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$Title{Works of Jane Austen
Pride And Prejudice: Chapters 1 - 13}
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$Author{Austen, Jane}
$Affiliation{Instructor Of English, Rutgers University}
$Subject{elizabeth
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$Date{}
$Log{Hear Of Fortunes and Wives*68300009.aud
See Mr. Bennet Speaking to Lizzy*0124201.scf
See Mr. Darcy Insults Elizabeth*0124202.scf
See Darcy and Elizabeth Meet Again*0124203.scf
See Miss Bingley Praises Darcy*0124204.scf
}
Title:       Works of Jane Austen
Book:        Pride and Prejudice
Author:      Austen, Jane
Critic:      Fitzpatrick, William J.
Affiliation: Instructor Of English, Rutgers University

Pride And Prejudice: Chapters 1 - 13

Chapter I

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

[Hear Of Fortunes and Wives]
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a
good fortune must be in want of a wife.

     "However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his
first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the
surrounding families that he is considered the rightful property of some one
or other of their daughters."

     Mrs. Bennet illustrates these principles by eagerly questioning her
husband about the "young man of large fortune from the north of England" who
has just rented Netherfield Park, a mansion not far from the Bennets' home in
the village of Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet conceives of the eligible bachelor's
arrival as an opportunity to see one of her five daughters married well. In
order to further her scheme, she tries to induce her husband to pay the young
man, Mr. Bingley, a social call as soon as he arrives. She worries that Sir
William Lucas and Lady Lucas, who also have daughters to be married, may
establish contact before the Bennet family. Mr. Bennet teases his wife by
pretending that he has no intention of paying Mr. Bingley a visit. He calls
his daughters "silly and ignorant" - except for Elizabeth. He treats with
irony and humor his nervous wife's only "business" of getting her daughters
married.

Comment:

     The opening lines indicate one of the main themes of the book, the
"marriage mart," the business of getting one's daughters (or oneself) married
to a person of some wealth and position. The author refers to an eligible and
attractive young man as prospective property. Metaphors like this and the
discussion of incomes in this chapter and throughout the book serve to
emphasize the frequently coarse, materialistic, and commercial aspects of
finding happiness in marriage. Nature is not allowed to take its course. Once
it is known that a man is a good catch, interested families connive to have
him marry one of their daughters. This "unromantic" view of marriage was
perhaps more honestly stated in Jane Austen's time, but it would be a mistake
to conclude that it is entirely wrong or is not found today.

     In referring to Elizabeth as "my little Lizzy," Mr. Bennet indicates his
preference for her "quickness of mind." This affinity of temperament and
intelligence between Elizabeth and her father will become clear as the book
goes on.

     The author states that in contrast to the wit, humor, and complexity of
mind of her husband, Mrs. Bennet was a woman of "mean understanding, little
information, and uncertain temper."

Chapter II

     Mr. Bennet, however, does pay a call on Mr. Bingley, but he continues to
tease his wife and daughters before he admits it. Mrs. Bennet tells Elizabeth
that Mrs. Long (a friend) cannot be trusted to introduce them to Bingley
because she has two nieces of her own. Then Mr. Bennet stops her worrying and
fretting by revealing his visit to Bingley. Everyone excitedly anticipates
Bingley's return of the visit.

[See Mr. Bennet Speaking to Lizzy: Mr. Bennet: 'I hope that Mr. Bingley will
like it, Lizzy.']

Comment:

     Mr. Bennet's intellectual superiority to his wife and three younger
daughters is evident in the way he teases them. He rarely talks to them as
equals. For example, in this scene he asks his daughter Mary to comment on
the importance of the formalities of introductions and refers to her as a
"young lady of deep reflection" by way of mocking her pedantic book-reading
and her silly pose of seriousness.

     Jane is the oldest daughter, followed by Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and
Lydia.

Chapter III

     Mr. Bennet refuses to tell the family anything about Bingley. So it is
from Lady Lucas that Mrs. Bennet learns that Bingley is not only rich, but
handsome, gracious, and fond of dancing. (It seems that anyone with a weakness
for dancing is more easily made to fall in love.) Mrs. Bennet even now looks
forward to having one of her daughters "happily settled at Netherfield."

     Mr. Bingley returns Mr. Bennet's visit but he meets no one else in the
family. Soon afterward, the Bennets invite him to dinner. But because he must
go to London, Bingley is unable to accept. He returns from London with his two
sisters, his brother-in-law (Mr. Hurst), and his good friend Mr. Darcy. A ball
("assembly") in town gives the people of Meryton an opportunity to meet
Bingley and his party. He shows a lively interest in Mrs. Bennet's eldest
daughter, Jane, and dances more with her than with anyone else.

     Although Mr. Darcy is handsome and wealthy, possessed of a large estate,
good family, and noble bearing, his pride, his awareness of his own
superiority to the company at the ball, and his willingness to reveal his
contempt, lead all to agree that he is unbearably proud and disagreeable. In
addition to his general offensiveness, he insults Elizabeth by saying in her
hearing that he would not care to dance with her and that she is "tolerable,
but not handsome enough to tempt me."

[See Mr. Darcy Insults Elizabeth: Mr. Darcy: 'She is tolerable; but not
handsome enough to tempt me.']

     Elizabeth, though offended, enjoys recounting the incident to her
friends.

     Mr. Bennet, of course, preferred to stay at home with a book and hears
the story of the beautiful Jane's success from Mrs. Bennet. She concludes her
account by saying how much she detests the proud Darcy for his behavior at
the ball.

Comment:

     The theme of "pride and prejudice" is introduced in this chapter. It will
be seen that Darcy's pride (his sense of his own superior social status and
intellectual refinement) becomes an obstacle to his meeting Elizabeth as an
equal and acknowledging his own feelings of love for her. On the other hand,
the initial slight she was given and the general offensiveness of Darcy's
disdainful behavior will prevent Elizabeth from making an objective
assessment of his character (and even of her own feelings for him) later in
the story. In this chapter, however all that is revealed is the initial pride
of Darcy.

     The fact that Elizabeth can enjoy telling the story of Darcy's insult to
her friends shows her maturity, her ability to see humor even in something
offensive to her.

Chapter IV

     Jane and Elizabeth discuss Mr. Bingley, whom Jane admires very much.
Elizabeth remarks that Jane never speaks ill of anyone and tends to
overestimate people. Lizzy approves of Bingley, but says that his sisters had
not pleased her because they seemed supercilious haughty, and conceited.

     Mr. Bingley had inherited 100,000 pounds from his father who made his
fortune in trade, a fact that embarrasses his sisters. Bingley does not own
an estate like Darcy's.

     Though Darcy's reserved and haughty disposition contrasto with Bingley's
open and agreeable nature, Bingley greatly admires his friend for his superior
cleverness of mind. (He is clearly under Darcy's influence.) Bingley's party
discuss the ball at Meryton. They all agree that Jane Bennet is a likable and
sweet girl. This confirms Bingley in his opinion. But Darcy expresses his lack
of interest in the whole collection of people they had met at the ball at
Meryton.

Comment:

     Among the upper classes in early 19th Century England at the time this
novel was written, "trade" - what we would today call business and commerce -
was looked upon as being beneath the dignity of cultivated people. To spend
one's time in avid pursuit of money-profit -was, therefore, vulgar. Business
was not the traditional occupation of the great families of England who
derived their incomes from the possession of land. The Bingley girls (and Sir
William and Lady Lucas), who were not the heirs of old families of the landed
gentry, wished, therefore, to play down the origin of their new wealth and
social status. One of the lessons of the story is that snobbery is not an
indication of good manners and that occupation is not an indication of moral
worth.

     Elizabeth can see the faults of Bingley's sisters whereas Jane cannot.
Her superiority to her sister in insight and wit is paralleled in Darcy's
superiority to his friend.

Chapter V

     Sir William Lucas formerly was "in trade" in Meryton, but he had been
knighted when, as mayor, he made an address to the King. Like the Bingley
girls, he is ashamed of having been in business. The Lucases and the Bennets
meet to discuss the ball. Charlotte Lucas, the eldest daughter, had been the
first to dance with Mr. Bingley, but the Lucases and the Bennets agree that
Jane Bennet was the object of Bingley's special interest. They discuss also
Darcy's refusal to dance with Elizabeth and his offensive remarks about her
(see Chapter III). Mrs. Bennet denounces Darcy for his pride and Elizabeth
vows that she would never dance with him. She could forgive his pride if he
had not offended hers. Mary then offers some solemn and sententious platitudes
on pride.

Comment:

     By now, the reader sees that Elizabeth and Darcy are, in virtue of their
superior minds, the two most important characters, and perhaps suspects that
their present opposition foreshadows a future relationship. Elizabeth's remark
about her "mortified" pride may indicate that she has been more deeply hurt by
Darcy's insult than would appear.

Chapter VI

     Bingley's sisters and the Bennets exchange visits. The Bingley girls
(Miss Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Louisa Hurst) disapprove of Mrs. Bennet and
her three younger daughters. Jane is pleased at their attention, but Elizabeth
does not like them because of their condescending manner. It becomes apparent
that Jane is beginning to fall in love with Bingley, who obviously likes her
very much.

     Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas (her intimate friend) have a discussion
about marriage. Elizabeth mentions that she is happy that Jane is not forward
in showing her feelings. Charlotte believes that if a woman is to get a man,
she must let him know her feelings for him. The important thing is to catch
him before someone else does, even though one may not be sure that she is in
love with him. Elizabeth replies that one must be sure of one's own affection
and of the nature of the other person first. Charlotte (in the spirit of the
marriage mart) says that the important thing is to get married; happiness in
marriage is just a matter of chance and, therefore, "love" is not so
important. Elizabeth that replies she knows Charlotte would never act in the
way she says.

Comment:

     The conversation between these two friends has thematic significance.
They take opposing views on marriage. Elizabeth emphasizes the necessity for
affection as well as good circumstances; Charlotte sees nothing in question
"but the desire of being well married." Throughout the book, different
conceptions of marriage and, therefore, different conceptions of happiness and
even morality are revealed in a number of different marriages. In other words,
the marriage game can be played in many ways, according to one's character,
intelligence, and values. Elizabeth's remark that Charlotte would never act as
she talks should be kept in mind, just as should Elizabeth's remark (in
Chapter V) that she would never dance with Mr. Bingley. (The fact that
Charlotte is twenty-seven and unmarried perhaps influences her point of view.)

     In spite of his former criticism of Elizabeth, Darcy begins to be
attracted by her looks and spirit. Because of this new interest, at a party at
Sir William Lucas's, he listens in on Elizabeth's conversation. Elizabeth does
not realize his reason for doing this. "To her he was only the man who had not
thought her handsome enough to dance with." Charlotte prevails upon Elizabeth
to entertain at the piano. She is followed by her sister Mary, who gives an
affected and pretentious performance. Although Darcy expresses his contempt
for dancing ("Every savage can dance"), Sir William attempts to get him to
dance with Elizabeth. She declines - even though Darcy, himself, asks. Darcy
admits to Miss Bingley that he finds Elizabeth pleasing. Miss Bingley (who,
being a woman, has matrimony ever in mind) reminds him of the kind of
mother-in-law he would find in Mrs. Bennet.

[See Darcy and Elizabeth Meet Again: Sir William: 'Mr. Darcy, you must allow
me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner.']

Comment:

     Miss Bingley's remark about having the crude Mrs. Bennet for a
mother-in-law is to remind Darcy that he would never ally himself with such
"inferior" people (i.e., inferior in social status). It also, perhaps,
indicates Miss Bingley's own interest in Darcy.

Chapter VII

     Mr. Bennet's property is "entailed in default of heirs male on a distant
relation." (The property was willed to him on the condition that if he have no
sons, his estate be left to a male relative in his father's family. Thus, when
Mr. Bennet dies, his girls will receive no inheritance from him.) Mrs. Bennet,
who has just a small estate of her own, also has a sister married to Mr.
Phillips who is in trade in the town of Meryton, near Longbourn, and a brother
who is in trade in London.

     Kitty (Catherine) and Lydia are excited about the news of the arrival of
a regiment to pass the winter in the vicinity. They look forward to flirting
with the officers. Mr. Bennet remarks on the silliness of these two girls, and
Mrs. Bennet replies that she once "liked a red coat very well." She is pleased
by the thought that one of her girls might be able to land an officer.

     Jane receives an invitation to visit Bingley's sisters at Netherfield.
Mrs. Bennet deliberately sends her daughter on horseback rather than in their
carriage, so that if it rains, she will be invited to stay the night at
Netherfield. Of course, it does rain, and Jane is asked to spend the night.
The next morning she writes Lizzy that she is sick and in bed with a cold from
having gotten wet the day before. Elizabeth resolves to visit her immediately
and will not wait to have the carriage sent for. As a result, she walks the
three miles between Longbourn and Netherfield and arrives splattered with the
dust and mud of the field. Bingley's sisters are shocked to see her in this
condition. But Darcy is struck by the brilliance of her complexion. Jane is
advised to remain in bed and Elizabeth is invited to spend the night at
Netherfield with her. She sends home for her clothing.

Comment:

     Mr. Bennet's remark about Lydia and Kitty, his youngest daughters, is one
of a number of indications of their giddiness and superficiality. Elizabeth's
refusal to wait for the carriage - her disregard of her own appearance - in
her haste to visit her sick sister is a measure of her maturity and lack of
affectation.

Chapter VIII

     At dinner that evening, Elizabeth notices Bingley's genuine concern for
Jane's welfare, but sees that his sisters' interest is superficial. They are
engrossed by Darcy. The lazy Mr. Hurst seems hardly capable of civilized
discourse. After dinner, as soon as Elizabeth returns to Jane's room, Caroline
Bingley and Louisa Hurst begin to talk critically about her manners and
character. They mention her untidy appearance and muddy petticoat of that
morning. When Miss Bingley remarks that Darcy can no longer admire Elizabeth's
fine eyes, he contradicts her. Bingley also defends Elizabeth. The sisters
refer to Jane's mother and to her "low connections" - her uncles who are "in
trade." This does not bother Bingley, but Darcy agrees that it lessens the
Bennet girls' chances of marrying "men of any consideration in the world."
Later, with Jane asleep, Elizabeth returns to find the others playing cards in
the drawing room. Elizabeth declines to play and looks at some books. Miss
Bingley mentions Darcy's library at Pemberley (his estate). He replies that it
has been the work of many generations. The sisters praise Darcy's magnificent
home and Darcy's young sister Georgiana. Darcy describes the learning and
many accomplishments he thinks a well-bred woman should have. Throughout the
conversation, Bingley's sisters cater to Darcy.

     After Elizabeth retires, Caroline Bingley says that she artfully tries to
win the attention of men, but Darcy replies ambiguously that all women try
cunningly to win attention - implying thereby that he is aware of - and
disapproves - of Miss Bingley's pursuit of him. Because Elizabeth says that
Jane is worse, they decide to send for the apothecary, Mr. Jones.

Comment:

     The discussion of Pemberley, Darcy's estate, and the criticism of
Elizabeth for her "low connections," indicate the social differences between
Darcy and Elizabeth, which will become more important later in the story. The
reader should wonder if Darcy's remark about Elizabeth's poor chance of
marrying "a man of consideration" will not prove to be ironic. And he should
also notice that Caroline Bingley's pursuit of Darcy is not really much less
crude and vulgar than Kitty's and Lydia's chasing after officers.

Chapter IX

     Elizabeth spends the night in her sister's room, and the next morning
sends for her mother. Mrs. Bennet arrives with her two youngest girls and,
naturally, exaggerates the extent of her daughter's illness and insists that
she is not yet well enough for the trip home. The apothecary (apparently
influenced by Mrs. Bennet) agrees. Mrs. Bennet's ludicrous verbosity, her
brash and vulgar manners, and her crude boasts about Jane embarrass Elizabeth
and amuse Bingley's sisters.

     While talking to Bingley, Elizabeth agrees that he does not have an
"intricate" character.

     Lydia (perhaps her mother's favorite) takes this opportunity to ask Mr.
Bingley to have a ball at Netherfield. She looks forward to getting the
officers (whom she has met at her uncle's in Meryton) to have one later. Mrs.
Bennet and her two daughters depart; Elizabeth returns to Jane; and the
Bingley girls return to talking about the Bennet's behavior. But Darcy will
not criticize Elizabeth.

Comment:

     The reader will notice that the objection to the Bennet family is
twofold: not only do they have relatives "in trade" (Mrs. Bennet is the
daughter of an attorney), but the behavior of several members of the family
violates all decorum.

Chapter X

     That evening all are assembled in the drawing room. Darcy is writing a
letter to his sister, and Miss Bingley is busy with incessant flattery, such
as praising his handwriting and his sister. Darcy attempts to discourage her
silly compliments with sharp answers. Bingley and Darcy talk about Bingley's
docility - his susceptibility to the influence of friends. Elizabeth notices
that Darcy frequently stares at her, but assumes that these are looks of
criticism. This doesn't bother her because she doesn't care a bit for Darcy.
Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance but she declines. He is by now so taken with
Elizabeth that he thinks that if it were not for the "inferiority of her
connections, he should be in some danger."

[See Miss Bingley Praises Darcy: Miss Bingley: 'You write uncommonly fast.']

     Miss Bingley's jealousy increases and she again talks to Darcy about the
vulgarity of Mrs. Bennet and the officer - chasing young girls. She reminds
him again how incongruous the portraits of Elizabeth's a.nt and uncle Philips
(who are in trade) would be in the gallery in Pemberley amid those of Darcy's
distinguished ancestors.

Comment:

     Although Darcy pointedly resists Caroline Bingley's flattery, her many
comments about Elizabeth's "low connections" must strike home.

Chapter XI

     After dinner, Jane is well enough to join the others in the drawing room,
much to Bingley's obvious delight. Miss Bingley, having failed to distract
Darcy from his book, begins parading up and down the room. When this, too,
fails she invites Elizabeth to join her. Darcy then watches them, and in the
ensuing exchange with Caroline Bingley, he suggests that they are walking in
order to call attention to their figures. In the course of the conversation,
he admits to Elizabeth that he is unable to forgive offenses against himself,
but tends to justify his pride. When Elizabeth accuses him of "implacable
resentment," he smilingly answers that she is willfully misunderstanding him.

Comment:

     It is plain that Caroline Bingley cannot hope to compete with Elizabeth
for Darcy's attentions. The irony is that Elizabeth is not even trying to
interest Darcy, thinks he still dislikes her, and actually is attracting him
by her sharp and spirited repartee.

Chapter XII

     The next morning, Elizabeth writes to her mother to send the carriage
for them. Mrs. Bennet, however, plans on having the sisters stay at
Netherfield a few more days and answers that she will not send the carriage
now. Elizabeth then gets Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage and it is
agreed that they will leave the next morning. Darcy is relieved at the news
that Elizabeth is departing. Lest she begin to think that she has some power
over him, he resolves to keep his growing interest in her under control by
carefully avoiding her during her last day at Netherfield. The morning after,
the sisters arrive home, to their mother's disappointment. But their father
(bored by the company of his wife, Mary, Kitty and Lydia) had missed their
conversation.

Comment:

     Pride and Prejudice is lacking in intense and graphic descriptions of
emotions. Throughout the novel sexual attraction is conveyed directly but
unobtrusively by the use of a rather abstract vocabulary: e.g., "interested in
her"; "in some danger." Even when physical terms are used, they do not convey
passion. Passion is intellectualized - held at a kind of moral distance -
mainly through the medium of Elizabeth's scrutinizing intelligence. Passion is
also translated inevitably into social terms, into the social terms
surrounding the romance: marriage, economic circumstances, breeding. Or it is
expressed in terms of personal psychology and morality (Charlotte, Elizabeth,
Lydia); the spiritual, the moral significance is always stressed. This does
not, however, diminish the seriousness or intensity of feeling. It only
requires that the reader read attentively - especially those passages that
investigate Elizabeth's thought and feeling (the two can hardly be separated).
As time goes on, Elizabeth becomes as impatient, as apprehensive, as excited
as any young girl in love. But Jane Austin's purpose is not only to permit the
reader to share in her heroine's feelings, but also to observe the moral and
spiritual problems involved in her story. And, of course, one of the themes is
the necessity of check "first impressions" and "passion" by prudential
thought.

Chapter XIII

     The next morning, Mr. Bennet announces to the family that he had
received a letter a month ago from his cousin, Mr. Collins, who is to inherit
his estate. The father reads the entire letter aloud. Mr. Collins informs his
cousin that he has been ordained in the Church of England and that he has
received the patronage of the Lady Catherine de Bourgh who has secured a
valuable parish for him. He apologizes for the accident which makes him the
instrument of the Bennet daughters' dispossession, says that he hopes to make
them some "amends," and proposes that he visit them. Mr. Bennet had replied
favorably and informs the family that Mr. Collins is expected that very day.
Elizabeth observes a certain pompousness in Collins's letter and is struck by
his extraordinary deference for Lady Catherine. Her father agrees that there
is a "mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter."

     Mr. Collins arrives that afternoon. He announces that he comes "prepared
to admire" the girls and he examines and praises all the furnishings of the
household (which some day is to be his own).

Comment:

     At the time, it was in the power of important families to decide the
appointments ("livings") to the parishes around their estates. Thus, Lady
Catherine could award to Collins the care of the parish (which included
Rosings) which provided him with a good income.