Pride and Prejudice

The novel opens with the famous declaration that a wealthy, single man must be in want of a wife. This truth is immediately tested when the rich and agreeable Mr. Bingley rents Netherfield Park, sending the Bennet household into a flutter of excitement. Mrs. Bennet, obsessed with marrying off her five daughters, eagerly pressures her husband to visit the new neighbour. Mr. Bennet, a man of dry wit, teases his wife but eventually makes the visit. The Bennet girls, particularly the beautiful and gentle Jane, are eager to meet the newcomer, setting the stage for the social entanglements to come.

At the Meryton ball, Mr. Bingley is charming and dances frequently, showing a clear preference for Jane Bennet. In stark contrast, his friend Mr. Darcy is perceived as proud and disagreeable. He refuses to dance and, within earshot of the second eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth, declares that she is "not handsome enough to tempt me." This remark cements Elizabeth's initial prejudice against him. Despite his wealth and good looks, Darcy's aloofness offends the local community, while Bingley's affection for Jane flourishes, much to Mrs. Bennet's delight.

After Jane is caught in the rain riding to Netherfield and falls ill, Elizabeth walks through muddy fields to nurse her sister. Her flushed, energetic appearance is scorned by Bingley's snobbish sisters, Caroline and Mrs. Hurst. During her stay, Elizabeth observes the Bingley sisters' hypocrisy and Darcy's growing, though conflicted, interest in her. He is attracted to her dark eyes and intelligent expression, finding her conversation amusing. Elizabeth, however, remains unimpressed by his pride and is satisfied only with Mr. Bingley's genuine concern for Jane's health.

The Bennets are visited by Mr. Collins, the pompous clergyman who will inherit their estate. He intends to marry one of the Bennet daughters to "make amends." Initially targeting Jane, he quickly switches his attentions to Elizabeth. Meanwhile, in Meryton, the Bennet girls meet the charming officer George Wickham, who wins Elizabeth's sympathy by claiming Darcy deprived him of a valuable church living promised by Darcy's late father. This story deepens Elizabeth's dislike for Darcy, creating a clear antagonist in her eyes and complicating her feelings about the two men.

At the Netherfield ball, Wickham's absence fuels Elizabeth's suspicion of Darcy. She is forced to dance with the awkward Mr. Collins, but is surprised when Darcy asks her to dance. Their conversation is tense. The evening is further marred by her family's inappropriate behaviour: Mrs. Bennet's loud boasting about Jane's impending marriage and Mary's tedious piano performance. The next day, Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth in a long, self-important speech. She firmly and humorously refuses, leading to a furious reaction from her mother, though her father supports her decision.

To everyone's astonishment, Mr. Collins proposes to Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth's sensible friend, who accepts for the security it offers. Elizabeth is shocked by this pragmatic view of marriage. Simultaneously, the Bingley party suddenly departs Netherfield for London. A letter from Caroline Bingley implies that her brother may marry Miss Darcy, dashing Jane's hopes. Elizabeth is convinced that Mr. Darcy and Bingley's sisters are conspiring to separate Bingley from Jane due to the Bennets' inferior social standing, solidifying her negative opinion of Darcy's influence and character.

Elizabeth visits the newly married Charlottes at the Hunsford rectory. They are frequently invited to Rosings, the imposing estate of Darcy's aunt, the arrogant Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, are also visiting. Elizabeth's wit and intelligence continue to attract Darcy, while Colonel Fitzwilliam casually reveals that Darcy recently "saved" Bingley from an "imprudent" marriage. Elizabeth immediately understands this refers to Jane, and her anger towards Darcy intensifies, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation during his unexpected visit to the rectory.

In a tense and emotionally charged scene, Mr. Darcy declares his love for Elizabeth. However, he couches his proposal in terms of his struggle against her family's "inferiority." Outraged, Elizabeth delivers a fierce rejection, accusing him of ruining Jane's happiness with Bingley and of wrongdoing against Wickham. She famously states that he is "the last man in the world" she would ever marry. Darcy leaves angrily, but the next day, he delivers a letter to Elizabeth that forces her to question everything she believes to be true.

Darcy's letter explains his actions. He believed Jane was indifferent to Bingley and acted to protect his friend. More shockingly, he reveals Wickham's true character: he wasted his inheritance, tried to elope with Darcy's young sister, Georgiana, for her fortune, and had no right to the church living. Elizabeth's prejudice begins to crumble as she realizes she has misjudged Darcy based on appearances and Wickham's lies. She feels ashamed of her family's impropriety and starts to see Darcy in a new, more favourable light, marking a crucial turning point in her feelings.

While touring Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle Gardiner, Elizabeth visits Darcy's estate, Pemberley. The beauty and good taste of the estate, and the housekeeper's glowing account of Darcy as a kind and generous master, deeply impress her. She unexpectedly encounters Darcy, who has returned early. He behaves with impeccable politeness and warmth towards her and her relatives, a stark contrast to his former pride. Elizabeth begins to acknowledge that her feelings for him have transformed into respect and perhaps something more, just as a family crisis erupts.

Elizabeth receives news that her youngest sister, Lydia, has eloped with Wickham, an act that could ruin the entire family's reputation. Believing all hope of a future with Darcy is now lost due to this scandal, Elizabeth is devastated. However, she later discovers that Darcy secretly took charge of the situation. He tracked down the couple in London and, at great personal expense, bribed Wickham to marry Lydia, thereby saving the Bennet family from social disgrace. This selfless act proves his love and integrity to Elizabeth, erasing any last remnants of her prejudice.

After Lydia's marriage, Bingley returns to Netherfield and resumes his courtship of Jane, leading to a joyful engagement. Lady Catherine de Bourgh visits Longbourn in a fury, demanding that Elizabeth promise not to marry Darcy. Elizabeth's refusal gives Darcy hope that her feelings have changed. He returns, and they openly confess their love. Both have been humbled and improved by their experiences: Darcy has shed his pride, and Elizabeth has overcome her prejudice. The novel concludes with the marriages of Jane and Bingley, and Elizabeth and Darcy, celebrating the triumph of understanding and true affection over social obstacles and first impressions.