Pride and Prejudice

The Bennet family has five daughters, no sons, and an estate that will pass to a distant cousin the moment Mr Bennet dies. Mrs Bennet has therefore decided that the arrival of wealthy bachelor Charles Bingley in the neighbourhood is a personal gift from the universe. Bingley falls for the eldest daughter Jane immediately. His friend Darcy finds the whole neighbourhood beneath him and says so loudly enough for the second daughter Elizabeth to hear. Elizabeth decides Darcy is insufferable. Darcy decides Elizabeth is beneath him. Both of them are wrong and it will take the entire novel for either of them to admit it.

Enter George Wickham, charming militia officer, who tells Elizabeth a convincing story about Darcy ruining his life. Elizabeth believes every word because Wickham tells her exactly what she already wants to hear, which is the novel’s central irony — the woman most proud of her sharp judgment is the one most thoroughly deceived. Darcy meanwhile separates Bingley from Jane out of snobbery, convincing himself Jane doesn’t truly love him. Elizabeth adds this to her list of reasons to despise Darcy.

Enter George Wickham, charming militia officer, who tells Elizabeth a convincing story about Darcy ruining his life. Elizabeth believes every word because Wickham tells her exactly what she already wants to hear, which is the novel’s central irony — the woman most proud of her sharp judgment is the one most thoroughly deceived. Darcy meanwhile separates Bingley from Jane out of snobbery, convincing himself Jane doesn’t truly love him. Elizabeth adds this to her list of reasons to despise Darcy.

Enter George Wickham, charming militia officer, who tells Elizabeth a convincing story about Darcy ruining his life. Elizabeth believes every word because Wickham tells her exactly what she already wants to hear, which is the novel’s central irony — the woman most proud of her sharp judgment is the one most thoroughly deceived. Darcy meanwhile separates Bingley from Jane out of snobbery, convincing himself Jane doesn’t truly love him. Elizabeth adds this to her list of reasons to despise Darcy.