeth, make a public display of poor manners and decorum. The following morning, Mr
Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth, who refuses him, much to her mother's distress. Mr
Collins recovers and promptly becomes engaged to Elizabeth's close friend Charlotte Lucas, a
homely woman with few prospects. Mr Bingley abruptly quits Netherfield and returns to London,
devastating Jane, and Elizabeth becomes convinced that Mr Darcy and Caroline Bingley have
colluded to separate him from Jane.

Jane is persuaded by letters from Caroline Bingley that Mr Bingley is not in love with her, but
goes on an extended visit to her aunt and uncle Gardiner in London in the hope of maintaining
her relationship with Caroline if not with Charles Bingley. Whilst there she visits Caroline and
eventually her visit is returned. She does not see Mr Bingley and is forced to realise that
Caroline doesn't care for her.
In the spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte and Mr Collins in Kent. Elizabeth and her hosts are
frequently invited to Rosings Park, home of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Darcy's aunt;
coincidentally, Darcy also arrives to visit. Elizabeth meets Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam,
who vouches for Darcy's loyalty, using as an example how Darcy had recently stepped in on
behalf of a friend, who had formed an attachment to a woman against whom "there were some
very strong objections." Elizabeth rightly assumes that the said friend is none other than Mr
Bingley, and her dislike of Darcy deepens. Thus she is of no mood to accept when Darcy arrives
and, quite unexpectedly, confesses love for her and begs her hand in marriage. His proposal is
flattering, he is a very distinguished man, but it is delivered in a manner ill suited to recommend
it. He talks of love but also of revulsion at her inferior position and family. Despite assertions to
the contrary, he assumes she will accept him.

Elizabeth rebukes him, and a heated discussion follows; she charges him with destroying her
sister's and Bingley's happiness, with treating Mr Wickham disgracefully, and with having
conducted himself towards her in an arrogant, ungentleman-like manner. Mr Darcy, shocked,
ultimately responds with a letter giving a good account of his actions: Wickham had exchanged
his legacies for a cash payment, only to return after frittering away the money to reclaim the
forfeited inheritance; he then attempted to elope with Darcy's young sister Georgiana, and
thereby secure her fortune for himself. Regarding Jane and Bingley, Darcy claims he had
observed no reciprocal interest in Jane for Bingley, and had assumed that she was not in love
with him. In addition to this, he cites the "want of propriety" in the behaviour of Mr and Mrs
Bennet and her three younger daughters. Elizabeth, who had previously despaired over this
very behavior, is forced to admit the truth of Mr Darcy's observations, and begins to see that she
has misjudged him. She quite rightly attributes her prejudice to his coldness towards herself at
the beginning of their acquaintance.

Elizabeth tells her father that Darcy was responsible for uniting Lydia and Wickham. This is one
of the two earliest illustrations of Pride and Prejudice.The clothing styles reflect the time the
illustration was engraved (the 1830s), not the time the novel was written or set.

Some months later, Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle Gardiner visit Pemberley, Darcy's estate,
believing he will be absent for the day. He returns unexpectedly, and though surprised, he is
gracious and welcoming, quite unlike his usual self. He treats the Gardiners with great civility,
surprising Elizabeth who assumes he will "decamp immediately" on learning who they are.
Darcy introduces Elizabeth to his sister, which Elizabeth knows is the highest compliment he
can bestow, and Elizabeth begins to acknowledge her attraction to him. Their re-acquaintance is
cut short, however, by the news that Lydia has eloped with Mr Wickham. Elizabeth and the
Gardiners return to Longbourn (the Bennet family home), where Elizabeth grieves that her
renewed acquaintance with Mr Darcy will end as a result of her sister's disgrace.

Lydia and Wickham are soon found and are persuaded to marry, thus enabling the Bennet
family to preserve some appearance of decorum. Jane, Elizabeth, and Mr Bennet conclude that
Uncle Gardiner must have bribed Wickham to marry Lydia, and they are ashamed of their
indebtedness and inability to repay him.

Mrs Bennet, quite typically, has no such scruples and is ecstatic to have a daughter married,
never stopping to consider the want of propriety and honesty throughout the affair. Mr and Mrs
Wickham visit Longbourn, where Lydia lets slip that Mr Darcy was in attendance at their
wedding but that this was to have been a secret. Elizabeth is able to discover by letter from her
aunt Mrs Gardiner, that in fact Mr Darcy was responsible for finding the couple and negotiating
their marriage, at great personal and monetary expense. Elizabeth is shocked and flattered as
"her heart did whisper that he had done it for her" but is unable to dwell further on the topic due
to Mr Bingley's return and subsequent proposal to Jane, who immediately accepts.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh pays an unexpected visit to Longbourn. She has heard a rumour that
Elizabeth will marry Mr Darcy and attempts to persuade Elizabeth to agree not to marry. Lady
Catherine wants Mr Darcy to marry her daughter (his cousin) Anne De Bourgh and thinks
Elizabeth is beneath him. Elizabeth refuses her demands. Disgusted, Lady Catherine leaves,
promising that the marriage can never take place. Elizabeth assumes she will apply to Darcy
and is worried that he may be persuaded.

Darcy returns to Longbourn. Chance allows Elizabeth and Darcy a rare moment alone. She
immediately thanks him for intervening in the case of Lydia and Wickham. He renews his
proposal of marriage and is promptly accepted. Elizabeth soon learns that his hopes were
revived by his aunt's report of Elizabeth's refusal to promise not to marry him.

The novel closes with a "happily-ever-after" chapter including a summary of the remaining lives
of the main characters. None of the characters change very much in this summary, but Kitty has
grown slightly more sensible from association with Jane and Elizabeth and distance from Lydia,
and Lady Catherine eventually condescends to visit the Darcys.
CHARACTERS

Major Characters

Mrs. Bennet
The match-making mother of five daughters. The wife of Mr. Bennet and "a woman of mean
understanding, little information, and uncertain temper," who embarrasses her older daughters
with her lack of class and entertains her husband with her ignorance.

Mr. Bennet
A country gentleman, who is the sometimes irresponsible father of five daughters and the
husband of Mrs. Bennet. He is fond of books and can be witty and amusing.

Jane Bennet
The eldest daughter of the Bennets who is pretty, shy, calm, gentle and good-natured; she falls
in love with and marries Mr. Bingley.

Elizabeth Bennet (Lizzy)

The second daughter of the Bennets who is lively, intelligent, witty and sensible; she at first
strongly dislikes Mr. Darcy and then falls in love with him.

Marry Bennet
The third daughter, who is pedantic, tasteless, plain, vain, silly, and affected.

Catherine Bennet (Kitty)

The fourth daughter, who is almost a non-entity in the novel except for chasing soldiers.

Lydia Bennet
The youngest daughter who is silly, thoughtless, stupid, unprincipled, flirtatious, loud-mouthed
and scatter brained; not surprisingly, she is Mrs. Bennet’s favorite daughter. She elopes with

George Wickham
A handsome, militia officer

Rev. Mr. Collins

Mr. Bennet’s cousin who is to inherit Mr. Bennet’s property. He is a pompous, undignified
mixture of servility and self-importance.

Charles Bingley
A wealthy country gentleman who is kind and charming. He falls in love with and marries Jane
Bennett and is Darcy’s best friend.

Fitzwilliam Darcy
The wealthy, best friend of Charles Bingley who at first is proud, rude, and unpleasant; after
falling in love with Elizabeth, he is shown to be discreet, shrewd, generous, and magnanimous;
in the end, he wins Elizabeth’s love.

Minor Characters

Georgiana Darcy
The younger sister of Fitzwilliam Darcy who is shy, reserved, and warm-hearted.

Mrs. Reynolds
The trusted housekeeper of Mr. Darcy.

Colonel Fitzwilliam
The cousin of Mr. Darcy who is handsome and well-mannered.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Mr. Darcy’s aunt who is arrogant, over-bearing, domineering, interfering, vulgar and affected;
she cannot tolerate any opposition.

Ann de Bourgh
Lady Catherine’s daughter who is sickly and coddled by her mother and who has no mind of her
own.

Mrs. Jenkinson
Ann de Bourgh’s teacher.

Caroline Bingley
Mr. Bingley’s unmarried sister, who is snobbish, conceited, scheming and jealous.

Mrs. Hurst
Bingley’s married sister who lives a lazy, purposeless life.
Mr. Hurst
Bingley’s brother-in-law, who is lazy and purposeless, like his wife.

George Wickham
A seemingly charming man with attractive manners, who is really selfish, unprincipled,
extravagant and prone to gambling; he is the villain of the novel, who elopes with Lydia Bennet

Sir William and Lady Lucas

Neighbors and friends of the Bennet family and parents of Charlotte.

Charlotte Lucas
The eldest daughter in the Lucas family who is plain, practical, intelligent and absolutely
unromantic; she is a very close friend of Elizabeth.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner

Mrs. Bennet’s brother and his wife who are sensible and refined; Mrs. Gardiner is a confidante
of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet.
Mrs. Philips
Mrs. Bennet’s sister, who is as vulgar and ridiculous as her sister; her husband is an attorney.
Mary King
An acquaintance of the Bennet family.

Complication
So Long, Farewell

Bingley's sisters and Darcy convince Bingley not to marry Jane, and Lizzy meets a cute, sexy
guy named Wickham who drips (figurative) poison about Darcy in her ear. This is definitely
complicated.

One of the long drawn out ones is between Mr and Mrs.Bennet. Their personalities are so
different, their entire marriage is a conflict. The other primary one is between Elizabeth and
Darcy. With their pride and prejudice, they are never able to see the truth about each other till
half way through the story. Wickham has a turbulent past and has clashed swords with Darcy
more than once before. Lady Catherine de Bourgh has a tiff with Elizabeth. Caroline competes
with Elizabeth for Darcy.
But through all these, there is one commonality - the conflict between the lower class, aspiring
to rise, and the resisting, and eventually yielding upper class. Mrs.Benent has tried to rise, and
succeeded. Coming from the trading class, she has married into the gentry. Now she tries to get
her daughters' to move higher, clashing with her husband in the process. Elizabeth, from the
lower end of the gentry, feels equal to the highest level of aristocracy that Darcy is in. Darcy
cannot accept the idea at first, but later accepts what he had considered inferior and
objectionable. Wickham is a rogue who picks up the outer manners of the rich aristocrats, and
become their equal. Lady de Bourgh is stuck in her old aristocratic past and tries to have her
way, but the changing times do not accomodate such obsolete high handedness and Elizabeth,
who represents the emerging individual, brushes her aside. Caroline's dependence on her
wealth and rank cannot secure her Darcy, just like Anne de Bourgh's blood and status could
not.
Pride and Prejudice is a mirror of the silent, social evolution that took place in England as a
response to the violent revolution across the channel in France. The dauphins wouldn't mix with
the peasants there, and found their possessions and lives taken away. The English aristocrats
mix with those lower than themselves, and save their heads.
Climax
The main climax in the novel Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, is the moment when Darcy
proposes to Elizabeth. Surely there are several moments of suspense and intensity in the novel,
but a climax can be identified as the most pivotal situation in the story and the moment after
which the rest of the action begins to fall: Secrets are often revealed after the climax, and
problems "magically" find a solution.

The proposal is pivotal to the story because the "brutally honest" way in which Darcy and
Elizabeth speak to each other during its delivery unveils that their mutual antipathy is a result of
many misconceptions.

This is a red flag that all of those misconceptions are about to be resolved as a result of their
being brought up during the proposal. This confirms that the proposal is, in fact, the main climax
of the story.

To further validate this assumption, notice how the falling action can be identified right after the
proposal. First, Darcy writes to Elizabeth a letter in which he gives her the entire truth about
Wickham. Right after this happens, Elizabeth learns that Wickham eloped with her youngest
sister, which gives validity to Darcy's words. From then on, Elizabeth begins to change, Darcy
also changes, and situations begin to find their solution.

Conclusively,the proposal is the catalyst that unveils most of the misconceptions expressed by
the main characters, and is also the agent that helps those misconceptions become clarified.

 
OPINION
Most of the characters in the book come alive as real people. Elizabeth and Mr Darcy seem
believable. But Mr Collins and Mrs Bennet do not. Some characters are exaggerated, but that is
what makes the story laughable. I especially like Elizabeth’s character, because she says and
does what she wants, but her manners are pretty good.

My favourite part of the book was where Mr Darcy asks Elizabeth to marry him. That’s in
chapter 58.‘You are too generous to trifle with me. If you feelings are still what they were last
April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will
silence me forever.’ That part of the story is very emotional. Darcy and Elizabeth walk together
talk about how they finally come together. It didn’t really surprise me that they ended up
together. It’s a novel about love, so it wouldn’t be a happy story if they still hated each other at
the end. I think the story is interesting because when you read it, you learn a lot about marriage
in the 18th century. Also you read about social classes in Jane Austen’s time.
And of course love stories are always fun to read.
I like the ending of the book, because all the characters end up somewhere. They all get
married and move to new places. So when you finish the book you can think about how their life
is going to be together.

Jane Austen is a master in pulling you into the story. You feel with Elizabeth. So you fall in love
with Mr Darcy and you hated him first too. Also you feel worried about Lydia when she has run
away with Wickham. And of course you get really angry at him too.

Also Jane Austen describes her characters very detailed. So at the end of the book you know
what every character looks like and what he is like. That means the characters are vivid.

There is some humour in the book. Sometimes I really had to laugh about Mrs Bennet.
‘ ‘You have no compassion for my poor nerves.’
‘You mistake me, my dear. I have high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have
heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.’
‘Ah! You do not know what I suffer.
As you can see in the quotation above, the novel is written in beautiful language. You can see at
the first sentence that the book isn’t easy to read. But it’s so beautiful, that you must read it.
‘It is a truth universally acknowledges, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must
be in want of a wife.’
RECOMMENDATION