Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first
published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as
she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage
in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. Elizabeth is the
second of five daughters of a country gentleman living near the fictional town
of Meryton in Hertfordshire, near London.
Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells
the story of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s five unmarried daughters after the rich and
eligible Mr. Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr. Darcy, have moved
into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest
Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and
repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth.
Pride and Prejudice retains a fascination for modern readers,
continuing near the top of lists of “most loved books”. It has become one of
the most popular novels in English literature, selling over 20 million copies,
and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in
the book has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of
novels and stories imitating Austen''s memorable characters or themes.
In 2003, the BBC carried out a survey on books “The Big Read”, over
three quarters of a million votes were received from the British public to find
the “nation''s best-loved novel” of all time, Pride and Prejudice ranks No. 2 in
the lists of 200 books.
It is a truth universally acknowledged,
that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However
little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a
neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding
families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of
their daughters.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is
let at last?” Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and
she told me all about it.”
Mr. Bennet
made no answer.
“Do you not want to know who has taken
it?” cried his wife impatiently.
“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to
hearing it.”
This was
invitation enough.
“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long
says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north
of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place,
and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately;
that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are
to be in the house by the end of next week.”
“What is his name?”
“Bingley.”
“Is he married or single?”
“Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A
single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing
for our girls!”
“How so? How can it affect them?”
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must
know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.”
“Is that his design in settling here?”
“Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so!
But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and
therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.”
“I see no occasion for that. You and the
girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still
better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the
best of the party.”
“My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary
now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking
of her own beauty.”
“In such cases, a woman has not often
much beauty to think of.”
“But, my dear, you must indeed go and
see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.”
“It is more than I engage for, I assure
you.”
“But consider your daughters. Only think
what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas
are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they
visit no newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to
visit him if you do not.”
“You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare
say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by
you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses
of the girls; though
I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”
“I desire you will do no such thing.
Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so
handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.”
“They have none of them much to
recommend them,” replied he; “they
are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of
quickness than her sisters.”
“Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own
children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion
for my poor nerves.”
“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high
respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them
with consideration these last twenty years at least.”
“Ah, you do not know what I suffer.”
“But I hope you will get over it, and
live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.”
“It will be no use to us, if twenty such
should come, since you will not visit them.”
“Depend upon it, my dear, that when
there are twenty, I will visit them all.” Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture
of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of
three and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his
character.
Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a
woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she
was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to
get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.
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