Plot Summary of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen’s novel centers around Regency Era England and society’s preoccupation with marriage for its women. When the novel begins we are introduced to the Bennet family which consists of the sarcastic hermit Mr. Bennet, the ridiculous and marriage-obsessed Mrs. Bennet, the introverted Jane, our protagonist Elizabeth, the solemn and superior Mary, the dependent Kitty, and Lydia who is a younger version of her mother. When the young and highly eligible Charles Bingley moves into Netherfield, all marriage-minded mamas are thrown into a tizzy, especially Mrs. Bennet, especially after she discovers that Mr. Bingley likes Jane. However, their romance comes to an abrupt end due to the interference of Caroline Bingley and Mr. Darcy. From the moment Darcy and Elizabeth meet, they do not get along well, and she fosters a strong dislike for him based on their unpleasant first encounters and the lies of Mr. Wickham. It is not until after Elizabeth refuses Mr. Darcy’s insulting initial proposal (and he writes her a very personal letter detailing the circumstances of his actions in regard to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Wickham) that she begins to look beyond Darcy’s cold façade and see the loving man within. This belief is reaffirmed after he selflessly saves her sister from ruin after Lydia unthinkingly runs away with Wickham. Not long after the conflict with Lydia and Wickham is resolved, Elizabeth is visited by Darcy’s blunt Aunt Catherine who tries to warn her away from reaching out of her league and attempting to get Darcy to fall in love with her. Despite warning from her aunt, Elizabeth defies Darcy’s aunt by eventually marrying Mr. Darcy. After Elizabeth marries Darcy and Jane marries Bingley, the Bennet family begin to gain some stability, though unfortunately Lydia remains largely unchanged. Kitty becomes more level headed and less temperamental without Lydia’s presence, Mr. Bennet becomes more social in that he is willing visit his second born daughter...and they all live happily ever after!