Welcome back, dear readers, for the long-anticipated dive into the third volume of Jane Austen’s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. We left off in Volume Two with a promise of Lizzy and the Gardiners’ forthcoming visit to Pemberley—to which Lizzy only agrees after receiving confirmation of Mr. Darcy’s absence from the estate.
We begin Volume Three, then, with their subsequent arrival to Pemberley House, a stately stone building on the rise of a grand hill, at which “Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt, that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!”
It’s fun to laugh at how Elizabeth only first seems to reconsider her rejection of Mr. Darcy’s proposal upon seeing his sizable estate, but at the turn of the nineteenth century, marriage for the sake of landownership was a big deal. Although women—primarily widows—could technically own land in the 18th and 19th centuries, estates of the gentry were often entailed only upon male heirs, and those of nobility were legally attached to titles that could only be held by men (duke, earl, viscount, etc.). These inheritance laws were descended from the medieval primogeniture system, which stipulated that all family property be passed to the eldest son of legitimate birth. With Longbourn entailed upon the odious Mr. Collins, and no immediate hopes of her other sisters securing wealthy husbands, it is no wonder Elizabeth looks at Pemberley House with wistful eyes.
“And of this place,” thought she, “I might have been mistress!”
Inside, Elizabeth and the Gardiners receive a warm welcome from Mr. Darcy’s housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, who gives them a tour while singing her master’s praises. But when they relocate to the garden for a tour of the grounds, who should appear but the man himself, having returned to the estate early to prepare for the arrival of a larger party the next day! Of course, Darcy and Elizabeth greet each other with an unprecedented level of awkwardness. However, to Elizabeth’s great surprise, after taking a moment alone to collect himself, Mr. Darcy engages them all in joyful, unrestrained conversation devoid of condescension or ire while guiding them on a walk around the estate.
Mr. Darcy even goes so far as to inform Elizabeth that his sister Georgiana, who shall be among the party joining him at Pemberley the following day, would very much like to make her acquaintance, and to ask if he may introduce them during Lizzy’s stay at Lambton. She agrees, and for several days Elizabeth and the Gardiners join Darcy and Georgiana, as well as Mr. Bingley and his sisters, at Pemberley for meals, fishing, and the general pleasure of each other’s company.
However, the fizzle out upon Lizzy’s receiving a letter from Jane informing her that Lydia has run off from the regiment base in Brighton—with Wickham, whom she expects to marry in Scotland at Gretna Green! Elizabeth and Jane, who know Wickham’s true character, doubt that such a union is likely to take place and are overcome with worry for Lydia’s reputation, which, if ruined by her careless behavior, will also irrevocably damage the prospects of her four older sisters.
Elizabeth confides in Mr. Darcy the details of her family’s precarious situation, stating her intentions to leave Derbyshire for Longbourn at once. Mr. Darcy expresses his condolences and leaves, leaving Elizabeth convinced that—Lydia’s poor behavior having confirmed his previous low opinion of her family—he will never speak to her again, when at last she feels as though she really might have loved him after all!
Heartbroken for more reasons than one, Elizabeth returns home to her family and spends many sleepless nights waiting for news of Lydia’s whereabouts. Her uncle Mr. Gardiner takes Mr. Bennet’s place in London to search for the young couple. Finally, after many days, he writes that Wickham will agree to marry Lydia if her father will agree to provide her one hundred pounds a year, as well as her equal share of the £5,000 her sisters and mother are set to inherit upon Mr. Bennet’s death. Incredulous that Wickham would be so foolish as to marry Lydia for so little financial gain, Elizabeth and her father privately speculate that Mr. Gardiner must have paid him an additional handsome sum on their behalf.
When Wickham and Lydia are married, they return to Longbourn to receive the Bennets’ (in some cases, unwillingly bestowed) congratulations. Elizabeth is relieved that Lydia’s status (and therefore her own) has not been tarnished beyond repair, but disappointed to imagine that Mr. Darcy may never again renew his sentiments of affection to avoid connection with such a dysfunctional family. So imagine her surprise when Lydia, in a self-absorbed ramble, accidentally reveals to Elizabeth that it was not their uncle, but instead Mr. Darcy himself, who discovered the couple in London—and who, Elizabeth deduces, must also have paid Wickham the additional money to agree to their hasty marriage.
Soon enough, Mr. Darcy returns to Netherfield with Mr. Bingley, who—apparently having received Mr. Darcy’s blessing—renews his pursuit of Jane, who is still very much in love with him despite her protestations otherwise. Soon enough, they are engaged!
Elizabeth, too, is optimistic that Darcy might still be in love with her, until—surprise!—Lady Catherine de Bourgh herself appears suddenly and unexpectedly at Longbourn to demand to know if the scandalous rumors that her nephew is engaged to be married to Elizabeth Bennet are true. Although Lizzy confirms that she and Darcy are not engaged, she refuses to promise never to enter into such an arrangement and promptly kicks Lady Catherine out the door. Go, Lizzy!
By and by, Elizabeth and Darcy spend more time in each other’s company, and he soon admits that news of her conversation with Lady Catherine convinced him to hope: “If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever…. I knew enough of your disposition to be certain, that, had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly.” Elizabeth, by now thoroughly smitten, finally accepts his offer of marriage—and, more or less, they all live happily ever after.
Be sure to join us next Monday, September 9 for a final look at Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, as well as its many—many—adaptations for page, stage, screen, and beyond. Until then, leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
For more information on the truth of 18th-century British inheritance laws and practices, this article is extremely informative.
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