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A Summary and Analysis of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Pride and Prejudice , published in 1813, is Jane Austen’s best-known and probably most widely studied novel. But what does the novel mean? What is it really all about? And where did that title, Pride and Prejudice , come from?

Before we attempt to answer some of these questions, it might be worth recapping the plot of Austen’s novel. So, before our analysis of Pride and Prejudice , here’s a brief plot summary.

Pride and Prejudice : plot summary

A wealthy man named Mr Bingley moves to the area, and Mrs Bennet – mother of five daughters – tells her husband to call on the eligible young bachelor. A match between Bingley and the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, is soon in the works – but a match between another rich bachelor, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, and the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth, looks less likely.

This is because Mr Darcy’s pride – his haughty attitude towards Elizabeth Bennet and her family – sour her view towards him, while Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Mr Darcy is also a stumbling-block. After he acts in an arrogant and disdainful way towards her at a ball, she learns from a young soldier, Mr George Wickham, that Darcy apparently mistreated him.

Wickham is the son of a man who used to be Darcy’s steward or servant, and Darcy acted unkindly towards the young George. Darcy’s and Bingley’s sisters conspire to drive a wedge between Mr Bingley and Jane Bennet because they believe Bingley can find a wife from a better social station than the Bennets.

Meanwhile, Darcy also has an arrogant aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who acts as patroness to a clergyman named Mr Collins, who in turn flatters her with disgusting servility. (Mr Collins is also Mr Bennet’s nephew: since Mr and Mrs Bennet have no sons, Mr Bennet’s estate is due to pass to Mr Collins when Mr Bennet dies.)

Mr Collins is encouraged to ask one of the Bennet sisters for her hand in marriage, and he decides upon Elizabeth. She, however, turns him down, and he marries Charlotte Lucas instead.

The happy couple get together, and Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, but it’s clear he still views her and her family with some contempt because he is of a higher social status than they are. She responds by citing George Wickham’s accusations against him; she also thinks he played a part in breaking up the match between her sister, Jane, and Bingley.

However, in a later letter to her, Darcy reveals that Wickham cannot be trusted: he is a womaniser and a liar. Elizabeth visits Darcy’s home, Pemberley, while visiting the north of England with her aunt and uncle. Darcy welcomes them and introduces them to his sister.

Darcy’s words about Wickham are proved true, as the soldier elopes with Lydia, the youngest of the five Bennet sisters. Darcy tracks the two lovebirds down and persuades them to marry so Lydia is made an honest woman of. Bingley and Jane finally get engaged, and Darcy and Elizabeth overcome their ‘pride and prejudice’ and become a couple.

Pride and Prejudice : analysis

In his vast study of plot structures, The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories , Christopher Booker suggests that Pride and Prejudice is more straightforwardly in the ‘comedy’ genre than it may first appear to be. He points out that much of the novel turns on misunderstandings, characters misreading others’ intentions or others’ personalities, and people generally getting things wrong: the Bennets think Mr Wickham is the wronged one and Darcy the villain, but it turns out that they have this the wrong way around.

So what used to be more explicit in, say, stage comedies of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries – indeed, going right back to Shakespeare – is made more subtle and internalised in Austen’s novel, and rather than having her characters literally confuse one person with another (because of some absurd coincidence, wearing similar clothing, and so on), her characters find they have misread a person’s motive or misjudged their honesty, as with Mr Wickham.

This is why the title of the novel is so important: Darcy and Elizabeth’s union at the end of the novel strikes us as true because they have had to overcome their own personal flaws, which prevent a union between them, but having done so they have an honest and realistic appraisal of each other’s personality. They have, if you like, ‘seen’ each other.

We might contrast this with the various illusions and misapprehensions in the novel, or the other motivations driving people together (Mr Collins trying to woo Elizabeth simply because she’s the next Bennet sister in the list).

Is Pride and Prejudice a late Augustan work or a novel belonging to Romanticism? Romanticism was largely a reaction against Augustan values: order, rationalism, and the intellect were tempered if not wholly replaced by the Romantic values of freedom, emotion, and individualism.

But whether we should regard Pride and Prejudice as Augustan or Romantic is a question that divides critics. Terry Eagleton, in The English Novel: An Introduction , points out that Austen was not somebody who trusted wholly in the supremacy of reason, not least because her beliefs – what Eagleton calls her Tory Christian pessimism, which made her alert to the flawed nature of all human beings – would not allow her to be so. Austen is aware that human beings are imperfect and, at times, irrational.

And in this connection, it is worth pondering what Andrew H. Wright observes in Jane Austen’s Novels, a Study in Structure : that the reason Elizabeth Bennet, rather than Jane, is the real heroine of Pride and Prejudice is that Jane is not flawed enough. She is too perfect: something that would make her the ideal heroine for most novels, but the very reason she cannot be the protagonist of a Jane Austen novel.

Austen is too interested in the intricate and complex mixture of good and bad, as Wright points out: Austen likes the explore the flaws and foibles of her characters. Elizabeth, in being taken in by Wickham and his lies and in misjudging (or at least partly misjudging) Darcy, is flawed because both her pride and prejudice need tempering with a more nuanced understanding of the man she will marry.

The opening line of Pride and Prejudice is arguably the most famous opening line of any novel: ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’ But what is less widely known is that the tone of this opening line is clearly ironic.

Far from being Austen the detached, impartial narrator, this is actually Austen ventriloquising her characters’ thoughts – specifically, those of Mrs Bennet, whose views in the novel are often derided by Austen’s narrator – using a narrative technique which Austen did so much to pioneer.

This technique is known as free indirect speech , and it is what makes Austen’s prose so full of wit and surprise, so we always have to keep an ear out for her narrators’ arch commentary on the characters and situations being described. (The clue in this opening line is in the phrase ‘universally acknowledged’, since how many things in life really are truly universally acknowledged?)

Pride and Prejudice was originally titled First Impressions , but that eventual title, Pride and Prejudice , was a cliché even when Austen used it for her novel. The phrase is found in two important works of the 1770s, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire .

But the most important precursor to Austen’s novel by a long way is Fanny Burney’s 1782 novel Cecilia , in which that phrase, ‘pride and prejudice’, appears three times in rapid succession, with the words ‘pride’ and ‘prejudice’ capitalised: ‘The whole of this unfortunate business, said Dr Lyster, has been the result of PRIDE and PREJUDICE. […] if to PRIDE and PREJUDICE you owe your miseries, so wonderfully is good and evil balanced, that to PRIDE and PREJUDICE you will also owe their termination.’

Austen learned a great deal from Burney, and refined the comedy of manners which Burney had helped to pioneer several decades earlier.

Pride and Prejudice is, in the last analysis, one of the great comedies in the English language, because in its construction it takes the hallmarks of romantic comedy and refines them, making subtle and abstract what was literal and physical in earlier stage comedies.

It is also a novel about how true love needs to be founded on empirical fact: we need to know the person we’re marrying, to see them with our own eyes, rather than rely on others’ opinion or let ourselves be blinded by romantic notions and delusions.

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1 thought on “A Summary and Analysis of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice”

It’s a brilliant romantic novel, but, yes, it’s a comedy as well. Mr Collins, Lady Catherine de Bourgh and even Mrs Bennet verge on the pantomimish sometimes, and Miss Bingley is so bitchy that she’d have fitted very well into Dallas or Dynasty :-) .

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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Book Review

Who doesn’t love old wine? Well, there are many, in fact! I haven’t tasted even a drop of this aesthetic marvel that transports a person to a different realm. However, when it comes to old books, there may be very few who might run away. Like old wine, old classics also have the prowess to transport a person to a different world. Now that we are discussing old books and classics of literature, who doesn’t love Jane Austen? The beloved lady novelist with many a talent to tell the stories of love with freshness and newness every time! Thoughtful Critic has tasked me to review Austen’s works. And let us begin with the worldwide bestselling one – Pride and Prejudice!

Jane-Austen-Elizabeth-Darcy-Pride-and-Prejudice

Title: Pride and Prejudice Author: Jane Austen Publication Date: 1813 Publisher: T. Egerton, Whitehall (first edition) Genre: Novel, Romance, Social Commentary Language: English Pages: Approximately 432 pages (first edition) Buy the Book: Click here to buy from Amazon (Penguin Special Clothbound Edition)

Pride and Prejudice , authored by Jane Austen and published in 1813, is one of the most beloved novels in English literature. The story, set in the early 19th century, follows Elizabeth Bennet, a sharp-witted young woman navigating the complex social landscape of rural England. Austen’s novel is a tale of love and marriage and a keen critique of societal norms, class distinctions, and the delicate balance of propriety and passion. This review delves into the intricate layers of Pride and Prejudice , examining its narrative style, thematic depth, character development, and enduring literary significance.

The Story in Brief

At the heart of Pride and Prejudice is Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five sisters living with her family in the English countryside. The novel begins with the arrival of Mr Charles Bingley, a wealthy bachelor, in the neighbourhood, stirring excitement and speculation among the Bennet family. Bingley quickly attaches to Elizabeth’s elder sister, Jane, while Elizabeth is drawn to Mr. Darcy, Bingley’s reserved and seemingly arrogant friend. The novel follows Elizabeth and Darcy’s tumultuous relationship, marked by misunderstandings, social expectations, and personal growth. Through a series of events—including Darcy’s pivotal letter, revealing the truth behind his actions—Elizabeth and Darcy overcome their initial prejudices and pride, leading to one of literature’s most celebrated unions.

Narrative Style

Austen’s narrative style in Pride and Prejudice is both elegant and accessible. Written in the third person, the novel often focuses on Elizabeth’s perspective, allowing readers to engage closely with her thoughts and emotions. Austen’s use of free indirect discourse, a technique that blends third-person narration with first-person thoughts, brings readers into Elizabeth’s inner world without breaking the narrative flow. This style is particularly effective in portraying Elizabeth’s wit, her evolving feelings towards Darcy, and her reflections on the societal pressures she faces. Its clarity and irony mark Austen’s prose and sharp social commentary, making the novel as enjoyable today as it was over two centuries ago.

Social Class and Marriage: Pride and Prejudice is deeply concerned with the social structures of Regency England, particularly the institution of marriage. Austen critiques the mercenary nature of marriage arrangements, as seen in characters like Charlotte Lucas, who marries the obsequious Mr. Collins out of practicality rather than love. The novel explores how class influences relationships and personal happiness, ultimately advocating for marriages based on mutual respect and affection.
Pride and Prejudice: As the title suggests, the themes of pride and prejudice are central to the novel. Her prejudice against his apparent arrogance clouds Elizabeth’s initial judgment of Darcy, while Darcy’s pride leads him to dismiss those he deems socially inferior. The novel charts their journey towards self-awareness and humility, highlighting the dangers of allowing these flaws to cloud one’s judgment.
Family and Reputation: The Bennet family dynamic plays a significant role in the novel, with each member’s behaviour affecting the family’s social standing. Mrs. Bennet’s embarrassing pursuit of suitors for her daughters, Lydia’s reckless elopement, and Mr. Bennet’s neglect of his parental duties all serve as critiques of family responsibility and the impact of individual actions on collective reputation.
Individuality vs. Social Expectations: Elizabeth Bennet stands out as a character who values her convictions over societal expectations. Her refusal of Mr Collins’s proposal, despite its security, and her initial rejection of Darcy’s first proposal reflect her desire for authenticity in her relationships. Austen celebrates Elizabeth’s independence, even as she navigates the constraints of her society.

Character Development

Elizabeth Bennet: Elizabeth is the novel’s heroine, known for her intelligence, wit, and strong moral compass. Throughout the story, she learns to balance her independent spirit with the realities of her world, leading to her eventual understanding and acceptance of Darcy. Elizabeth’s character development is central to the novel’s exploration of pride, prejudice, and the complexities of human relationships.

Fitzwilliam Darcy: Initially introduced as aloof and arrogant, Mr. Darcy’s character gradually unfolds to reveal a man of deep integrity and sensitivity. His transformation, driven by his love for Elizabeth and her candid rejection of his initial proposal, underscores the novel’s theme of personal growth. Darcy’s character arc is one of the most compelling in literature, as he moves from a figure of disdain to one of profound respect and admiration.

Supporting Characters: The novel has a rich cast of supporting characters, each contributing to its themes and narrative. Jane Bennet’s kindness contrasts with Elizabeth’s sharpness, Mr. Bennet’s cynicism reflects the pitfalls of disengagement, and Lydia’s recklessness highlights the dangers of unchecked youthful exuberance. Characters like Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins offer a satirical look at the absurdities of class and social ambition.

Literary Significance

Pride and Prejudice is a cornerstone of English literature, celebrated for its incisive social commentary and masterful depiction of character. Austen’s exploration of the complexities of love, marriage, and society remains relevant today as readers continue to find resonance in Elizabeth’s journey towards self-discovery and fulfilment. The novel’s enduring popularity speaks to Austen’s genius in capturing the universal experiences of human nature with wit, humour, and empathy.

Critical Analysis

Pride and Prejudice has been the subject of countless analyses, with critics praising Austen’s sharp social observations and ability to craft fully realized characters. While some have critiqued the novel’s focus on marriage as limiting, others argue that Austen uses the institution as a lens to explore broader societal issues. The story explores themes such as class, reputation, and individual agency, ensuring its continued relevance in literary discourse.

Austen’s handling of the narrative, particularly her use of irony and free indirect discourse, is often highlighted as one of her greatest strengths. This technique allows readers to experience the characters’ thoughts and emotions intimately, making the story’s twists and turns all the more engaging. Austen’s subtle critiques of her characters, often delivered with a light, satirical touch, add depth and complexity to the narrative, inviting readers to consider their judgments and preconceptions.

Appreciation for the Author

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a testament to her extraordinary talent for storytelling and social critique. Austen’s ability to weave together humour, romance, and keen observations of human behaviour has earned her among the greatest novelists ever. Her characters are not merely products of their time but resonate with readers across generations, reflecting universal truths about love, society, and personal growth. Austen’s deft use of irony, her masterful dialogue, and her nuanced portrayal of relationships make Pride and Prejudice a novel that continues to captivate and inspire readers worldwide.

In conclusion, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is far more than a simple love story. It is a rich exploration of societal expectations, individual agency, and the complexities of human relationships. Austen’s sharp wit, unforgettable characters, and insightful social commentary make this novel a timeless classic. Whether reading it for the first time or revisiting it years later, Pride and Prejudice offers something new with each read, affirming its place as one of the most cherished works in the literary canon.

Review of other Novels by Austen:

Sense and Sensibility

By Vyom for Thoughtful Critic