Pride and Prejudice - Summary Notes

Passage Analysis

• Passage Analysis Section: Involves analyzing a passage, identifying its source (though not explicitly stated), and recognizing the speaker and context within the novel.

• Identifying Context: Recognizing whether a passage occurs early, in the middle, or towards the end of the novel, or before/after a major event, signals understanding.

Plot Order and Key Events in Pride and Prejudice

• Early Events:

  • Mr. Bennett learns that Mr. Bingley has rented Netherfield Park (Chapter 1).
  • Jane dances with Mr. Bingley at the Meriton Assembly Ball.
  • Mr. Darcy does not ask Elizabeth to dance at the Meriton Ball.
  • Charlotte Lucas shares her ideas about how best to find a husband with Elizabeth; this conversation occurs after Bingley and Jane's early meetings but before the Netherfield ball.
  • Mr. Wickham tells Elizabeth that Darcy cheated him out of a lifelong position as a clergyman. This happens before Mr. Collins arrives.
  • Sir William encourages Mr. Darcy to ask Elizabeth to dance at an evening party before the visit to Netherfield.
    *Bingley and Darcy visiting Longbourn together (LATER IN THE NOVEL)

• Middle Events:

  • Jane dines at Netherfield with Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst.
  • Elizabeth, Darcy, and Bingley have a philosophical discussion about how much one should be influenced by friends during Jane's illness when Elizabeth is staying at Netherfield.
  • Mr. Collins arrives at Longbourn.
    Elizabeth shares her ideas about what is accomplished when talking to Bingley and his friends
    Elizabeth shares her ideas about what women are looking for in men
  • Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance at the Netherfield ball.
  • Elizabeth refuses Mr. Collins' marriage proposal.
  • Charlotte Lucas accepts Mr. Collins' marriage proposal shortly after Elizabeth's refusal.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner spend Christmas at Longbourn.

• Later Events:

  • Elizabeth refuses Mr. Darcy's marriage proposal. This occurs later, near Rosings.
  • Elizabeth visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins (after their marriage).
  • Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam arrive at Rosings around Easter time (after winter).
  • Jane goes to visit the Gardiners in London, spending months there.
  • Lydia goes to Brighton as a guest of Colonel and Mrs. Forrester (before Elizabeth leaves on her summer trip).
  • Elizabeth goes on her summer trip and unexpectedly meets Mr. Darcy at Pemberley.
  • Jane informs Elizabeth that Lydia has eloped with Wickham.
  • Elizabeth, along with her aunt and uncle, returns to Longbourn due to the family crisis.
  • Elizabeth reads Lydia's letter to Mrs. Forrester.
  • Mr. Bennett unsuccessfully tries to find Lydia in London.
  • Mr. Collins' insulting letter arrives during Mr. Bennett's absence.
  • Mr. Gardiner writes to Mr. Bennett, informing him that Lydia will be married.
  • Lydia and Wickham visit Longbourn after they are wed.
  • Mrs. Gardiner answers Elizabeth's request for an account of Darcy's involvement in arranging Lydia's marriage revealing that Darcy had insisted Wickham marry Lydia so that her reputation was saved.

• Final Events:

  • Bingley and Darcy visit Longbourn.
  • Jane accepts Bingley's marriage proposal.
  • Lady Catherine calls on Elizabeth at Longbourn to persuade her to reject Darcy.
  • Elizabeth accepts Darcy's proposal.

Analysis of Elizabeth and Darcy's Relationship

• Elizabeth's Qualities:

  • Elizabeth's intelligence and liveliness are key reasons for Darcy's love.
  • She possesses a mind similar to Jane Austen herself.
  • Her wit provides resilience against the ludicrous behavior of others.
  • Her father, Mr. Bennet, also favors her for her quickness and satirical discourse.

• Darcy's Qualities:

  • Darcy's love for Elizabeth transcends her family's vulgarity.
  • He displays goodness and moral probity in managing his estate, Pemberley.

• Initial Impressions and Development:

  • Darcy initially appears sardonically misogynistic, deeming Elizabeth "tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me."
  • Elizabeth's spirit and liveliness initially mask her need for genuine engagement and love.

• Mr. Bennet's Concerns:

  • Mr. Bennet fears Elizabeth could be unhappy in an unequal marriage, emphasizing the need for esteem and respect in a partner.
  • He worries about possible discredit and misery if Elizabeth were to marry without genuine affection or respect.

Literary Analysis

• Dance Metaphor:

  • Love, like dance, should be a rational pursuit leading to pleasure, usefulness, and beauty (Palmer's "Erotic Faith").
  • Elizabeth and Darcy achieve smooth harmony and rhythm, contrasting with Charlotte's woodenness and Lydia's tawdry, graceless movements.

• Motivations for Marriage:

  • Marriages founded on frivolous or base motivations lack the author's approbation.
  • Charlotte Lucas seeks security, Mr. Bennet values a pretty face, and Lydia simply wants sexual gratification.

Lydia's Character

• Lydia's desire to go to Brighton is expressed in a lurid, hormonally charged manner, showcasing superficiality.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh's Visit & Elizabeth's Rebellious Spirit

• Confronted by Lady Catherine at Longbourn who demands that Elizabeth promise to never marry Darcy citing the relationship as being impossible, Elizabeth responds that such a report would confirm rumors if such rumors exist.
  Elizabeth is called an obstinate, headstrong girl
  *Lady Catherine brings up Elizabeth's sister's infamous elopement but Elizabeth has no regard for Lady Catherine's nephew. She insists she is going to be happy without reference to Lady Catherine or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.

Practice Passage Analysis

• Passage: "All the world is striving black the man who but three months before had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be in debt to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues all honored with the title of seduction had been extended into every tradesman's family. Everybody declared that he the wickedest young man in the world, and everybody began to find out that they had always trusted the appearance of his goodness."
  *This passage relates to Mr. Wickham after he ruined his reputation by elopement with Lydia Bennett.

• Literary Device:
  An antithesis to the angel of light is epithet as it is a name that mockingly refers to Mr. Wickham.
  Hyperbole is created when everyone finds Wickham to be the wickedest as they go along with opinion
  A possible character is Wicked and Wickham because her chose to write that and it contains wordplay.

Lady Catherine Interrupts Elizabeth at Longbourn

• The Big Elizabeth social status is brought out in the open in her conversation with Lady Catherine