Jane Austen's novel tells the story of a poor noble Bennet family. 5 daughters grew up in the family at once and all must be successfully married. In the XIX century in England there are special rules, based on which it is almost impossible for a poor girl to find family happiness. However, there is a girl in the family, Elizabeth, who differs from her sisters in her special views on life, family happiness and marriage. The events taking place in the life of the Bennet and Elizabeth family are described in this work.

Due to various social prejudices, people are often afraid to show their true feelings. The novel "Pride and Prejudice" teaches you to listen to your heart and feelings, discarding unnecessary pride and prejudice.

Read the Pride and Prejudice Summary by Jane Austen

In the center of the story is an impoverished aristocratic family. The father of the family, Mr. Bennet, is distinguished by prudence, goodwill and a good sense of humor. His wife, on the contrary, is very stupid and naive. The couple has 5 daughters, the eldest Jane and Elizabeth have already matured and are ready for marriage. Jane is distinguished by incredible beauty, innocence and kindness. Since childhood, Elizabeth has been very smart, witty, proud and noble. The girl is often ashamed of her stupid sisters and mother. Both girls dream of marrying for love, but at the same time they are aware of their deplorable situation.

A wealthy young man, Mr. Bingley, unexpectedly arrives at a nearby estate. The aristocrat visits the estate not alone, but with his sisters and closest friend Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley has a cheerful disposition, he is kind and naive. Mr Darcy is the exact opposite of his friend. He is closed, arrogant and confident in his own exclusivity.

Mr. Bennet and his wife introduce their eldest daughters to these wealthy young people. Between Mr. Bingley and Jane immediately there is a mutual sympathy. But the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth develops much more complicated. Heroes often engage in verbal skirmish, expressing their own points of view. At first, such disputes fueled the interest of the characters in each other, but gradually these conversations began to hurt the pride of the girl and Mr. Darcy. Their disputes only spoiled the relationship, but both heroes, for some unknown reason, are drawn to each other. Mr. Darcy falls in love with Elizabeth, but cannot confess his feelings to her because of his own prejudices.

In addition, Mr. Darcy interferes in the relationship between Bingley and Jane. He tries to save his friend from an unequal marriage and takes him to London away from his beloved.

Mr. Darcy soon returned to Elizabeth's estate and confessed his feelings. However, the girl rejected his feelings as she was offended by Darcy's act towards Bingley and her sister.

After the departure of Bingy and Darcy, the situation of the Bennet family deteriorates significantly. Jane suffers from the betrayal of a loved one, Elizabeth condemns Darcy's act. Soon another tragic event occurs - the head of the family dies. The already deplorable financial situation of the family deteriorates sharply. The Bennets are on the brink of bankruptcy and poverty. The situation of the family worsens even more after the arrival of a nephew who is ready to help the Bennets if Elizabeth marries him.

A proud girl refuses a relative and goes to visit her uncle and aunt. Along the way, she decides to visit the Darcy estate, knowing that the owner is not at home. Mr. Darcy unexpectedly returns to the manor and meets with Elizabeth. He again confesses his love to the girl, but Elizabeth cannot forgive the young man for his neglect of his origin. Darcy hastily leaves the estate.

Soon, Elizabeth receives the sad news that her younger sister has run away from home with a young officer, Wickham. Thus, she put the whole family in a shameful position. However, after that the problem is resolved. The officer married his sister, restoring her reputation.

Elizabeth Bennet learns that Mr. Darcy paid Wickham to marry him. This event makes Elizabeth look at Darcy not as a proud, arrogant person, but as a decent aristocrat with a good heart, who is not indifferent to the fate of Elizabeth and her family.

The Bennet family is on the mend. Elizabeth accepted Darcy's marriage proposal, and Bingley soon married Jane.

Picture or drawing Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice

"Pride and Prejudice"

“Remember, if our sorrows come from Pride and Prejudice, then we also owe deliverance from them to Pride and Prejudice, for good and evil are so wonderfully balanced in the world.”

These words really fully reveal the intention of Jane Austen's novel.

A provincial family, as they say, of a “middle hand”: the father of the family, Mr. Bennet, is quite noble blood, phlegmatic, prone to a stoic-doomed perception of both life around him and himself; he treats his own wife with particular irony: Mrs. Bennet really cannot boast of either origin, intelligence or upbringing. She is frankly stupid, blatantly tactless, extremely limited and, accordingly, has a very high opinion of her own person. The Bennets have five daughters: the eldest, Jane and Elizabeth, will become the central characters of the novel.

The action takes place in a typical English province. In the small town of Meriton, in the county of Hertfordshire, sensational news comes: one of the richest estates in the district of Netherfield Park will no longer be empty: it was rented by a rich young man, a “metropolitan thing” and an aristocrat, Mr. Bingley. To all the above-mentioned virtues, there was added one more, the most essential, truly priceless: Mr. Bingley was a bachelor. And the minds of the surrounding mothers were darkened and confused by this news for a long time; mind (more precisely, instinct!) Mrs. Bennet in particular. It's a joke to say - five daughters! However, Mr. Bingley does not arrive alone, he is accompanied by his sisters, as well as his inseparable friend Mr. Darcy. Bingley is simple-hearted, trusting, naive, open to communication, devoid of any snobbery and ready to love everyone and everyone. Darcy is the complete opposite of him: proud, arrogant, withdrawn, full of consciousness of his own exclusivity, belonging to a chosen circle.

The relationship that develops between Bingley-Jane and Darcy-Elizabeth is quite consistent with their characters. For the former, they are imbued with clarity and spontaneity, both are simple-hearted and trusting (which at first will become the soil on which mutual feelings will arise, then the reason for their separation, then will bring them together again). With Elizabeth and Darcy, everything will turn out to be completely different: attraction-repulsion, mutual sympathy and equally obvious mutual hostility; in a word, the very “pride and prejudice” (both!) that will bring them a lot of suffering and mental anguish, through which they will be painfully, while never “departing from the face” (that is, from themselves), to break through to each other . Their first meeting will immediately indicate mutual interest, more precisely, mutual curiosity. Both are equally outstanding: just as Elizabeth differs sharply from the local young ladies in her sharpness of mind, independence of judgments and assessments, so Darcy, in her upbringing, manners, and restrained arrogance, stands out among the crowd of officers of the regiment stationed in Meryton, the very ones that brought them together with their uniforms and epaulettes crazy little Miss Bennet, Lydia and Kitty. However, at first, it was Darcy's arrogance, his emphasized snobbery, when with all his behavior, in which cold courtesy for a sensitive ear can, not without reason, sound almost insulting, it is precisely these qualities that cause Elizabeth and hostility, and even indignation. For if the inherent pride of both of them immediately (internally) brings them together, then Darcy's prejudices, his class arrogance can only repel Elizabeth. Their dialogues - in rare and random meetings at balls and in drawing rooms - are always a verbal duel. The duel of equal opponents is invariably courteous, never going beyond the bounds of decency and secular conventions.

Mr. Bingley's sisters, quickly seeing the mutual feeling that has arisen between their brother and Jane Bennet, do everything to alienate them from each other. When the danger begins to seem quite inevitable to them, they simply “take away” him to London. Subsequently, we learn that Darcy played a very significant role in this unexpected flight.

As it should be in a "classic" novel, the main storyline is overgrown with numerous branches. So, at some point in the house of Mr. Bennet, his cousin Mr. Collins appears, who, according to the English laws on majorate, after the death of Mr. Bennet, who has no male heirs, must enter into the possession of their Longbourn estate, as a result of which Mrs. Bennet and her daughters may end up without a roof over their heads. The letter received from Collins, and then his own appearance, testify to how limited, stupid and self-confident this gentleman is - precisely because of these virtues, as well as another very important one: the ability to flatter and please - who managed to get a parish on the estate of a noble ladies lady de Boer. Later it turns out that she is Darcy's own aunt - only in her arrogance, unlike her nephew, there will not be a glimpse of a living human feeling, not the slightest ability for a spiritual impulse. Mr. Collins comes to Longbourn not by chance: having decided, as required by his dignity (and Lady de Boer too), to enter into a legal marriage, he opted for the family of his cousin Bennett, confident that he would not meet with refusal: after all, his marriage to one of Miss Bennet will automatically make the happy chosen one the rightful mistress of Longbourn. His choice falls, of course, on Elizabeth. Her refusal plunges him into the deepest amazement: after all, not to mention his personal virtues, with this marriage he was going to benefit the whole family. However, Mr. Collins consoled himself very soon: Elizabeth's closest friend, Charlotte Lucas, turns out to be more practical in all respects and, having judged all the advantages of this marriage, gives Mr. Collins her consent. Meanwhile, another man appears in Meryton, a young officer of the Wickham regiment stationed in the city. Appearing at one of the balls, he makes a rather strong impression on Elizabeth: charming, helpful, at the same time not stupid, able to please even such an outstanding young lady as Miss Bennet. Elizabeth develops a special trust in him after she realizes that he is familiar with Darcy - the arrogant, unbearable Darcy! - and not just a sign, but, according to the stories of Wickham himself, is a victim of his dishonesty. The halo of a martyr who suffered through the fault of a person who causes such hostility in her makes Wickham even more attractive in her eyes.

Some time after the sudden departure of Mr. Bingley with his sisters and Darcy, the older Miss Bennet themselves end up in London - to stay at the house of their uncle Mr. Gardiner and his wife, a lady to whom both nieces have sincere emotional attachment. And from London, Elizabeth, already without a sister, goes to her friend Charlotte, the very one that became the wife of Mr. Collins. At Lady de Boer's house, Elizabeth again encounters Darcy. Their conversations at the table, in public, again resemble a verbal duel - and again, Elizabeth turns out to be a worthy opponent. And given that the action still takes place at the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries, then such impudence from the lips of a young lady - on the one hand a lady, on the other - a dowry may seem like real freethinking: “You wanted to embarrass me, Mr. Darcy ... but I I'm not at all afraid of you ... Stubbornness does not allow me to show cowardice when others want it. When you try to intimidate me, I become even more impudent. But one fine day, when Elizabeth is sitting alone in the living room, Darcy suddenly appears on the threshold; “All my struggle was in vain! Nothing comes out. I can't handle my feeling. Know that I am infinitely fascinated by you and that I love you!” But Elizabeth rejects his love with the same determination with which she once rejected the claims of Mr. Collins. At Darcy's request to explain both her refusal and the hostility towards him, so undisguised by her, Elizabeth speaks of Jane's happiness destroyed because of him, of Wickham insulted by him. Again - a duel, again - a scythe on a stone. For, even when proposing, Darcy cannot (and does not want to!) hide the fact that, while making it, he still always remembers that, having married Elizabeth, he thereby inevitably “will enter into kinship with those who are so below him on the social ladder." And it is these words (although Elizabeth understands no less than him how limited her mother is, how ignorant her younger sisters are, and much more than he suffers from this) that hurt her unbearably painfully. In the scene of their explanation, equal temperaments, equal "pride and prejudice", clash. The next day, Darcy hands Elizabeth a voluminous letter - a letter in which he explains to her his behavior towards Bingley (desire to save a friend from the very misalliance that he is ready for now!), - explains without looking for excuses, without hiding his an active role in this matter; but the second is the details of the "Wickham case", which present both of its participants (Darcy and Wickham) in a completely different light. In Darcy's story, it is Wickham who turns out to be both a deceiver and a low, licentious, dishonorable person. Darcy's letter stuns Elizabeth - not only by the truth revealed in it, but, no less, by her awareness of her own blindness, experienced by shame for the involuntary insult that she inflicted on Darcy: “How shameful I have acted! .. I, who was so proud of my insight and relying so much on her own common sense!” With these thoughts, Elizabeth returns home to Longbourn. And from there, together with Aunt Gardiner and her husband, he goes on a short trip around Derbyshire. Among the sights that lie in their path is Pemberley; beautiful old estate owned by... Darcy. And although Elizabeth knows for sure that these days the house should be empty, just at the moment when the housekeeper Darcy proudly shows them the interior, Darcy reappears on the threshold. For several days that they constantly meet - now in Pemberley, now in the house where Elizabeth and her companions are staying - he invariably amazes everyone with his courtesy, and friendliness, and ease of handling. Is this the same proud Darcy? However, the attitude of Elizabeth herself towards him also changed, and where previously she was ready to see only flaws, now she is quite inclined to find many advantages. But then an event occurs: from the letter received from Jane, Elizabeth learns that their younger sister, the unlucky and frivolous Lydia, ran away with a young officer - none other than Wickham. Such - in tears, in confusion, in despair - finds her Darcy in the house, alone. Beside herself with grief, Elizabeth talks about the misfortune that has befallen their family (dishonor is worse than death!), And only then, when, having bowed dryly, he suddenly abruptly leaves, she realizes what happened. Not with Lydia, with herself. After all, now she can never become the wife of Darcy - she, whose own sister has forever disgraced herself, thereby imposing an indelible stigma on the whole family. In particular - on their unmarried sisters. She hurriedly returns home, where she finds everyone in despair and confusion. Uncle Gardiner hastily leaves for London in search of the fugitives, where he unexpectedly quickly finds them. Then, even more unexpectedly, he persuades Wickham to marry Lydia. And only later, from a casual conversation, Elizabeth learns that it was Darcy who found Wickham, it was he who forced him (with the help of a considerable amount of money) into marriage with the girl he had seduced. After this opening, the action is rapidly approaching a happy denouement. Bingley with her sisters and Darcy again comes to Netherfield Park. Bingley proposes to Jane. There is another explanation between Darcy and Elizabeth, this time the last one. Having become Darcy's wife, our heroine also becomes the full mistress of Pemberley - the very one where they first understood each other. And Darcy's young sister Georgiana, with whom Elizabeth "established the intimacy that Darcy expected<…>I learned from her experience that a woman can afford to treat her husband in a way that a younger sister cannot treat her brother.

Provincial English family. Mr. Bennet is of noble blood, phlegmatic. Mrs. Bennet cannot boast of her birth, her upbringing, or her intelligence. She is tactless, but has a high opinion of herself. Of the five daughters, the eldest Elizabeth and Jane are the main characters in the novel.

In the town of Meryton, Hertfordshire, the rich estate of Netherfield Park was rented by a young rich man and aristocrat, Mr. Bingley. He is single. Came with my sisters and friend Mr Darcy. Bingley is trustingly naive, open and ready to love everyone. Darcy is arrogant and withdrawn, confident in his belonging to the elite.

Couples appear: Bingley and Jane, Darcy and Elizabeth. In the first pair, clarity and credulity, in the second, sympathy and hostility are equally divided. It is Darcy's arrogance that causes Elizabeth's indignation at first. The Bingley sisters, quickly seeing the mutual feeling between their brother and Jane, did everything to discord it. And then they even took my brother to London. Darcy played his part in Bingley's escape.

The main plot is overgrown with branches. Cousin Collins showed up at the Bennets' house. According to English law (mayorate), after the death of Bennett, he must own the estate, since there is no male heir. Mrs. Bennet and the girls may be homeless. Collins is limited, stupid, self-confident, but knows how to please and flatter. He received a parish on the estate of Lady de Boer, Darcy's own aunt. There is not even a shadow of living feeling in her arrogance. Collins did not arrive by chance: he wants - this is required by the rank and Lady de Boer - to marry one of the Bennet girls. This will make the future rightful mistress of Longbourn happy. The choice fell on Elizabeth. The refusal amazed him, because he thought to benefit the whole family. He soon consoled himself: Elizabeth's friend Charlotte is practical and, having weighed everything, gives Collins consent. A young Officer Wickham appears in Meryton. He made an impression on Elizabeth: charming, intelligent. He suffered from Darcy, causing the girl's dislike - the halo of the martyr made Wickham even more attractive.

The older Bennet girls go to London to visit their uncle. Elizabeth goes to Charlotte and meets Darcy again. Their conversations are a real duel, and Elizabeth is at her best. Finding Elizabeth alone in the living room, Darcy confesses his love for her. Elizabeth rejects him. He ruined Jane's happiness, and insulted Wickham. The next day, Darcy handed the girl a large letter with an explanation. It stunned Elizabeth - she realizes her blindness and repents of false insight. She returns home and then goes to see Derbyshire.

Among the sights of Pemberley is an old manor. Its owner is Darcy. It is known for certain that the house is empty, but Darcy appears on the threshold. Then they meet constantly. Everyone is amazed by the courtesy, friendliness, simplicity of Darcy. Elizabeth is already inclined to see his virtues. Terrible news came from home: the frivolous younger Lydia had run away with Wickham. In tears, Elizabeth told this to Darcy. Disgrace is worse than death! He suddenly abruptly leaves - which means that she will not be able to become his wife, because the stigma is now on the whole family. Uncle goes to London in search of fugitives, quickly finds them and persuades them to get married.

Only later, during a casual conversation, did Elizabeth find out that it was Darcy who had found Wickham and forced him to marry Lydia, who had been seduced by him, with a considerable sum. The action comes to a happy ending. Bingley proposed to Jane. Darcy and Elizabeth explained themselves. The heroine became the mistress of Pemberley.

The movie Pride and Prejudice was released in 2005. Perhaps this film will interest you. Read the plot summary:

The plot takes place in the village of Longbourne, in the county of Hertfordshire. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are discussing a new neighbor - a young, charming and rather rich Mr. Charles Bingley. He rented an estate nearby, in Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet really hoped that the young man would marry one of her five daughters.

She persuades her husband to pay a visit to the new neighbor, but Mr. Bennet says that he already had the honor to meet and chat with the new neighbor. A couple of days later, the whole family goes to Netherfield for a ball, where they meet Mr. Bingley, his sisters and his friend, Mr. Darcy, from Derbershire.

The Netherfield youth immediately pays special attention to the adult daughter of the Bennets, Jane. The girl also took a liking to the young gentleman, but she did not show it. And Mr. Darcy liked Elizabeth - the next daughter of the Bennets, although the man himself did not immediately understand this. However, Elizabeth immediately did not like the visitor from Derbershire, she considered him too proud and arrogant.

After some time, the girls meet Mr. Wickham, who tells Elizabeth about how ugly Mr. Darcy acted, not fulfilling the last wish of his father, who promised Wickham a church parish. This further strengthened Elizabeth's antipathy towards Darcy. Soon, the sisters learned that Bingley and his friends had left, and all the mother's hopes for Jane's early marriage collapsed like a house of cards.

A few days later, Elizabeth's friend, Charlotte Lucas, announced that she would soon marry the Bennts' cousin, Mr. Collins, and move to Rosings. In the spring, Lisey pays a visit to the Collins. They invite her to visit Lady Catherine de Boer - Mr. Darcy's aunt. While serving in the church, Elizabeth learns from Darcy's friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam, that he separated Bingley and Jane. A few hours later, Darcy confesses his love and proposes to Elizabeth. She refuses, arguing that she cannot become the wife of a man who destroyed the happiness of her beloved sister.

Lisey later learns that her younger sister, Lydia, has run off with Mr. Wickham. The Wickhams then arrive at Longbourn, where a young girl accidentally tells Elizabeth that it was Mr. Darcy who arranged their wedding. Lisey understands that he took on all the expenses and a certain feeling wakes up in her ...

On the same day, friends Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley arrive at the Bennets' house. Bingley proposes to Jane and she accepts. At night, Lady Catherine arrives and in a rather rude form reproaches Elizabeth for agreeing to marry her nephew and demands to prove that this is just stupid gossip. However, Elizabeth refuses to refute this rumor.

At dawn, Darcy comes to Elizabeth. He again declares his love to her and re-proposes. This time the girl agrees.

Film directed by English film director Joe Wright, based on the novel of the same name by Jane Austen, published in 1813. The production of the film cost about 28 million dollars. The film grossed approximately $121.1 million worldwide at the box office. Keira Knightley plays the lead role in the film.

The film is all imbued with this magical spirit of that wonderful England of the 18th century, when men took their first steps, when they danced at balls, wrote letters and waited in trepidation for answers, when gentlemen held out their hands to the ladies, when they walked in long dresses and rejoiced in the rain ...

The image of Elizabeth Bennet is a model of behavior for a girl who strives to show her independence, to become truly free from everything. She is not afraid to say what she thinks, she is almost indifferent to what others say about her. For a 21-year-old girl, this is quite strong and bold.

Darcy, who at first glance seems very proud and arrogant, after meeting Elizabeth becomes attentive to trifles, begins to express himself more accurately and becomes a very pleasant and courteous man.

For more than two centuries, reader interest in the novels of Jane Austen has not waned. The founder of realism in English literature, the founder of the "ladies' novel", even in the 21st century, cannot be called old-fashioned, because fashion passes, but Austen remains. Today you won’t surprise anyone with ladies’ novels, you won’t follow everyone, but for good literature in this genre, it’s better to turn to the original source. Walter Scott, the first connoisseur of the works of Jane Austen, admired her pictorial gift, subtle and deep understanding of human relations, brilliant ironic dialogues inheriting the drama. Jane Austen's family novels always have a happy ending, wedding bells and a wedding ... At the same time, there is no there are places for sweetness and illusions - the author is aware of the realities of life, makes excellent use of his natural gift of observation and a penchant for analysis, always keeps ironic means and a parodic layer in reserve. And most importantly: the heroes of Austen are not only people with their multifaceted characters, but also their key feelings, similar to communicating vessels.

Description added by user:

"Pride and Prejudice" - plot

The novel begins with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet talking about the arrival of a young gentleman, Mr. Bingley, in Netherfield Park. The wife persuades her husband to visit her neighbor and get to know him better. She believes that Mr. Bingley will certainly like one of their daughters, and he will propose to her. Mr. Bennet pays a visit to the young man, and after a while he answers him in kind.

The next meeting between Mr. Bingley and the Bennet family takes place at a ball, where the Netherfield gentleman arrives accompanied by his sisters (Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst), as well as Mr. Darcy and Mr. Hurst. At first, Mr. Darcy makes a favorable impression on those around him because of the rumor that his annual income exceeds 10 thousand pounds. However, later the society changes its point of view, deciding that he is too "important and inflated", because the young man does not want to meet anyone and dances at the ball with only two ladies he knows (the Bingley sisters). Bingley is a huge success. His special attention is drawn to the eldest daughter of the Bennets, Jane. The girl also falls in love with a young man. Mr. Bingley draws Darcy's attention to Elizabeth, however, he says that he is not interested in her. Elizabeth becomes a witness to this conversation. Although she doesn't show it, she begins to develop a strong dislike for Mr. Darcy.

Soon Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst invite Jane Bennet to dine with them. The mother sends her daughter on horseback in the pouring rain, as a result of which the girl catches a cold and cannot return home. Elizabeth walks to Bingley's house to visit her sick sister. Mr. Bingley leaves her to look after Jane. Elizabeth does not enjoy being in Netherfield society, as only Mr. Bingley shows genuine interest and concern for her sister. Miss Bingley is completely infatuated with Mr. Darcy and tries unsuccessfully to get his attention to her. Mrs. Hurst is in solidarity with her sister in everything, and Mr. Hurst is indifferent to everything except sleep, food and playing cards.

Mr Bingley falls in love with Jane Bennet and Mr Darcy takes a liking to Elizabeth. But Elizabeth is sure that he despises her. In addition, during the walk, the Bennet sisters meet Mr. Wickham. The young man makes a favorable impression on everyone. Somewhat later, Mr. Wickham tells Elizabeth the story of Mr. Darcy's misbehavior towards himself. Darcy allegedly did not fulfill the last will of his late father and refused Wickham the promised place of the priest. Elizabeth develops a bad opinion of Darcy (prejudice). And Darcy feels that the Bennets are “out of his circle” (pride), Elizabeth’s acquaintance and friendship with Wickham are also not approved by him.

At a ball at Netherfield, Mr. Darcy begins to realize the inevitability of Bingley and Jane's marriage. The Bennet family, with the exception of Elizabeth and Jane, show a complete lack of manners and etiquette. The next morning, Mr. Collins, a relative of the Bennets, proposes to Elizabeth, which she rejects, much to the chagrin of her mother, Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Collins recovers quickly and proposes to Charlotte Lucas, a close friend of Elizabeth. Mr. Bingley suddenly leaves Netherfield and returns to London with the whole company. Elizabeth begins to suspect that Mr. Darcy and the Bingley sisters have decided to separate him from Jane.

In the spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins in Kent. They are often invited to Rosings Park by Mr Darcy's aunt, Lady Catherine de Boer. Soon Darcy comes to visit her aunt. Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, in a conversation with her, mentions that Darcy takes credit for saving his friend from an unequal marriage. Elizabeth realizes that it is about Bingley and Jane, and her dislike for Darcy grows even more. Therefore, when Darcy unexpectedly comes to her, confesses his love and asks for a hand, she resolutely refuses him. Elizabeth blames Darcy for ruining her sister's happiness, for what he did meanly to Mr. Wickham, and for his arrogant behavior towards her. Darcy replies to her in a letter explaining that Wickham exchanged the inheritance for money he spent on entertainment and then made an attempt to run away with Darcy's sister Georgiana. As for Jane and Mr. Bingley, Darcy decided that Jane "had no deep feeling for him [for Bingley]." In addition, Darcy speaks of the "total lack of tact" that Mrs. Bennet and her younger daughters constantly displayed. Elizabeth is forced to accept the truth of Mr. Darcy's observations.

A few months later, Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle the Gardiners are on a road trip. Among other attractions, they visit Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's estate, certain that the owner is not at home. Suddenly, Mr. Darcy returns. He is very polite and hospitable to Elizabeth and the Gardiners. Elizabeth begins to realize that she likes Darcy. Their renewed acquaintance, however, is interrupted by the news that Lydia, Elizabeth's youngest sister, has run off with Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth and the Gardiners return to Longbourn. Elizabeth worries that her relationship with Darcy has ended because of her younger sister's shameful flight.

Lydia and Wickham, already as husband and wife, visit Longbourn, where Mrs. Wickham accidentally let slips that Mr. Darcy was at the wedding ceremony. Elizabeth learns that it was Darcy who found the fugitives and arranged the wedding. The girl is very surprised, but at this time Bingley proposes to Jane, and she forgets about it.

Lady Catherine de Boer arrives unexpectedly in Longbourn to dispel rumors of Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage. Elizabeth rejects all of her demands. Lady Catherine leaves and promises to tell her nephew about Elizabeth's behavior. However, this gives Darcy hope that Elizabeth has changed her mind. He travels to Longbourn and proposes again, and this time, his pride and her prejudice are overcome by Elizabeth agreeing to the marriage.

Story

Jane Austen began work on the novel when she was barely 21 years old. The publishers rejected the manuscript, and it lay under the cloth for more than fifteen years. It was only after the success of Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811, that Jane Austen was finally able to publish her first brainchild. Before publication, she subjected it to a thorough revision and achieved an extraordinary combination: cheerfulness, spontaneity, epigrammaticity, maturity of thought and skill.

Reviews

Pride and Prejudice Book Reviews

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Anna Aleksandrovna

world of feeling

How many of those who have read, how few of those who have understood.

This book is one of my favourites. I have read it 5 times and still find it interesting every time. Our world is full of love, and this book provides a simple example of that love that we are all looking for. When I close the binding and I know for sure that there is love, it has not died and that you need to continue to believe in it.

Let's move on to the character, which for me is the apogee of the book. For every girl, girl, woman, Mr. Darcy will always be perfect. His attractiveness and intelligence will conquer any heart that is sensual. Everything he does, he does like a gentleman. His life is the path of a hermit, a man who is strong and self-confident, but longs for love in the depths of his soul. It was the thirst for sincere love that opened the way for him to the heart of Elizabeth.

Eltzabeth. Which of us hasn't compared ourselves to her? Simplicity and intelligence, love of books and an accurate idea of the male gender, will and honesty with oneself. And most importantly, what the author gave her, like all her main characters, is a sense of humor. Undoubtedly, this is what attracts us to Elizabeth.

The whole book is a path that is worth going with the characters and more than once. After passing it, you will believe in love.

Useful review?

4 / 0

Araika

Peerless classic

Classic at its best. Most of all I am captivated by her humor and wit in her works.

I believe that it is precisely such good works that make a Human out of us, prompting us to the sublime.

It is thanks to such books that perhaps you realize why you need to read.

Because after that you will never be the same again.

Useful review?

1 / 0

Dasha Mochalova

I would forgive him his pride if he didn't hurt mine!

The novel "Pride and Prejudice" was and remains a classic for all time. A good combination of humor and romance leaves a lasting impression, so that on the third and fourth time you admire not only the beautifully written characters, but also the lively language of the story. The very idea of the novel - about falling in love, which is not afraid of any obstacles - makes it popular for all ages and generations, and a beautiful ending gives faith in beauty.

Useful review?

“Remember, if our sorrows come from Pride and Prejudice, then we also owe deliverance from them to Pride and Prejudice, for good and evil are so wonderfully balanced in the world.” These words really fully reveal the intention of Jane Austen's novel. A provincial family, as they say, of a “middle hand”: the father of the family, Mr. Bennet, is quite noble blood, phlegmatic, prone to a stoically doomed perception of both life around him and himself; he treats his own wife with particular irony: Mrs. Bennet really cannot boast of either origin, intelligence or upbringing. She is frankly stupid, blatantly tactless, extremely limited and, accordingly, has a very high opinion of her own person. The Bennets have five daughters: the eldest, Jane and Elizabeth, will become the central characters of the novel. The action takes place in a typical English province. In the small town of Meriton, in the county of Hertfordshire, sensational news comes: one of the richest estates in the district of Netherfield Park will no longer be empty: it was rented by a rich young man, a “metropolitan thing” and an aristocrat, Mr. Bingley. To all the above-mentioned virtues, there was added one more, the most essential, truly priceless: Mr. Bingley was a bachelor. And the minds of the surrounding mothers were darkened and confused by this news for a long time; mind (more precisely, instinct!) Mrs. Bennet in particular. It's a joke to say - five daughters! However, Mr. Bingley does not arrive alone, he is accompanied by his sisters, as well as his inseparable friend Mr. Darcy. Bingley is simple-hearted, trusting, naive, open to communication, devoid of any snobbery and ready to love everyone and everyone. Darcy is the complete opposite of him: proud, arrogant, withdrawn, full of consciousness of his own exclusivity, belonging to a chosen circle. The relationship that develops between Bingley - Jane and Darcy - Elizabeth is quite consistent with their characters. In the former, they are imbued with clarity and spontaneity, both are simple-hearted and trusting (which at first will become the soil on which mutual feelings will arise, then the cause of their separation, then bring them together again). With Elizabeth and Darcy, everything will turn out to be completely different: attraction-repulsion, mutual sympathy and equally obvious mutual hostility; in a word, the very “pride and prejudice” (both!) that will bring them a lot of suffering and mental anguish, through which they will be painfully, while never “departing from the face” (that is, from themselves), to break through to each other . Their first meeting will immediately indicate mutual interest, more precisely, mutual curiosity. Both are equally outstanding: just as Elizabeth differs sharply from the local young ladies in her sharpness of mind, independence of judgments and assessments, so Darcy - in her upbringing, manners, restrained arrogance, stands out among the crowd of officers of the regiment stationed in Meryton, the very ones that brought her uniforms and epaulettes together crazy little Miss Bennet, Lydia and Kitty. However, at first, it is Darcy’s arrogance, his emphasized snobbery, when with all his behavior, in which cold courtesy for a sensitive ear can, not without reason, sound almost insulting, it is precisely these qualities of his that cause Elizabeth both dislike, and even indignation. For if the inherent pride of both of them immediately (internally) brings them together, then Darcy's prejudices, his class arrogance can only repel Elizabeth. Their dialogues - in rare and random meetings at balls and in drawing rooms - are always a verbal duel. A duel of equal opponents - invariably courteous, never going beyond the limits of decency and secular conventions. Mr. Bingley's sisters, quickly seeing the mutual feeling that has arisen between their brother and Jane Bennet, do everything to alienate them from each other. When the danger begins to seem quite inevitable to them, they simply “take away” him to London. Subsequently, we learn that Darcy played a very significant role in this unexpected flight. As it should be in a "classic" novel, the main storyline is overgrown with numerous branches. So, at some point in the house of Mr. Bennet, his cousin Mr. Collins appears, who, according to the English laws on majorate, after the death of Mr. Bennet, who has no male heirs, must enter into the possession of their Longbourn estate, as a result of which Mrs. Bennet and her daughters may end up without a roof over their heads. The letter received from Collins, and then his own appearance, testify to how limited, stupid and self-confident this gentleman is - precisely because of these virtues, as well as another very important one: the ability to flatter and please - who managed to get a parish on the estate of a noble Ladies Lady de Boer, Later it turns out that she is Darcy's own aunt - only in her arrogance, unlike her nephew, there will not be a glimpse of a living human feeling, not the slightest ability for a spiritual impulse. Mr. Collins comes to Longbourn not by chance: having decided, as required by his dignity (and Lady de Boer too), to enter into a legal marriage, he opted for the family of his cousin Bennett, confident that he would not meet with refusal: after all, his marriage to one of Miss Bennet will automatically make the happy chosen one the rightful mistress of Longbourn. His choice falls, of course, on Elizabeth. Her refusal plunges him into the deepest amazement: after all, not to mention his personal virtues, with this marriage he was going to benefit the whole family. However, Mr. Collins consoled himself very soon: Elizabeth's closest friend, Charlotte Lucas, turns out to be more practical in all respects and, having judged all the advantages of this marriage, gives Mr. Collins her consent. Meanwhile, another man appears in Meryton, a young officer of the Wickham regiment stationed in the city. Appearing at one of the balls, he makes a rather strong impression on Elizabeth: charming, helpful, at the same time not stupid, able to please even such an outstanding young lady as Miss Bennet. Elizabeth develops a special trust in him after she realizes that he is familiar with Darcy - arrogant, unbearable Darcy! - and not just a sign, but, according to the stories of Wickham himself, is a victim of his dishonesty. The halo of a martyr who suffered through the fault of a person who causes such hostility in her makes Wickham even more attractive in her eyes. Some time after the sudden departure of Mr. Bingley with his sisters and Darcy, the older Miss Bennet themselves end up in London - to stay at the house of their uncle Mr. Gardiner and his wife, a lady to whom both nieces have sincere emotional affection. And from London, Elizabeth, already without a sister, goes to her friend Charlotte, the very one that became the wife of Mr. Collins. At Lady de Boer's house, Elizabeth again encounters Darcy. Their conversations at the table, in public, again resemble a verbal duel - and again, Elizabeth turns out to be a worthy opponent. And given that the action still takes place at the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries, then such audacity from the lips of a young lady - on the one hand a lady, on the other - a dowry may seem like real freethinking: “You wanted to embarrass me, Mr. Darcy ... but I I'm not at all afraid of you ... Stubbornness does not allow me to show cowardice when others want it. When you try to intimidate me, I become even more impudent. But one fine day, when Elizabeth is sitting alone in the living room, Darcy suddenly appears on the threshold; “All my struggle was in vain! Nothing comes out. I can't handle my feeling. Know that I am infinitely fascinated by you and that I love you!” But Elizabeth rejects his love with the same determination with which she once rejected the claims of Mr. Collins. At Darcy's request to explain both her refusal and the hostility towards him, so undisguised by her, Elizabeth speaks of Jane's happiness destroyed because of him, of Wickham insulted by him. Again - a duel, again - a scythe on a stone. For, even when proposing, Darcy cannot (and does not want to!) hide the fact that, while making it, he still always remembers that, having married Elizabeth, he thereby inevitably “will enter into kinship with those who are so below him on the social ladder." And it is these words (although Elizabeth understands no less than him how limited her mother is, how ignorant her younger sisters are, and much more than he suffers from this) that hurt her unbearably painfully. In the scene of their explanation, equal temperaments, equal "pride and prejudice" clash. The next day, Darcy hands Elizabeth a voluminous letter - a letter in which he explains to her his behavior towards Bingley (desire to save a friend from the very misalliance that he is ready for now!), - explains, without looking for excuses for himself, without hiding his an active role in this matter; but the second is the details of the "Wickham case", which put both of its participants (Darcy and Wickham) in a completely different light. In Darcy's story, it is Wickham who turns out to be both a deceiver and a low, licentious, dishonorable person. Darcy's letter stuns Elizabeth - not only by the truth revealed in it, but, no less, by her awareness of her own blindness, experienced by shame for the involuntary insult that she inflicted on Darcy: “How shameful I have acted! .. I, who was so proud of my insight and relying so much on her own common sense!” With these thoughts, Elizabeth returns home to Longbourn. And from there, together with Aunt Gardiner and her husband, he goes on a short trip around Derbyshire. Among the sights that lie in their path is Pemberley; beautiful old estate owned by... Darcy. And although Elizabeth knows for sure that these days the house should be empty, just at the moment when the housekeeper Darcy proudly shows them the interior, Darcy reappears on the threshold. For several days that they constantly meet - either in Pemberley, or in the house where Elizabeth and her companions are staying - he invariably amazes everyone with his courtesy, and friendliness, and ease of handling. Is this the same proud Darcy? However, the attitude of Elizabeth herself towards him has also changed, and where previously she was ready to see only flaws, now she is quite inclined to find many advantages. Is this the very proud Darcy? However, the attitude of Elizabeth herself towards him also changed, and where previously she was ready to see only flaws, now she is quite inclined to find many advantages. But then an event occurs: from a letter received from Jane, Elizabeth learns that their younger sister, the unlucky and frivolous Lydia, ran away with a young officer - none other than Wickham. Such - in tears, in confusion, in despair - finds her Darcy in the house, alone. Beside herself with grief, Elizabeth talks about the misfortune that has befallen their family (dishonor is worse than death!), And only then, when, having bowed dryly, he suddenly abruptly leaves, she realizes what happened. Not with Lydia, with herself. After all, now she will never be able to become Darcy's wife - she, whose own sister has forever disgraced herself, thereby imposing an indelible stigma on the whole family. In particular - on their unmarried sisters. She hurriedly returns home, where she finds everyone in despair and confusion. Uncle Gardiner hastily leaves for London in search of the fugitives, where he unexpectedly quickly finds them. Then, even more unexpectedly, he persuades Wickham to marry Lydia. And only later, from a casual conversation, Elizabeth learns that it was Darcy who found Wickham, it was he who forced him (with the help of a considerable amount of money) into marriage with the girl he had seduced. After this opening, the action is rapidly approaching a happy denouement. Bingley and his sisters and Darcy return to Netherfield Park. Bingley proposes to Jane. Another explanation takes place between Darcy and Elizabeth, this time the last one. Having become Darcy's wife, our heroine also becomes the full mistress of Pemberley - the very one where they first understood each other. And Darcy's young sister Georgiana, with whom Elizabeth "established the intimacy that Darcy expected, learned from her experience that a woman can afford to treat her husband in a way that a younger sister cannot treat her brother." But then an event occurs: from a letter received from Jane, Elizabeth learns that their younger sister, the unlucky and frivolous Lydia, ran away with a young officer - none other than Wickham. Such - in tears, in confusion, in despair - finds her Darcy in the house, alone. Beside herself with grief, Elizabeth talks about the misfortune that has befallen their family (dishonor is worse than death!), And only then, when, having bowed dryly, he suddenly abruptly leaves, she realizes what happened. Not with Lydia, with herself. After all, now she will never be able to become Darcy's wife - she, whose own sister has forever disgraced herself, thereby imposing an indelible stigma on the whole family. In particular - on their unmarried sisters. She hurriedly returns home, where she finds everyone in despair and confusion. Uncle Gardiner hastily leaves for London in search of the fugitives, where he unexpectedly quickly finds them. Then, even more unexpectedly, he persuades Wickham to marry Lydia. And only later, from a casual conversation, Elizabeth learns that it was Darcy who found Wickham, it was he who forced him (with the help of a considerable amount of money) into marriage with the girl he had seduced. After this opening, the action is rapidly approaching a happy denouement. Bingley and his sisters and Darcy return to Netherfield Park. Bingley proposes to Jane. Another explanation takes place between Darcy and Elizabeth, this time the last one. Having become Darcy's wife, our heroine also becomes the full mistress of Pemberley - the very one where they first understood each other. And Darcy's young sister Georgiana, with whom Elizabeth "established the intimacy that Darcy expected, learned from her experience that a woman can afford to treat her husband in a way that a younger sister cannot treat her brother."

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