GCSE English Pride and Prejudice Quotes

"It is a truth universally acknowleged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

Chapter 1 - "It is a truth..."
Shows irony; the struggles of men in a book about women. Also highlights Mrs Bennet's desperation to marry off her children.

"they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness"

Mr Bennet, Chapter 1 - "they are all..."
Lizzy is Austen's portrayal of a nearly perfect woman. An introduction to Mr Bennet's teasing nature.

"the business of her life was to get her daughters married"

Mrs. Bennet, Chapter 1 - "the business..."
Mrs. Bennet's view of marriage is about practicality rather than love.

"One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight."

Mr Bennet, Chapter 2 - "One cannot..."
First impressions. Foreshadows the prejudice.

""Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest."

Lydia, Chapter 2 - ""Oh!"..."
Defies society's expectations, foreshadows her affair with Wickham.

"till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased;"

Mr Darcy, Chapter 3 - "till his..."
Begins Elizabeth's prejudice.

"He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world"

Mr Darcy, Chapter 3 - "He was the..."
Example of free indirect discourse - Lizzy's thoughts described in the third person to make the reader emphasise her. Makes it surprising that he turns out to be the romantic hero.

"and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."

Elizabeth, Chapter 5 - "and I could..."
She admits that she has pride; shows her flaw.

"When she is secure of him, there will be more leisure for falling in love"

Charlotte, Chapter 6 - "When she is..."
Charlotte represents the unromantic reasons for marriage; "secure", shows how she values security.

"Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother"

Mrs Bennet, Chapter 7 - "Bingley's large..."
Uses humour to present Mrs Bennet's want for practical marriage as the wrong view to hold.

"if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr Bingley, and under your orders"

Mr Bennet, Chapter 7 - "if she should..."
Mocks Mrs Bennet.

"repeated three or four times how much they were grieved"

Miss Bingley, Chapter 8 - "repeated three..."
Reported repetition suggests ingenuininity (in response to Jane having a bad cold)

"forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occassion required."

Mr Bingley, Chapter 9 - "forced his..."
Shows how Bingley is not snobby, unlike his sisters.

"Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked."

Mr Darcy, Chapter 12 - "Elizabeth had..."
Elizabeth has low connections through her mother, and is therefore not suited for Darcy's high class.

"neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself."

Mr Collins, Chapter 13 - "neither in need..."
Collins goes against social rules here, which makes him seem obnoxious.

"had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage"

Mr Collins & Lady Catherine, Chapter 14 - "had once..."
Demonstrates Collins' sycophantic personality; he prides himself on the fact that Lady Catherine, whom the audience later hates, has visited him.

"His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped,"

Mr Bennet, Chapter 14 - "His cousin..."
Shows Mr Bennet's mocking personality, but also his lack of input in parenting.

"done while Mrs Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course."

Mr Collins, Chapter 15 - "done while..."
Collins does the engagement quickly, as Elizabeth is seen as the same in economic terms and looks. Shows the conventions of marriage.

"Mr Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk,"

Mr Wickham & Elizabeth, Chapter 16 - "Mr Wickham was..."
Wickham is the romantic hero that the reader expects; his good parts are exaggerated.

"there was truth in his looks."

Mr Wickham, Chapter 17 - "there was..."
Shows how looks are relied on too much.

"inexpressible vexation"

Elizabeth, Chapter 18 - "inexp..."
Elizabeth must conform to society's expectations to keep her fragile reputation as a woman.

"I wish you very happy and very rich, and by refusing your hand, do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise."

Elizabeth, Chapter 19 - "I wish you..."
Elizabeth values happiness AND money in marriage.

"his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other way."

Mr. Collins, Chapter 20 - "his pride..."

"Mr Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a matter of pleasure to Mrs. Bennet"

Mrs. Bennet, Chapter 23 - "Mr Collins's return..."
Now that he's married, and she has no use for him, Mrs. Bennet sees his true character.

"eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back the praise on her sister's warm affection."

Jane, Chapter 24 - "eagerly disclaimed..."
Jane is cautious to accept praise and appear proud; contrasts to Elizabeth.

"Mr Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man" // "depend on my diligence and care"

Mr Gardiner, Chapter 25 - "Mr Gardiner was..." // "depend on my diligence and care"
The Gardiners are sensible but are middle-class, so is looked down on by some characters. Represent Mr Darcy getting over his class prejudices. Also offer more care than Mr & Mrs Bennet.

"I pity, though I cannot help blaming her."

Jane, Chapter 26 - "I pity..."

"the office of introduction should be hers."

Charlotte, Chapter 29 - "the office of..."
Women's role in society.

"too hot or too cold, or having too much or too little light."

Anne de Bourgh, Chapter 29 - "too hot..."
Portrayed as pathetic - a long bloodline clearly does not always produce healthy & talented people

"If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient"

Lady Catherine, Chapter 31 - "If I had..."
Openly arrogant, makes an assumption about her ability compared to Elizabeth who, according to her, will "never play really well".

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed."

Mr Darcy, Chapter 34 - "In vain I..."
Forceful nature of the proposal.

"On this subject I have nothing more to say, no apology to offer."

Mr Darcy, Chapter 35 - "On this subject..."
He still shows pride; however, Elizabeth now sees a different side to it, because Jane's feelings were "little displayed".

"I, who have prided myself on my discernment!"

Elizabeth, Chapter 36 - "I, who..."
The word "d..." means the ability to judge well; shows that Elizabeth is recognising her prejudice.

"This must be false! This cannot be! This must be the grossest falsehood!"

Elizabeth, Chapter 36 - "This must..."
Turning point of the novel.

"Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father."

Lady Catherine, Chapter 37 - "Daughters are..."
This is very rude and shows her snobbishness; she goes against social rules.

"humble abode" / "humble parsonage" / "humble respects"

Mr Collins, Chapter 38 - "humble..."
Mr Collins is very sycophantic.

"Jane looked well" / "studying her spirits" / "leisure enough for observation"

Jane, Chapter 38 - "Jane looked..."
Jane is often judged on how she looks.

"undiminished beauty" / "I am glad you are back, Lizzy."

Mrs Bennet, Mr Bennet, Chapter 39 - "undimi..." / "I am..."
Shows Mr & Mrs Bennet's mismatched relationship, as well as comparing what Elizabeth represents.

"I was ready to die of laughter."

Lydia, Chapter 39 - "I was..."
Lydia is very silly and reckless.

"such a nasty little freckled thing"

Lydia, Chapter 39 - "such a nasty..."
Shows how Lydia values looks - could foreshadow her and Wickham marrying as Wickham had "truth in his looks"

"She still cherished a very tender affection for Bingley"

Jane, Chapter 40 - "She still..."
Their love is pure - "affection".

"Poor little Lizzy!" / "luckily too poor"

Mr Bennet, Chapter 41 - "Poor..." / "luckily..."
Mr Bennet's sarcasm surrounding Lydia's trip to Brighton later comes back to haunt him.

"in a lower and more serious tone,"

Mr Wickham, Chapter 41 - "in a..."
His tone is explained - Elizabeth now understands him.

"the general favourite"

Jane, Chapter 42 - "the general..."
Jane is the 'perfect wife' - she is made for Bingley.

"at least of perfect civility"

Elizabeth & Mr Darcy, Chapter 43 - "at least..."
First time Darcy is described as "perfect" in a positive way.

"I have never known a cross word from him in my life,"

Mr Darcy, Chapter 43 - "I have never..."
Different PoV of Darcy - from the servant, which shows that he is kind to the lower class.

"He wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that... his wife may teach him."

Mrs Gardiner, Chapter 52 - "He wants nothing..."
Mrs Gardiner gives sensible advice, and is sure that Darcy is in love with Elizabeth.

"with more feeling than politeness"

Mr Darcy, Chapter 46 - "with more..."
Like Elizabeth, he strays from social rules when it is necessary.

"the humiliation, the misery she was bringing on them all; soon swallowed up every private care;"

Lydia, Chapter 46 - "the humiliation,..."
Lydia's elopement ruins the reputation of the family name.

"And, above all, keep Mr. Bennet from fighting."

Mrs Bennet, Chapter 47 - "And, above all..."
Mrs Bennet does not understand Mr Bennet.

"that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false step involves her in endless ruin;"

Mary, Chapter 47 - "that loss of virtue..."

"striving to blacken" / "angel of light"

Mr Wickham, Chapter 48 - "striving..." / "angel..."
Highly contrasting religious imagery; shows the change in prejudice. Prejudice can be good?

"let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame."

Mr Bennet, Chapter 48 - "let me once..."
Mr Bennet changes.

"She will be married at sixteen!"

Mrs Bennet, Chapter 49 - "She will..."
According to Mrs Bennet, marrying at 16 is a good thing.

"you must go lower, because I am a married woman."

Lydia, Chapter 51 - "you must go..."
This is correct, but Lydia is rude.

"his mistaken pride" / "our kind friend"

Mrs Gardiner, Chapter 52 - "his mis..." / "our k..."
Darcy makes friends with the Gardiners, who are of lower social class than him.

"Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her."

Elizabeth, Chapter 52 - "Her heart did..."
Metaphor shows the romantic element of love that Elizabeth wants.

"Happy shall I be, when his stay at Netherfield is over!"

Jane, Chapter 53 - "Happy shall I..."
First time that we see Jane truly angry/upset - suggests that even the "perfect" women cannot always follow society's conventions.

"as far from her as the table could divide them."

Mr Darcy & Elizabeth, Chapter 54 - "as far from..."
Blames society for them being apart - this is accurate, as it was social rules that meant they couldn't be together.

"He is just what a young man ought to be"

Mr Bingley, Chapter 4 - "He is just..."
Bingley is Darcy's opposite. Represents the ideal traits of a husband, but is not realistic.

"she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!"

Elizabeth, Chapter 43 - "she felt that..."

"I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness"

Elizabeth, Chapter 56 - "I am only.."
Repetition of "my" - cares about herself. In a time when individual happiness was not recognised as more important than family security. Independently minded.

"Unfeeling, selfish girl!"

Lady Catherine, Chapter 56 - "Unfeeling..."
Shows how rude she can be - exclamation.

"it was some time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice."

Mr Darcy, Chapter 58 - "it was some time,..."
Shows how Darcy has been made into a better person.

"His affection for her soon sunk into indifference"

Mr Wickham, Chapter 61 - "His affection for..."

"her mild and steady candour always pleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes"

Jane, Chapter 24 - "her mild and..."
Jane is more cautious to form opinions, and is less lively than Elizabeth.

"superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation"

Mr Darcy, Chapter 11 - "superiority of..."
Doesn't think pride is a flaw at the beginning.

"I should dread your having the power of reading again"

Mr Darcy, Chapter 58 - "I should dread..."
Letters contain feelings of the moment - in this case, feelings of "dreadful bitterness of spirit".

"great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgement than on his own"

Mr Bingley, Chapter 35 - "great natural..."
Darcy describes Bingley's flaw; he depends on others' judgement; he is too trusting. However, the positive tone of the quote shows that this is not a major flaw.

"While in their cradles, we planned the union" // "a young woman of inferior birth"

Lady Catherine, Chapter 56 - "While in..." // "a young..."
Discusses Anne and Darcy's potential marriage; semantic field of birth/babies, reflects how Lady Catherine is already planning ahead.