What Is Pride And Prejudice About?

Pride and Prejudice (originally entitled "First Impressions"), was Jane Austen’s second novel to be published. Jane Austen wrote the novel between 1796 and 1797 in Steventon, Hampshire, where she was born.

The book is centered around two main characters, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The story begins with a young man (Charles Bingley) taking over Netherfield Park, a manor. The news reaches the Bennet family, which consists of Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters, each of who are unmarried.

When Mr Bennet hears the news of Mr Bingley’s arrival, he immediately sees it as an opportunity to find a potential husband for his daughters. A ball is arranged and Mr Bingley attends, along with his sisters and a friend, Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley enjoys his time at the ball and dances with Jane, the eldest Bennet sister. Mr Darcy, however, is less impressed with the ball and refuses to dance with Elizabeth, the second eldest daughter of the Bennet family.

Despite refusing to dance with her at the ball, Mr Darcy becomes attracted to Elizabeth following a series of other social events. His attraction to her is unwanted, as he sees himself above her socially. Jane becomes friendlier with Mr Bingley and his family, but falls ill and stays at the manor. Elizabeth travels to the manor to be with Jane, but Mr Bingley’s sisters do not appreciate her presence when she arrives. One of the sisters, Caroline, is jealous of Elizabeth as a result of Mr Darcy’s attraction to her.

Later, Elizabeth receives a marriage proposal from Mr Collins, a clergyman who is due to inherit the Bennet’s property. The property has been entailed and can only be passed down to a male, and Mr Collins sees the proposal as a way of solving the entail. Elizabeth refuses. Later, Mr Bingley, his sisters and Mr Darcy leave Netherfield Park for London. Jane is upset and Elizabeth receives a surprise when she discovers that Mr Collins has proposed to her best friend, Charlotte. Jane goes to London, but Mr Bingley does not meet with her.

Later, Elizabeth and Mr Darcy encounter each other again and he proposes marriage. The proposal is arrogant and Elizabeth refuses. Mr Darcy writes to her shortly after apologising and Elizabeth learns a few truths about him. She later travels with her aunt and uncle to Mr Darcy’s estate. Mr Darcy is not there when they arrive, but later shows up.

Elizabeth begins to see Mr Darcy in a different way after he helps to find her sister, Lydia, who left home with Wickham, a soldier who originally lied to Elizabeth about Mr Darcy. Elizabeth discovered his lies after Mr Darcy wrote to her.

When it is discovered that Elizabeth is attracted to Mr Darcy, his aunt attempts to force Elizabeth to make a promise not to marry him. Elizabeth refuses and worries about the differences between her and Mr Darcy in terms of social status. However, Mr Darcy does eventually propose and Elizabeth ends up married along with her sister Jane, who marries Mr Bingley.