Hello and a heartfelt welcome to one and all. This year, in honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday celebration, the Jane Austen Summer Program is dedicating blog space to summarizing and reviewing the great works written by one of the world’s most renowned authors. We have now reached the point in our journey when it is time to discuss what some might consider Austen’s most treasured piece: Pride and Prejudice. Published January 28, 1813, this novel’s quick-witted characters and highly quotable dialogue have allowed this classic to become timeless and continually lauded by modern audiences. For the next nine weeks, we shall endeavor to explore this text together, beginning today with chapters one-seven.
Synopsis
The novel opens in a highly engaging manner with an unnamed narrator telling the reader: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” And with that fact firmly established, a wealthy gentleman is promptly introduced.
Mr. Charles Bingley comes in a chaise and four to see Netherfield Park. He plans to move into the neighborhood before Michaelmas and it is later reported that he has four or five thousand pounds a year. Mrs. Bennet, a local mama who is eager to see one of her five daughters married off to such a fine gentleman, begs her husband to go see Mr. Bingley so that their girls might then be eligible to meet him as well. Initially Mr. Bennet denies this request. He sees no reason to run about the neighborhood in such a manner. His reply vexes his wife greatly and she does not resist the impulse to tell him of how he has unsettled her poor nerves. Whether this rebuke prompts Mr. Bennet to act or he is motivated by other interests, the reader does not know, but when he and his family members reunite later, he is pleased to announce that he has visited Mr. Bingley and now all his girls may make the gentleman’s acquaintance.
Mr. Bennet will tell the ladies only very little about Mr. Bingley, so they must ask Lady Lucas to fill in the gaps. She shares how she found Mr. Bingley to be quite young and handsome. He also seems agreeable and claims to be fond of dancing.
When Mr. Bingley arrives at the ball, he travels with a party of five—himself, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest sister, Mr. Hurst, and a friend, Mr. Darcy. At once, a rumor circulates about Mr. Darcy. It’s said that he has ten thousand a year and owns a fine estate in Derbyshire, so the ladies and gentlemen alike comment on his attractive features and admire him greatly. But those first impressions are quickly swept away when it is determined that Mr. Darcy is a proud man who considers himself above his company.
Mr. Bingley delights in dancing, is exceptionally lively, and declares he cannot wait to host a ball of his own at Netherfield Park. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, only deigns to dance once with each of Mr. Bingley’s sisters, then spends the rest of the evening walking around the room, generally avoiding all the others. The people agree that they wish he would not come to another one of their assemblies. His ill-natured behavior might have been altogether ignored by the Bennet sisters, after first deciding to disregard him, had Mr. Darcy not offended Elizabeth Bennet. She is the second of the Bennet sisters. Even though she is full of mirth and always ready to share a laugh, she is also sensitive and intelligent. She knows a slight when it is directed at her. And, she has the misfortune of hearing a conversation in which Mr. Bingley presses Mr. Darcy to join in the dancing and even suggests he ask Elizabeth to be his partner. But that is when Mr. Darcy says she is not handsome enough to tempt him to join the throng. He encourages Mr. Bingley to return to his partner, Miss Jane Bennet.
Afterward, Jane and Elizabeth discuss the ball. Elizabeth is not at all surprised that Jane admires Mr. Bingley and that her regard was returned. Jane is inclined to like most everybody. She even has kind words to say about Mr. Bingley’s sisters. Elizabeth remains silent on this point and does not come right out and disagree with her older sister, even though she found the women to be haughty and entitled.
Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, likewise, discuss the occupation of their evening upon returning to Netherfield Park. Mr. Bingley was pleased with everything and everyone he met, while Mr. Darcy said none of the people held his interest. He does concede that Miss Jane Bennet is lovely, but he believes she smiles too much. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst agree with Mr. Darcy, but pronounce Jane to be a sweet girl, and Mr. Bingley feels inclined to think of her as he likes best.
The following day, Lady Lucas and her daughter, Charlotte, come to Longbourn, the residence of the Bennet family, to visit and discuss the ball. Charlotte is upset that Mr. Darcy was so rude to Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet tells her not to get any silly notions over the matter. She encourages her daughter not to dance with Mr. Darcy, should the chance ever arise again, and Lizzy swears she will never dance with him.
Later, The Bennets visit the ladies at Netherfield Park and while Elizabeth is not wholly content with the manners of the sisters, she continues to keep her thoughts to herself. She notices how pleased Jane is and how her affection for Mr. Bingley continues to grow. She does not wish to ruin her sister’s happiness, so she keeps her own counsel until she has an opportunity to share her thoughts with her friend, Charlotte Lucas.
The ladies have differing opinions. Charlotte thinks Jane should do all that is in her power to let Bingley know she likes him. She says Jane and Bingley, once wed, will be able to fall in love with each other. Elizabeth disagrees entirely. She says Jane should not attach herself to Bingley before she understands his character. She should continue to be cautious.
Charlotte says, “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.”
While she and Charlotte are talking, Elizabeth is being observed by Mr. Darcy. Almost as soon as he determines that she isn’t attractive, he suddenly finds her appealing. Her eyes, form, and playful nature all intrigue him.
Darcy determines that he’d like to get to know Elizabeth better, so he spends some time trailing after her, joining groups where she lingers and listening to her conversations. She tries to tease him about this, but he does not take the bait. Later, while spending time with a large party at Lucas Lodge, Sir William tries to engage Darcy in a polite discussion about dancing. He goes so far as to venture that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy should stand up together and participate. Elizabeth declines the offer, even after Mr. Darcy assures her it would be his pleasure to accompany her. The two do not share a dance however and Mr. Darcy moves to the periphery so he may once more observe Elizabeth. Miss Bingley catches him at it and asks about his thoughts. He is honest with her, saying he is meditating on Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s fine eyes. Miss Bingley makes a joke of his response, but he ignores her jibes.
In chapter seven, it is established that Lydia and Kitty often walk to Meryton to see their Aunt Philips. It is from her that they learn of the regiment which is quartering in town throughout the winter. The girls are excited about this new development and immediately begin to talk admiringly about the young men of the militia.
Whilst having one such discussion at home, Jane receives a letter from Netherfield Park. Miss Bingley has invited her to come and dine. Because the gentlemen are from home, Mrs. Bennet insists Jane travel on horseback. She is certain it will rain and when it does, the Bingleys will ask her to stay rather than send her back in a downpour. As predicted, it does rain, but Jane becomes ill. She writes a letter to Lizzy telling her as much. Elizabeth determines she will walk to see Jane. When she arrives, she catches the family at breakfast and shocks them all with her appearance. Mr. Darcy cannot decide if he admires her because of the way the exercise brightened her complexion or if her actions were entirely unnecessary. She goes to see Jane, who is very sick and glad of the company. When it seems she ought to go, Miss Bingley offers the carriage, but Jane does not wish for Lizzy to leave. Miss Bingley kindly suggests Elizabeth remain at Netherfield Park and the invitation is accepted.
Impressions
Even though we have only just begun this story, already the reader is given ample opportunities to get to know the main characters. It is established that Mrs. Bennet is a nervous, wheedling mama. Jane Bennet is a dear, sweet young lady. Elizabeth Bennet is favored by her father because of her plentiful wit and while she is obliging and well-mannered, she exercises her intelligence by sharing her thoughts and feelings with friends and family members.
As for the gentlemen in this novel, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are clearly destined to be foil characters. Where Mr. Darcy is sullen and perhaps a bit austere, Mr. Bingley is all affability and ebullience. He radiates kindness and warmth while dancing with the young ladies of Hertfordshire, throwing into light just how differently Mr. Darcy carries himself with stiff, rigid manners.
There is an abundance of plot points to analyze in these first few chapters, but it should be marked that Charlotte Lucas and Elizabeth Bennet, while good friends, also fill opposing roles, much as Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy do. Charlotte Lucas, who is a few years older than Elizabeth, has come to view the world in a more pragmatic, cynical way. She believes that marriage is the logical next step a young lady must take to avoid spinsterhood and so, when two people sign a marriage contract, they should look upon the union in a practical manner. But Elizabeth disagrees. She will not be induced to marry anyone, unless there is love betwixt them and does not believe Charlotte will ever truly give credence to her own words through her actions.
Extras
If you’ve got young friends who you would like to introduce to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, check out this video.
Next week, we will venture into chapters eight-sixteen together as Jane recovers from her illness and she and Elizabeth leave Netherfield Park.
Is there a reading schedule for Pride and Prejudice? Thanks