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. This week, we will focus on the events that unfold during chapters 25-31.
Synopsis
The Gardiners come to visit for the Christmastide holiday. Mr. Gardiner is highly respected, and his wife is a favorite amongst her nieces. When she and Elizabeth speak of the lost match between Jane and Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth refers to Mr. Bingley as being violently in love. Mrs. Gardiner thinks that phrase is often overused and asks for a better description, so Elizabeth says, “I never saw a more promising inclination; he was growing quite inattentive to other people and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies by not asking them to dance; and I spoke to him twice myself without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?”
Mrs. Gardiner suggests Jane return to London with her family when they leave. She thinks a change of scenery might be good for Jane. The invitation is happily accepted. The rest of the holiday is spent going here and there. Mr. Wickham is always about and Mrs. Gardiner notices how Elizabeth prefers him to others. She resolves to say something about the imprudence of such a match but is continually folded into the conversation by Wickham who shares her endless enthusiasm for discussing life in Derbyshire.
Mrs. Gardiner does make time, just before leaving, to caution Elizabeth about her attentions to Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth agrees that she will do her best to be careful. She understands that Mr. Wickham has no money and therefore, they cannot ever be wed. She curses Mr. Darcy for stealing Mr. Wickham’s security, but she says she will take her aunt’s advice to heart. Shortly after the Gardiners and Jane leave, Charlotte comes to have a final visit with the sisters before her wedding day. While there, she asks Elizabeth to keep up a steady correspondence with her, which is certainly agreeable. But then she presses Lizzy to come visit in March. Elizabeth does not feel as though she can refuse even though she already knows such a visit will be awkward.
After some time passes, Elizabeth receives a letter from Jane and learns that the acquaintance which was once pressed onward by Miss Bingley has now reached a conclusion. Miss Bingley was cold to Jane, promising to visit, and only doing so after making Jane wait a fortnight for the pleasure. Jane says it was obvious by Miss Bingley’s behavior that she took no joy in performing the visiting duty and Jane is resolved to give up the friendship. She feels as though she has been deceived, and it pains her to wonder why Miss Bingley should behave in such a manner. Around this same time, Lizzy’s feelings for Mr. Wickham wane. He becomes attached to Miss King, a young lady who has considerable fortune to her name—10,000 pounds—and Elizabeth wishes him well. She writes to her aunt and explains that she was never really in love because she does not have quite the reaction someone in that state might. She does not hate him or Miss King but rather wishes them both happiness.
On the way to Hunsford, where they are to stay with Charlotte and Mr. Collins, Elizabeth, Sir William Lucas, and his daughter, Maria, stop in at Gracechurch Street. Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talk a little about Jane’s melancholy state, then they discuss Wickham’s new attachment to Miss King. Mrs. Gardiner worries about his nature, but Elizabeth defends him. Finally, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner ask Elizabeth if she would like to accompany them this summer on a pleasure trip through the lakes and she is overjoyed.
Upon arriving in Hunsford, Elizabeth finds Charlotte and Mr. Collins both in excellent spirits. He is eager to show them all around his property and comment on all his possessions and Charlotte puts up with him tolerably well. They speak of Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins says Elizabeth and Maria will meet the great lady soon. They will see her at church and the family regularly dines at Rosings twice per week. He does not foresee this invitation being retracted now that the Collinses have guests. One day, while Eilzabeth is preparing for a walk, Maria beckons her to come downstairs immediately. Miss de Bourgh is outside in a little phaeton, and she thinks Elizabeth should see her. Elizabeth is unimpressed by the slight, sickly form of Miss de Bourgh, but with a haughty laugh she thinks of how this young lady will make Mr. Darcy a proper wife.
The meal and conversation at Rosings are precisely what Elizabeth expected. Lady Catherine carries all the discourses. She gives her opinion decidedly and does not take kindly to jests or receiving anything less than a direct answer. When she does speak squarely to Elizabeth, she asks impertinent questions, so Elizabeth gives her rather cheeky answers. They speak of Elizabeth’s education and her sisters being out in society and with each response Elizabeth gives, she surprises Lady Catherine more and more. The group plays cards for a while, until her ladyship and her daughter tire, then the party is off for home again and Mr. Collins asks Elizabeth to praise all she saw. She does not satisfy him, so he proceeds to elaborate on the greatness they just witnessed.
The days pass in a lazy manner while Elizabeth stays at the Parsonage. They continue to dine at Rosings twice a week and Elizabeth is afforded the opportunity to spend many hours out of doors. She learns that Lady Catherine is something of a magistrate in town and she regularly sticks her nose in the business of others, then tells them how best to run their own lives. Elizabeth spends time with her ladyship, when necessary, but often prefers to walk through the park on her own. After being there for two full weeks, Elizabeth learns that Mr. Darcy is coming to visit his aunt. She rather looks forward to seeing him simply because he will be a new person with whom to converse.
Mr. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, come almost at once to call upon those in the Parsonage, just after they pay their respects to Lady Catherine. Charlotte is flabbergasted. She says this courtesy must be due to Elizabeth because Mr. Darcy never would’ve deigned to come calling if it had just been her at home. Once conversation ensues, Elizabeth cannot help but ask Mr. Darcy if he had any occasion to see Jane whilst he was in London and he responds in the negative. Shortly thereafter, the gentlemen take their leave.
It is about a week before they are all invited to Rosings again, but Elizabeth spends her time conversing easily with Colonel Fitzwilliam. Their discussion draws the attention of Lady Catherine, as well as Mr. Darcy, and he even comes over to the piano, where Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam are stationed so he might participate. They banter with one another because Darcy says that Elizabeth often makes pronouncements that are not necessarily what she’s truly thinking. She laughs at this, then says if he should reveal her nature, she will do the same to him. She tells Colonel Fitzwilliam of how Darcy behaved in Hertfordshire, and he readily admits that making friends and interacting with others he does not already know is difficult for him. Elizabeth encourages him to practice. This is the first time the two of them have truly playful banter.
Impressions
Ask one hundred people which scene they like best in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and it is quite likely to receive one hundred different answers. My favorite moment occurs in chapter thirty-one while Elizabeth is playing the piano but also engaging in conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy. Even though she owns that her abilities are not what they could be if she practiced playing, she manages to make it through the piece all while bantering back and forth with the gentlemen.
Elizabeth’s accomplishments aside, I favor this scene because it is here when we start to learn more about Mr. Darcy’s character. Earlier, while Elizabeth and Jane were staying at Netherfield Park, he tried to tell Elizabeth about his faults and vices. In this instance, he shows even further vulnerability when he admits how difficult it is for him to converse easily with strangers. Anyone who has a fear of public speaking or is perhaps introverted by nature might be able to relate to Mr. Darcy at this moment. By making that connection with this character, we see not just his flaws but can also empathize with them.
Extras
Want to re-watch this scene with me? Click the link to view Austen’s work as it was adapted in 1995. And once you’ve watched my favorite part, feel free to drop yours in the comment section below.
Next week, we will dive into chapters 32-40 of Pride and Prejudice. Please join me then.
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