Pride and Prejudice is a book written by Jane Austen in 1812.
Jane Austen was a British novelist that usually talked about the dependence of women marriages looking for a favourable social standing and economic security for their family.
The book was set in Hertfordshire and Derbyshire around 1812.
The story starts when Mr Bingley, a handsome rich man, bought Netherfield Hall, a very fine house near Longbourn House, where the Bennets live.
Mrs Bennet wanted Mr Bingley to marry their most beautiful daughter, Jane, so she persuaded her husband, Mr Bennet, to visit Mr Bingley and invited him to a ball at the local assembly rooms.
At the ball, Mr Bingley appeared with his friend Mr Darcy. He was tall, very handsome and from a noble family. People said that he had twice more money than Mr Bingley and a large state in Derbyshire. He was unmarried, like Mr Bingley.
Mr. Bingley was open and cheerful, popular with all the guests, and appeared to be very attracted to the beautiful Miss Jane Bennet.
Darcy began to be attracted to Elizabeth, while Mr Bingley’s sister was becoming jealous, since she wanted to marry Mr Darcy.
Mr. Collins, a cousin of Mr. Bennet and heir to the Longbourn estate, visited the Bennet family. He was a clergyman, who wish to marry any of the Bennet girls due to his inheritance. He quickly decides to propose to Elizabeth, but she refuses. So then he proposed to Charlotte Lucas and she accepted.
Elizabeth met George Wickham, and he made Elizabeth dislike Darcy by telling her a story of the hardship that Mr. Darcy has caused him by depriving him of a living promised to him by Mr. Darcy’s father.
Afterwards, they received news that the Bingleys were suddenly leaving for London, with no intention to return.
Heartbroken, Jane went to visit her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner to London, but sadly she couldn’t meet Mr Bingley.
In the spring, Elizabeth visited Charlotte and Mr. Collins in Kent. They were invited to Rosings Park, the home of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, patroness of Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy’s aunt. She expected Mr. Darcy to marry her daughter.
Mr. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, are also visiting Rosings Park. Colonel Fitzwilliam told Elizabeth how Mr. Darcy managed to save a friend from a bad match. Elizabeth realized the story must refer to Jane and Mr Bingley and she was horrified that Darcy interfered and caused her sister so much pain.
Mr. Darcy, meanwhile, fell in love with Elizabeth and proposes to her. She rejected him angrily, stating that she could not love a man who has caused her sister such unhappiness and further she accused him of treating Mr. Wickham unjustly.
Elizabeth began to change her opinion of Mr. Darcy when Mr Darcy sent her a letter explaining all the truth about Mr Wickham and telling her that he thought Jane didn’t love Mr Bingley.
Some months later, Elizabeth and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner visited Darcy’s estate in Derbyshire, Pemberley. When Mr. Darcy returned unexpectedly, he is overwhelmingly kind. Elizabeth is surprised and delighted by the kindness to herself and her aunt and uncle. She then suddenly receives news from Longbourn that her sister Lydia had eloped with Mr. Wickham. She tells Mr. Darcy immediately and departs in haste.
After an agonizing wait, Mr. Wickham is somehow persuaded to marry Lydia. Then Elizabeth hears that Darcy helped with the marriage of Lydia and begins to think that Darcy was still in love with her.
At this point, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy return to Netherfield. Shortly thereafter, Bingley proposes to Jane and she accepts. And Darcy proposes to Elizabeth again and she accepts too.
Elizabeth Bennet is the second of the Bennet sisters. She is twenty years old and intelligent, lively, playful, but she has a tendency to judge on first impressions. As the story progresses, so does her relationship
with Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the wealthy friend of Mr Bingley. Mr Darcy is twenty-eight years old. He is handsome, tall, and intelligent, but he has excessive pride. He is interested on Elizabeth.
Mr Bennet is the father of five unmarried daughters. His estate, Longbourn, is entailed to the male line.
Mrs Bennet is the mother of Jane, Lizzy, Mery, Kitty and Lydia Bennet. Her main ambition in life is to marry her daughters off to wealthy men.
Jane Bennet is the eldest Bennet sister. she is considered the most beautiful young lady in the neighbourhood and is inclined to see only the good in others. She falls in love with Charles Bingley, a rich young gentleman recently moved to Hertfordshire and a close friend of Mr. Darcy.
Mary Bennet is the middle Bennet sister. She mostly reads and plays music. When the story ends she is not married.
Kitty Bennet is the fourth Bennet daughter and she is 17 years old. She is jealous of Lydia.
Lydia Bennet is the youngest Bennet sister. She is 15 when the novel begins. She is frivolous and headstrong. Her main activity in life is socializing, especially flirting with the officers of the militia. This leads to her running off with George Wickham, although he has no intention of marrying her. Lydia shows no regard for the moral code of her society.
Charles Bingley is a handsome, amiable, wealthy young gentleman from the north of England, who leases Netherfield Park, an estate three miles from Longbourn. He is easily influenced by his sisters.
Caroline Bingley is Charles Bingley’s sister. Who disapproves her brother’s esteem for Jane Bennet and she is jealous of Elizabeth because Darcy is starting to like her.
I think the plot is very witty and amusing, and it is an interesting insight into what women’s life was like at the time. Equally, I love the wonderful and spirited Lizzie Bennett, with her wit and humour. Also, I like the way the Bennett’s are portrayed, and the way Mrs Bennett is obsessed with marrying the daughters off, and how Mr Bennett and the daughters put up with it. I also like the way Jane Austen makes fun of people. She pokes fun at Lady Catherine, who is Mr Darcy’s aunt, and she ridicules the upper class all the time.
I absolutely loved this book!! The dialogue was so entertaining. The characters were witty and well developed and the plot was extremely good! It is a must read for those who enjoy British Drama and romances with strong female characters.