Summaries and Analyses of Literature: Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
It's set in a small town in England during the late 1700s. The Bennets are upper middle class. 


Mr. Bennet has a lax parenting style, choosing to let his children go, for the most part, their own way. He definitely cares for them, though. In his relationship with Mrs. Bennet he is somewhat removed, making fun of her when she talks about something superficial. Still, it's not with a malicious tone.
Mrs. Bennet is shallow and obvious. She makes their richer friends feel awkward, especially with her matchmaking attempts. 
Lizzy is the main character. She has a strong, independent personality.
Jane is often Lizzy's confidant. She's kind hearted, yet doesn't recognize how forgiving her own opinions are.
Lydia is the most superficial of the sisters. She is very concerned with appearance, balls, and that whole side of society. She often goes to flirt with the officers who are stationed in town.
Kitty follows Lydia's example, flirting with officers and obsessing over balls. She's less far gone, though, and once Lydia is off living with Wickham, she recovers somewhat.
Mary is the youngest sister and the most plain. She tries to make up for this by being studious, pious, and musical, but ends up being unpleasant and, occasionally, ridiculous. She's not very good at the piano, but plays with the seriousness reserved for those who are.
Mr. Bingley is the man who marries Jane. He's rich, though not as rich as Darcy, and very friendly.
Mr. Darcy is antisocial when around those he doesn't know. He carries himself as a gentleman, but has a lot of pride.
Miss Darcy is Darcy's little sister. She was going to elope with Wickham before Darcy stopped them. She's quiet and sweet.
Mr. Wickham is untrustworthy. He and Darcy grew up together, and he was good friends with the late Mr. Darcy. When Darcy's father died, his will gave the parsonage to Wickham, who turned it down in favor of a loan, which he spent promptly in the city. He asks for the church job again, but Darcy refuses him. He tries to run off with Miss Darcy, but Darcy discovers the plan. He tells Lizzy, however, that Mr. Darcy refused him the job at first out of spite. He marries Lydia.
Lady Catherine is Mr. Collins' neighbor, and very rich. She's also Darcy's aunt. She likes to control things, and advises the people around her about personal matters, such as how they are raising their children.
Mr. Collins is a mix of pompous and humble that's ridiculous and false. He's enamored with Lady Catherine's majesty.
Charlotte Lucas marries Mr. Collins. She's practical.


The novel begins with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet discussing the new man about to move in, the rich Mr. Bingley, who Mrs. Bennet considers a possible match for one of her daughters. At the dance where the Bennets, Darcy, and Bingley meet, first opinions are formed: Jane quite likes Mr. Bingley, while Lizzy despises Darcy. Jane goes to visit Bingley's sisters, and with her mother's influence, is caught by rain and catches a cold. Lizzy goes comes after her, and both spend more time with the Bingleys and Darcy. Mr. Wickham comes to town, and he and Lizzy bond over his story of Darcy's abuse. The Bingleys and Darcy leave town suddenly once it seemed like Mr. Bingley and Jane were going to get married. Mr. Collins, intent on marrying one of the Bennet sisters to make amends for inheriting the house after Mr. Bennet, is refused by Lizzy. He asks, and is accepted by, Charlotte instead. When Lizzy visits the Collins, she runs into Darcy again, and they get along better. He proposes to her, and she refuses, aghast, because of his treatment of Wickham and his interference between Bingley and Jane. He hands her a letter the next morning explaining his reasoning behind the first charge and his innocence on the second. Much later, Lizzy goes traveling with her aunt and uncle from Cheapside. They end up going to Darcy's house, and accidentally run into him there. He's incredibly polite and thoughtful, astonishing Lizzy. Lizzy and her aunt and uncle have to leave, however, after receiving news that Lydia and Wickham ran off together, and have yet to be married. Darcy saves the day by being a diplomat (as well as with money), and Lizzy finds out that he helped. Jane and Bingley, with Darcy's blessing, marry. Lady Catherine visits Lizzy, asking for assurance that she won't marry, and is not engaged with, Mr. Darcy. Lizzy, however, refuses to promise, and Darcy, hearing of this, proposes again. She accepts.


The novel's in third person.
The voice is factual, but often playful.
There is little imagery as the tone is focused on events rather than feelings, but the book does take the time to describe Darcy's mansion. It is a significant scene, and is part of Lizzy's turn around.


"fine eyes"- Darcy's attraction to Lizzy (not really a symbol, but synecdoche)
Lizzy's "character sketching"- a more direct way of seeing how she forms opinions, as well as Darcy and Lizzy's disconnect; he sees it as flirting, while she's serious in her insults
the piano playing in the novel- how the different characters are measured in fine society (Mary's, Lizzy's, and Ms. Darcy's)


"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
Though an exaggeration, this opening line shows the society Lizzy and her sisters are growing up in. There's a lot of pressure to be the one who catches a rich man.
"Her father, contented with laughing at them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters."
Largely because of Mr. Bennet's laid back parenting style, the Bennet sisters' actions are left to their own character. This makes their rewards and consequences at the end of the novel a more direct reflection of their values.
"You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it."
Her conviction when refusing Darcy clearly contrasts the end of the novel. It makes the realization of her own pride a stronger moment.


The novel stresses the necessity of truly knowing yourself during your pursuit of happiness.

• Lizzy has the most successful marriage (in terms of money and love, but the money is more clear cut), but only after she recognizing her first impression was from her pride
• The marriages are a kind of contest in that those who best show the values Austen idealizes end up the most well off
• Jane is after Lizzy, happy and aware of her identity, though not to Lizzy's extent- still doesn't see how kind she is
• Charlotte, though she settled for someone she didn't love, knew what she was looking for and ended up comfortable
• Lydia is still better off than Kitty and Mary at the end, despite acting ridiculously irresponsibly
• Kitty is higher up than Mary, as her character improves. Mary is still conceited at the end.