Key Characters and Themes in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Central Figures in Pride and Prejudice

Elizabeth Bennet: The Protagonist

Elizabeth Bennet is the protagonist and the second child in a family of five daughters. Though the circumstances of the time and environment require her to seek a marriage of convenience for economic security, Elizabeth firmly wishes to marry for love.

Mr. Bennet: The Patriarch

Mr. Bennet is the father of Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Bennet has no male heir, and the estate is entailed upon the next closest male relative, Mr. Collins.

Jane Bennet: The Eldest Sister

Jane Bennet is the oldest Bennet sister and Elizabeth's best friend. She is hopelessly in love with Charles Bingley, although she never openly admitted it. She is also almost painfully naive.

Character Dynamics and Comparisons

Elizabeth vs. Jane: Personality Differences

Jane is the older sister, followed by Elizabeth. However, from the start, it is perhaps clear that Elizabeth is smarter and possesses a stronger personality. Jane, on the other hand, was an innocent and at times naive young woman who trusts people very easily.

Key Plot Points and Social Context

The Entailment of the Estate

Mr. Bennet has no male heir, and the estate is entailed upon the next closest male relative, Mr. Collins. This legal situation forces the Bennet daughters to seek advantageous marriages.

Marriage and Social Expectations

It was not usual for women of that era to marry for love, as the common practice was to secure a marriage with someone wealthy for financial stability.

The Netherfield Visit: Darcy's Growing Admiration

I believe Darcy's interest began when Lizzy visited Jane at Netherfield while she was sick. Caroline Bingley criticized Elizabeth, but Darcy felt an internal admiration for the "interesting, stubborn young lady" because she was different, not bored, and very smart.

Wickham's False Claims

Wickham claimed that the inheritance from Darcy's father was intended for him.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh's Character

Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Darcy's aunt) is unpleasant and proud. Modesty is certainly not among her extended list of virtues. She believes no one has more taste than her.

Elizabeth's Initial Prejudice Against Darcy

Elizabeth initially dislikes Darcy because she believes he has bad intentions, largely due to Wickham's fabricated story.

Darcy Resolves the Lydia Scandal

Darcy paid money to Wickham to ensure he married Lydia and settled his debts, thereby preventing a major scandal for the Bennet family.

Lady Catherine's Marriage Plans

Lady Catherine de Bourgh wants Darcy to marry her daughter, Anne de Bourgh.

Thematic Summary of the Novel

The novel is a story of personal development, or a Bildungsroman, in which the two leading figures, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, though seemingly different, are fundamentally similar. They must mature, overcome personal crises, and learn from their mistakes to face the future together, overcoming class pride (Darcy) and prejudice (Elizabeth toward him).

The theme of a love story with a happy ending, its masterful treatment, and its enduring relevance ensure great attention to this novel even today.