Pride and Prejudice Summary

Published without the author's name in 1813, Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen’s most famous book. It is a “novel of manners,” which means it shows how people in society behave, focusing on everyday customs and rules. The book gives a clear picture of life in early 19th-century England, especially the roles of women and the importance of marriage. Austen’s books were popular when she was alive, but she died before people knew she had written them. When Persuasion was published after her death, her brother revealed that she had also written Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Mansfield Park. Since then, Austen has been recognized as one of the greatest English novelists of the 19th century.

Summary

Mrs. Bennet hopes that Mr. Bingley, a rich young man who has just moved to a large house called Netherfield, will marry one of her five daughters. The Bennet family meets Bingley and his friends at a ball in the town of Meryton. Bingley is friendly and cheerful, and he quickly becomes fond of Jane, the oldest Bennet daughter. However, his sisters, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, are proud and snobbish. Mr. Darcy, Bingley’s friend, refuses to dance with anyone outside his group. At one point, Elizabeth, the second Bennet daughter, overhears Darcy saying that she is not pretty enough to interest him.

As time passes, Jane and Bingley grow closer. Meanwhile, Darcy, though he tries to resist it, finds himself attracted to Elizabeth. When Jane becomes sick while visiting Bingley’s sisters at Netherfield, she stays there for several nights. Elizabeth goes to take care of her and is invited to stay as well. The Bingley sisters secretly make fun of Jane and Elizabeth, looking down on their lower social status. Each night, Darcy and Elizabeth have clever and lively conversations, arguing over different topics. With every discussion, Darcy becomes more interested in her intelligence. This frustrates Miss Bingley, who hopes to marry him herself.

Because Mr. Bennet has no sons, his estate, Longbourn, will be inherited by his cousin, Mr. Collins, after his death. Mr. Collins is a dull and conceited clergyman. He visits Longbourn to meet the family, and Mrs. Bennet is happy to learn that he plans to marry one of her daughters, which would keep the estate in the family.

The Bennet sisters enjoy visiting Meryton, where a group of soldiers is stationed. There, they meet the charming Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth likes him immediately. Wickham tells her that his father worked for Darcy’s father and that Darcy ignored his father’s dying wish by refusing to give Wickham the position in the church that he was promised. Elizabeth is furious with Darcy for being so cruel.

At a ball at Netherfield, Elizabeth is surprised when Darcy asks her to dance. When she asks him about Wickham, Darcy suggests that Wickham is not as good as he seems. During the night, Elizabeth is embarrassed by her family’s loud and foolish behavior. The next day, Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth, but she refuses, making her mother very angry.

Jane receives a letter from Miss Bingley saying that Bingley and his friends have left Netherfield for London. Miss Bingley hopes that Bingley will marry Darcy’s sister. Jane is heartbroken, thinking she misunderstood Bingley’s feelings. Elizabeth is furious, believing that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst do not think Jane is good enough for their brother.

Elizabeth’s best friend, Charlotte Lucas, accepts a marriage proposal from Mr. Collins. Elizabeth is disappointed that Charlotte is marrying a man she does not love, but Charlotte explains that she wants financial security. After Charlotte and Mr. Collins marry, Elizabeth visits them at their home in Hunsford. Mr. Collins is excited to introduce Elizabeth to his wealthy and proud patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who is also Darcy’s aunt. Soon, Darcy arrives with his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. During his stay, Darcy often finds ways to be near Elizabeth.

Elizabeth is furious when Colonel Fitzwilliam tells her that Darcy persuaded Bingley to stop courting Jane. Later that day, Darcy visits Elizabeth, confesses his love, and proposes to her. However, he also insults her family and makes it clear that he struggled with his feelings because of their lower social standing. Angry and hurt, Elizabeth rejects him. She accuses him of ruining Jane’s happiness and of mistreating Wickham. Shocked and upset, Darcy leaves.

The next day, Darcy gives Elizabeth a letter. In it, he explains that he separated Bingley from Jane because he believed Jane did not truly love him. He also reveals the truth about Wickham: Wickham refused the church position and wasted his money. Later, he tried to run away with Darcy’s young sister to get her fortune. Elizabeth realizes that Darcy was telling the truth and that she had been unfairly prejudiced against him, just as she had accused him of being proud.

Meanwhile, Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister, goes to Brighton with friends, where the soldiers are now stationed. Elizabeth goes on a trip with her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners, to Derbyshire. They visit Darcy’s grand estate, Pemberley. There, they meet his housekeeper, who describes Darcy as a kind and generous man. Elizabeth is surprised by these stories. While they are walking through the beautiful grounds, they unexpectedly run into Darcy. He is much friendlier and polite to her family, and he even invites Elizabeth to meet his sister. The next morning, Darcy, his sister, and Bingley visit them. Elizabeth likes Miss Darcy right away and notices that Bingley still loves Jane. She begins to see Darcy in a new light and starts to have feelings for him.

Elizabeth then receives a letter from Jane, saying that Lydia has run away with Wickham. The family is desperate to find them because if Lydia does not marry Wickham, it will ruin the Bennets’ reputation. Elizabeth is devastated and tells Darcy what happened, believing he will never love her now. Mr. Gardiner goes to London to search for Lydia and Wickham. The family hopes to persuade Wickham to marry Lydia to save their family’s honor. Eventually, Lydia and Wickham do get married, and later Elizabeth learns that it was Darcy who secretly paid Wickham’s debts to make the marriage happen. She is deeply moved by his kindness and wonders if he did it for her.

Bingley and Darcy return to Netherfield. Soon, Bingley proposes to Jane, and she happily accepts. One day, Elizabeth is shocked when Lady Catherine visits her and demands that she promise never to marry Darcy. Elizabeth refuses. When Darcy hears about this, he takes it as a sign that Elizabeth still has feelings for him. When they meet again, Elizabeth thanks him for helping Lydia, and they finally admit their love for each other. Darcy tells her that he took her earlier criticisms to heart and changed because of them.

Elizabeth and Darcy get married, and Elizabeth is happy to move to Pemberley. Jane and Bingley buy an estate nearby, and the sisters stay close. Lydia often asks Jane and Elizabeth for money. Miss Darcy lives with them at Pemberley, and she and Elizabeth become good friends. Elizabeth enjoys visits from her father and the Gardiners, the relatives she respects the most.