Summary

Austen’s Pride and Prejudice deals with the personalities of the Bennet sisters and how they contend with their contemporary world in different ways. It’s a novel that also deals with the issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry in the north of England in the early 19th century.

Pride and Prejudice Summary

Spoiler alert: important details of the novel are revealed below.

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice opens with the line, “A single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” This line highlights the expectations of 19th-century rural England and heightens the reader’s curiosity about what to expect from the novel.

The story revolves around the Bennet family in early 19th-century rural England. The prospective marriages of three of the family’s five daughters and what happens in the lives of their acquaintances make up the story of the novel. Mrs. Bennet’s desire to get her daughters married well and the efforts she puts in set the motion of the novel. Mrs. Bennet’s character, in many aspects, depicts the characteristics of Austen’s society, where societal norms, class distinctions, and personal virtues are at constant odds.

Elizabeth (Lizzy), the intelligent and quick-witted of the five daughters, is the narrator and protagonist of the novel. The story opens with the arrival of Mr. Bingley, a wealthy, charming, and sociable young bachelor, into Netherfield Park, the neighborhood of the Bennet family. Upon his arrival, he brings with him his two sisters and Mr. Darcy. While Mr. Bingley is well-received and immediately drawn to the sweet and amiable Jane Bennet, Darcy’s reserved demeanor and perceived arrogance make him an object of curiosity and disdain, particularly in Elizabeth’s eyes. These first impressions soon led to a series of social events and romantic entanglements.

As the narrative progresses, Jane and Bingley’s relationship seems to improve, creating the general idea that they will be married soon. However, the arrival of Mr. Collins, a clergyman who is also the legal heir to Mr. Bennet and Mr. George Whickam, impacts the course of the story. Mr. Collins intends to choose his bride among the Bennet sisters. However, his intention is not well-received by the Elder, Miss Bennets, which makes him marry Elizabeth’s friend, poor Ms. Charlotte Lucas.

Meanwhile, Mr Whickam’s account of Mr Darcy’s personality fuels Elizabeth’s prejudice over Darcy. Also, her budding attraction to Mr. Wickham makes her dislike and act indifferent to Mr. Darcy, while he seems to be intrigued by her personality and begins to act less coldly. However, things drastically change when Mr. Bingley leaves Netherfield uninformed and with no intentions of returning. It leaves Jane miserable and Mrs Bennet distressed, who had a high hope of the possible marriage between Jane and Bingley.

During the next spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins at Rosings Park, home of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who turns out to be Darcy’s aunt. Elizabeth learns of Darcy’s influence in separating Bingley from Jane through Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy’s cousin. This further increases her hatred for Darcy and eventually makes her reject Darcy’s feelings when he proposes to her. She vents her anger, accusing him of spoiling her sister’s happiness, treating Mr. Wickham disgracefully, and behaving in an arrogant, ungentlemanlike manner. Though startled initially, Mr. Darcy leaves her a letter explaining the reasons behind his actions.

He explains how Wickham had exchanged his legacies for a cash payment and gambled away the money in his attempt to run away with Darcy’s young sister Georgiana to inherit her share of the fortune. In Jane’s case, Darcy claims to have not found any reciprocation in Jane for Bingley, misled to think that she is interested only in his wealth, which added to Mrs. Bennet’s ongoing excitement over Mr. Bingley’s financial prospects. Reasonable Elizabeth, having observed it herself, understands Darcy’s stand and wonders if she has misjudged him. However, Darcy leaves Rosings without waiting for her response.

A few months later, Elizabeth meets Darcy again while visiting Pemberley, Darcy’s estate, along with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Mortified by her earlier encounter with Darcy, she hoped not to meet him. Unfortunately, he returns earlier than his planned return, and their meeting turns out to be less awkward on both ends, for he treats them with great civility, to her surprise. He also introduces Elizabeth to his sister. Elizabeth becomes aware of her attraction to Darcy.

Unfortunately, their reacquaintance is cut short by the news of Lydia eloping with Mr. Wickham as she is expected back in Longbourn. Upon hearing the news, Darcy expresses comfort rather than contempt; however, she grieves that her renewed relationship with Mr. Darcy will end because of Lydia’s mindless act. She also meets Mr Bingley, who enquires after Jane and promises to visit her family soon.

Back in Netherfield, she comforts her family despite Mr Bennet’s failed attempt to trace Lydia and Mr Whickam. Not long after, they receive the news of Lydia and Wickham being found and married by the clergy. Excited, the family receives the couple happily, except, Mr Bennet, Jane, and Elizabeth. During their visit at Longbourn, Lydia slips out Mr. Darcy’s role in finding and negotiating their marriage at great personal and monetary expense. Though Elizabeth is mortified by what happened, Darcy’s action brings out a tender feeling towards him.

Soon, cheer returns to Loungburn when Bingley and Darcy return to Netherfield. Bingley subsequently proposes to Jane, who immediately accepts. Elizabeth feels genuinely happy for Jane but is sad about her lost chance of renewing her relationship with Darcy and her previous misunderstandings. At this juncture, the arrival of Lady Catherine de Bourgh at Longbourn leads to the reversal of events. She appears unwarned to warn Elizabeth from marrying Darcy, taken over by the local rumors of the prospective connection between Darcy and Elizabeth. Shocked by her impertinence, Elizabeth refuses her demands. Disgusted, Lady Catherine informs Darcy of Elizabeth’s abominable behavior. Lady Catherine’s account of Elizabeth’s response to marrying Darcy gives him hope. Gathering up his courage, he proposes again, which Elizabeth happily accepts.

Austen sets the ‘they lived happily ever after tone’ as she concludes the novel by painting the picture of Elizabeth and Darcy being married and living at Pemberly.

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