Elizabeth BennetElizabeth Bennet Pride and Prejudice

Who is Elizabeth Bennet? She is the protagonist of the novel. Second eldest out of five daughters. Her father is a gentleman and landowner – she is well educated.

Key Adjectives An ironist Clever, intelligent Honest Beautiful Stubborn Rational Compassionate

Ironist “Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise.” Volume 1, Chapter 11, page 56 “You certainly do,” she replied with a smile; “but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome.” Volume 3, Chapter 10, page 309

Clever and Intelligent “Unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the éclat of a proverb.” Volume 1, Chapter 18, page 90 “There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.” Volume 2, Chapter 17, page 217 “There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it.” Volume 2, Chapter 1, page 133

Honest “I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you, that I do not want to dance a reel at all — and now despise me if you dare.” Volume 1, Chapter 10, page 50 “I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this — though I have never liked him, I had not thought so very ill of him.” Volume 1, Chapter 16, page 79 “I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You (Mr. Collins) could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so.” Volume 1, Chapter 19, page 105

Beautiful “But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.” Volume 1, Chapter 6, page 24 “I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.” Volume 1, Chapter 6, page 27

Stubborn “To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an evil.” Volume 1, Chapter 18, page 89 “I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly. I am sorry to have occasioned pain to any one.” Volume 2, Chapter 11, page 186

Rational “You must decide for yourself,” said Elizabeth; “and if, upon mature deliberation, you (Jane) find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by all means to refuse him.” Volume 1, Chapter 20, page 117

Compassionate ‘Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horse- woman, walking was her only alternative. She declared her resolution.’ Chapter 7, page 32

Key Chapters 3 – Bingley and Mr Darcy introduced 18 – Mr Darcy and Elizabeth dance at ball 19 – Mr Collins proposes to Elizabeth 28 – Elizabeth visits Rosings 34 – Mr Darcy proposes to Elizabeth 43 – Elizabeth & Gardiners visit Pemberly – meeting with Mr Darcy 56 – Lady Catherine’s visit to Longbourne to discourage Elizabeth 58 – Elizabeth’s and Mr Darcy’s engagement

Elizabeth’s Change “How despicably I have acted!” She cried; “I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! Who have often disdained the generous candour of my sister and gratified my vanity in useless blameable mistrust! How humiliating is this discovery!” Volume 2, Chapter 13, pages “Till this moment I never knew myself.” Volume 2, Chapter 13, page 202

Purpose Pride and Prejudice is essentially the story of how she and Mr Darcy overcome all obstacles—including their own personal failings—to find romantic happiness. Elizabeth must not only cope with a hopeless mother, badly behaved younger siblings, and several antagonizing females, she must also overcome her own mistaken impressions of Mr Darcy.

Elizabeth and Darcy’s Relationship 1. The pair meet for the first time at a ball, where Elizabeth overhears Darcy insulting her, ‘She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me;’ Volume 1, Chapter 3, page 13. Darcy expresses attraction towards Elizabeth at a second ball, ‘I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.’ Volume 1, Chapter 6, page Elizabeth takes care of Jane at Netherfield and Darcy’s affection grows, ‘They were brightened by the exercise.’ Volume 1, Chapter 8, page 36. Darcy in response to Miss Bingley who felt Elizabeth’s messy appearance must have deterred him. 3. Lizzy meets Wickham and finds him agreeable. She believes his claims that Darcy left him penniless by refusing to give him his inheritance, ‘He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given elsewhere.’ Volume 1, Chapter 16, page 78.

4. Elizabeth visits Charlotte in Rosings after her marriage to Mr Collins. Mr Darcy arrives later, ‘Elizabeth barely curtseyed to him, without saying a word.’ Volume 2, Chapter 7, page Darcy declares his love and proposes to Elizabeth, ‘You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.’ Volume 2, Chapter 11, page 185. Elizabeth refuses. 6. Darcy writes Lizzy a letter telling her the truth about Wickham, Volume 2, Chapter 12, pages

7. Elizabeth travels to Pemberley with the Gardiners and meets Darcy again, ‘it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.’ Volume 3, Chapter 3, page Mr Darcy pays the dowry for Wickham to marry Lydia. 9. Darcy proposes a second time, which Elizabeth now accepts, ‘gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances.’ Volume 3, Chapter 16,