Pride and Prejudice

Elizabeth Bennet

The intelligent, witty, and independent protagonist who values personal integrity over social advancement. Initially judges Darcy harshly.
Adjectives: perceptive, spirited, principled.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy

Wealthy, reserved gentleman of Pemberley; initially proud and socially awkward; learns humility and empathy through his love for Elizabeth.
Adjectives: proud, honorable, introspective.

Jane Bennet

Eldest Bennet sister, known for beauty and kindness; falls in love with Mr. Bingley; always sees the good in others.
Adjectives: gentle, optimistic, compassionate.

Mr. Charles Bingley

Darcy’s wealthy, friendly friend who rents Netherfield Park; genuinely loves Jane but is easily influenced by others.
Adjectives: amiable, naïve, good-natured.

Mr. Bennet

Sarcastic, intelligent father who retreats from family chaos; values wit over responsibility.
Adjectives: ironic, detached, negligent.

Mrs. Bennet

Overbearing mother obsessed with marrying off her daughters; often embarrasses her family.
Adjectives: frivolous, anxious, materialistic.

Lydia Bennet

Youngest sister, reckless and flirtatious; elopes with Wickham, risking family disgrace.
Adjectives: impulsive, immature, vain.

George Wickham

Charming but deceitful militia officer; lies about Darcy and elopes with Lydia for money.
Adjectives: manipulative, selfish, charming.

Mr. Collins

Pompous clergyman and heir to the Bennet estate; blindly flatters Lady Catherine and proposes awkwardly to Elizabeth.
Adjectives: obsequious, pompous, self-important.

Charlotte Lucas

Elizabeth’s sensible friend; marries Mr. Collins for financial stability, not love.
Adjectives: pragmatic, level-headed, resigned.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Darcy’s wealthy, domineering aunt; represents aristocratic arrogance.
Adjectives: condescending, overbearing, class-conscious.

Georgiana Darcy

Darcy’s shy and kind sister; nearly deceived by Wickham; contrasts with Lydia’s recklessness.
Adjectives: modest, sweet, reserved.

Elizabeth’s Character Growth

Elizabeth matures from quick judgment to deeper self-awareness. After reading Darcy’s letter, she realizes her own prejudice and learns humility, understanding that pride and class bias cloud true perception.

Setting of the Novel

Early 19th-century rural England — mainly Hertfordshire, Kent, and Derbyshire. The contrast between estates (Longbourn, Netherfield, Pemberley, Rosings) mirrors the rigid class divisions of Regency society.
Significance: Setting highlights how geography and class boundaries shape relationships and personal freedom.

Society’s Values and Social Success

Society prizes wealth, status, and advantageous marriage. Success depends on property and social connections. Women, in particular, are limited to marriage as their means of advancement.
Advantages: Wealthy men like Darcy or Bingley.
Disadvantages: Lower-gentry families like the Bennet’s, especially daughters without inheritance.

Narrator’s Tone and Attitude

The third-person omniscient narrator uses irony and gentle mockery to expose human foolishness and class pretensions, while sympathizing with Elizabeth’s intelligence and independence.

Author’s Purpose

Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice to critique the social limitations placed on women, the obsession with class and marriage, and the moral blindness caused by pride and prejudice. Her goal is both moral and comedic — to encourage self-awareness, empathy, and rational love.

Theme – Pride and Prejudice

The novel’s central theme explores how pride and prejudice distort perception and judgment. Both Elizabeth and Darcy must confront and overcome their own flaws before achieving understanding and love.

Theme – Marriage and Social Mobility

Marriage serves as a reflection of class, morality, and economics. Austen critiques marriages based on convenience or status (Charlotte & Collins) and rewards unions grounded in respect and equality (Elizabeth & Darcy).

Theme – Self-Knowledge and Moral Growth

Characters like Elizabeth and Darcy achieve moral clarity only after self-reflection. Austen presents humility and self-awareness as the path to true happiness and virtue.

Theme – Class and Hierarchy

The rigid class system governs behavior and relationships. Austen exposes how social boundaries, inherited privilege, and obsession with rank hinder personal connection and merit.

Reputation and Gender

Women’s social value depends on their purity, manners, and marital prospects. Through Elizabeth and Lydia, Austen contrasts independence with social ruin, exposing the unfair moral double standard.

Motif – Letters and Communication

Letters act as revelations of truth and character. Darcy’s letter is pivotal—it corrects Elizabeth’s misconceptions and marks her emotional turning point.

Motif – Journeys and Visits

Trips to estates (Netherfield, Rosings, Pemberley) symbolize both literal and emotional progress. Each journey brings Elizabeth closer to insight and transformation.

Symbol – Pemberley Estate

Darcy’s estate symbolizes order, virtue, and moral integrity. Elizabeth’s admiration of Pemberley mirrors her changing perception of Darcy himself.

Symbol – Dancing and Balls

Social dances reflect the rules of courtship and hierarchy. Elizabeth and Darcy’s dances mirror their evolving relationship—from tension to harmony.

Irony in Austen’s Narrative

Austen’s signature irony mocks societal norms and exposes hypocrisy. The opening line (“It is a truth universally acknowledged…”) sets the tone of witty social critique.

Free Indirect Discourse

Austen blends third-person narration with a character’s inner voice, particularly Elizabeth’s. This technique lets readers experience her biases and realizations firsthand.

Tone & Style

The tone is witty, ironic, and intelligent. Austen uses sharp dialogue and understatement to critique while maintaining emotional warmth.

Moral Development (Bildungsroman Element)

Though not a traditional coming-of-age story, Pride and Prejudice charts Elizabeth’s moral and psychological growth, aligning with the AP theme of “learning through error.”

Social Satire

Austen uses humor to expose class prejudice, gender inequality, and human vanity. Her satire aims to reform, not ridicule, by showing how genuine virtue transcends social class.

Marriage as Commentary on Society

Each marriage reveals a moral truth: Charlotte and Collins show practicality; Lydia and Wickham show folly; Elizabeth and Darcy represent mutual respect and moral balance.

Feminist Interpretation

Through Elizabeth, Austen argues that intelligence and moral integrity define worth more than gender or wealth. The novel subtly advocates for women’s autonomy in thought and emotion.

Narrative Purpose

Austen’s goal is to reveal the tension between individual judgment and societal expectation. Her comedic tone allows readers to critique the world while still finding hope in self-awareness and moral growth.