Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

Details Of The Book

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Publication: First published in 1813

About The Author

Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817), was an English novelist. She was well know with her 6 major novels, which are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814),  Emma (1816), Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, while the first 4 novels were published anonymously at that time. In 1869, when Jane was died for 52 years, she became more well-know by A Memoir of Jane Austen published, her nephew’s publication. Her works are still widely spread nowadays.

About The Story

Main Characters

Elizabeth Bennet (heroine)
Bennet’s second young lady, twenty years old, the protagonist of the story. Lively and cheerful, intelligent and witty, humorous and subtle, extremely opinionated about many things, does not succumb to the world’s ideas, and likes to view people and things she dislikes from a mocking perspective. Early on, he hears Darcy’s criticism of himself, leading to a deeper misunderstanding afterwards. After the misunderstanding is resolved, he and his heart connect and finally become a pair. She is second only to Jane in looks, and Darcy is particularly fond of her beautiful eyes.

Mr. Darcy, full name: Fitzwilliam Darcy (male protagonist)
A wealthy gentleman, a large landowner in Derbyshire, England. The main character of the story. He is Mr. Bentley’s best friend, handsome, introverted but not good at dealing with people, so he often causes misunderstanding among strangers, thinking that he is high and cold by nature and attracts a lot of criticism, but in fact is generous and loves his sister deeply. After the misunderstanding with Elizabeth was resolved, they got married.

Mr. Bennet
A gentleman living in the countryside of Hartfordshire, England, married with five daughters. However, his estate needs to be inherited by one person, so after his death, his estate will be inherited by Mr. Collins, who is not on good terms with him. Mr. Bennet doted on his two eldest daughters, the gentle Jane and the clever Elizabeth. However, he dislikes the stupidity and irrationality of his wife and three youngest daughters, often calling them stupid and laughing at them as well. In despair over his failed marriage, he is a silent and fickle man, humorous and sarcastic. He is a quiet and fickle man, humorous but sarcastic, who remains calm about his wife’s foolishness.

Mrs. Bennet
Mr. Bennet’s wife. Her main concern in life is that her five daughters marry well, since a large part of Mr. Bennet’s future estate will be inherited by the male heir, Mr. Collins. A very mediocre, inarticulate and verbose woman. The focus of her life is her daughter’s life.

Jane Bennet
The eldest, twenty-two years old. Is Elizabeth’s closest sister, Bennet five sisters recognized as the most beautiful and moving, and gentle and thoughtful, understanding, but reserved and introverted, she believes in the goodness of human nature, all things to the good, always with a smile, that there is no bad people in the world. She fell in love with Mr. Bentley at first sight and finally became husband and wife against all odds.

Charles Bingley
A single, wealthy gentleman. A friend of Mr. Darcy’s. Handsome in face, easy-going, lively and outgoing, but easily influenced. Mrs. Bennet has high hopes for her son-in-law. Falling in love with Jane at first sight.

George Wickham
A young soldier who attracts Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy’s childhood playmate. A debauched man by nature, he wants to get back at Mr. Darcy, so he spreads rumors everywhere to slander him and make Elizabeth prejudiced against Mr. Darcy. Because of excessive spending and debts, he finally eloped with Lydia Bennett and got married. After the marriage, he gets tired of Lydia.

Plot summary

The story is talking about emotional and marital problems of the landed gentry aristocracy in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

With no male heir, the Bennett family’s modest fortune is to be inherited by Mr. Collins, a distant relative of the girls, upon Mr. Bennett’s death, and Mrs. Bennett and the other unmarried daughters may be left homeless.

Mrs. Bennett, knowing that Mr. Bingley, who had recently rented the Bennetts’ nearby manor of Nigerfield, had an annual income of five thousand pounds, was eager to marry her daughters to Mr. Bingley. Soon after, Mr. Bingley made a trip to London and brought back his friend Mr. Darcy. They attended a public ball in Meriton. Halfway through the ball, the neighbors discover that Mr. Darcy is not pleasant, and Mr. Darcy neglects Elizabeth even more. Mr. Bingley’s affection for Elizabeth’s closest sister, Jane, is also quite obvious.

Mr. Darcy, however, develops unquenchable feelings for Elizabeth, which he tries his best to conceal, and is later conflicted by the discovery of Elizabeth’s family’s coarse manners and the low status of their relatives. And Elizabeth has been unaware that the high-minded Mr. Darcy has fallen in love with her, and the adoration is growing. Later, Mrs. Bennett strongly supports the marriage of Mr. Collins and Elizabeth, and even tries to force Elizabeth to give her consent. However, Mr. Bennett, who understands things, supports his daughter’s decision. Meanwhile, Elizabeth met an officer, Mr. Wickham. Mr. Wickham is handsome, charming and graceful, and Elizabeth quickly falls for him. After Wickham tells Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy has disobeyed his late father’s wishes, depriving Wickham of the wealth and opportunities that were within his reach, Elizabeth dislikes Mr. Darcy even more and avoids him as much as possible.

Soon Mr. Bentley suddenly moves back to London. Jane is devastated. Elizabeth is invited by Mr. Collins and Mr. Charlotte’s newlyweds, and later sees Mr. Darcy. After several struggles, Mr. Darcy admits his proposal to Elizabeth in person, but his confession is still arrogant. Elizabeth is surprised, but because of Mr. Darcy’s attitude, as well as Mr. Wickham’s previous accusations and the fact that Mr. Darcy had blocked Bentley and Jane from being together, she is furious and refuses Mr. Darcy.

The next morning, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy meet on a walk. Mr. Darcy hands Elizabeth a letter and leaves. In the letter, Mr. Darcy defends his actions. He thought that Jane did not really love Bentley and thought twice before advising his friend to give up. At the same time, Darcy reveals Wickham’s true nature as a womanizer and opportunist. Darcy’s previous behavior is newly justified and Elizabeth’s prejudice against him is gradually removed.

Later, Elizabeth travels with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and visits Pemberley Hall, where Mr. Darcy lives. When she met Mr. Darcy during a walk around the estate, Mr. Darcy’s behavior seemed much more cordial. Elizabeth realizes that behind his arrogance lies a genuine and generous nature, and begins to change her mind about him.

Lydia’s elopement with Wickham is resolved with the help of Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth’s feelings for Mr. Darcy are completely reversed when she learns the truth.

Finally, when Mr. Darcy brings Mr. Bingley back to the countryside and returns to Jane’s side, Elizabeth also opens her heart to Mr. Darcy and the two of them welcome a happy life together.