Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Classic. Romance. Satire.

Read for AP Lit

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 306

Started: 20 February 2023

Finished: 21 March 2023

Summary:

When the affluent Mr. Bingley arrives to spend a season at the Netherfield Estate, an flurry of excitement begins among the residents of the small town of Meryton, and Mrs. Bennet is determined to have one of her five daughters married off to the man. Her hopes ride on Jane, her eldest and the sweetest and most good-natured of her daughters. When Bingley arrives in Meryton, bringing with him both his younger sister and his best friend, Mr. Darcy, the flurry becomes an uproar. Darcy is even more well-off than Bingley, but he is undeniably, unignorably rude. He refused to dance, and blatantly insults Elizabeth, the second Bennet daughter and the novel’s protagonist. Compared to his bad manners, the less affluent but more charming—and Darcy-hating—Wickham seems a much more interesting option. At the end of the season, Bingley packs up and leaves without offering any proposals, and the Bennets are devistated. Elizbeth is coincidentally proposed to by her father’s cousin Mr. Collins, though she (rightfully) finds him so deplorable that she rejects him instantly, and he instead marries Elizabeth’s neighbor Charlotte. But when Elizabeth, on a trip to visit Charlotte in her knew home with Mr. Collins, discovers that it was Mr. Darcy who convinced Bingley not to marry Jane, she becomes enraged, vehemently turning down Darcy’s clumsy attempt at a proposal. But the next day, Mr. Darcy hands Elizabeth a letter—a letter that explains everything. Mr. Darcy was just looking out for those he cared about: he worried Jane didn’t love Bingley enough for marriage, and he was only rude to Wickham because of his near-elopement with Darcy’s sister. With a changed mind and a changing heart, Elizabeth must navigate her silly family and the conventions in her society, all with the painfully tentative hope that Mr. Darcy might propose again. She helps Jane and Bingley go finalize their engagement, and then finally, finds her own happiness with her Mr. Darcy.

Thoughts:

I really loved this book. I tried to read it in maybe seventh grade, and the satire of it went right over my head, but the book is so witty and sharp. The portrayals of the characters is brilliant, and Austen has so many cutting remarks that I kept laughing at how completely she tore her characters to shreds. I am so glad I finally read the book!

One thing I found quite startling was how completely I related to Elizabeth. I underlined line after line of her dialogue because they seemed like things that I would say, or had actually said:

"Her heart was divided between concern for her sisters, and resentment against all the others" (94).

"There are few people whom really love, and still fewer of whom I think well" (95).

"And though I should certainly be a more interesting object to all my acquaintance, were I distractedly in love with him, I cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance" (105).

"They then sat down, and when her enquiries after Rosings were made, seemed in danger of sinking into total silence. It was absolutely necessary, therefore, to think of something" (123).

"In less than a fortnight she should herself be with Jane again, and enabled to contribute to the recovery of her spirits, by all that affection could do" (131).

"It was gratifying to have inspired unconsciously so strong an affection" (134).

"How despicably I have acted! [...] I have have valued myself on my abilities! [...] I could not have been more wretchedly blind" (144).

"And not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections (147).

"To know she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish Jane, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own vanity she had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation to openness as nothing could have conquered" (150).

"At such a time, much might have been said, and silence was very awkward" (175).

"Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do. She wanted to ascertain the feelings of each of her visitors, she wanted to compose her own, and to make herself agreeable to all" (178).

"But she was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much" (182).

"Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish, self reproach, she could find no interval of ease or forgetfulness" (194).

"Under such a misfortune as this, one cannot see too little of one's neighbors" (199).

"It gives such an elegance to misfortune!" (204).

"Elizabeth received her congratulations among the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took refuge in her own room, that she might think with freedom" (209).

"'Oh certainly,' said Elizabeth, though burning with curiosity: 'we will ask you no questions" (218).

"Elizabeth said as little to either as civility would allow, and sat down again to her work, with an eagerness" (228).

"Elizabeth smiled [knowingly]" (234).

"The discomposure of spirits, which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she for many hours, learn to think of it less than incessantly" (245).

"I am more likely to want time than courage" (261).

Classwork:

Pride and Prejudice Notes (1-8)

Chapter 3–What distinctions does Austen draw between Elizabeth and Jane in Chapters 3 and 4? How does Austen signal that Elizabeth, not Jane, is to be the heroine? How does she characterize their relationship as sisters?

In contrast to Jane, Elizabeth is more complex and has thoughts that are significantly more emphasized. Thus, Austen makes clear that Elizabeth, not Jane, is the protagonist of her novel.

“‘Jane was so admired. nothing could be like it. Every body said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful” (10).

a protagonist who is lovely and admired by all isn’t very exciting. this perfection hints at Jane not being the main character.

“Mr. Darcy walked off, and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story however with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in any thing ridiculous” (9)

contrasted against Jane’s perfection, this quirk is cute and much more personable/relatable without seeming overly imperfect.

“‘I [Jane] would not want to be hasty in censuring any one; but I always speak what I think’” (11).

again this is pretty hyperbolic goodness, and while it proves that Jane is a good person, it also shows that she would be an unexciting protagonist.

“Elizabeth listened in slilence, but was not convinced; their behavior at the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with more quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, and with a judgement too unassailed by any attention to herself, she was very little disposed to approve them” (11-12).

an opinion written out in prose is rare enough that this take almost sinks into the narration itself, thus centering Elizabeth and cementing her protagonist status
her perspective is also significantly more complex than Jane’s, suggesting she will be an interesting and complicated character.

Chapter 8–Study how Austen contrasts the various reactions (from Bingley, his sisters and Darcy) to Lizzy’s three-mile trek to Netherfield. Deduce what this reveals about Elizabeth and decorum, the sisters’ agendas, and Darcy’s and Bingley’s interests in the matter.

Considering Elizabeth’s status as protagonist, Austen simultaneously comments on high society’s need for propriety and on the status of some of her other characters.

“‘She really looked almost wild [...] Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair is so untidy, so blowsy!” (26).

from the Bingley sisters
“scampering,” “untidy,” and “wild,” all have connotations of incivility, showing the girls’ priority of propriety and ladylike-ness. it implies they will dislike Elizabeth for her decorum no matter how lovely of a person she is, which in turn indicates that we should dislike them while we like Elizabeth.

“I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning [...] It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing” (26).

Bingley has less of a preoccupation with feminine perfection. This shows Bingley is neutral, not overly concerned with Elizabeth but generally okay with her.

Talking about his admirations of Elizabeth: “‘They were brightened by the exercise—” (26).

compared to his brusque, unaffected manner at the party, the fact that his sentence abruptly ends, demonstrating emotion, is a very complimentary sign.
it seems Darcy’s interests are not the most proper.

Pride and Prejudice Notes (9-17)

In previous chapters, Austen creates a parallel between Jane and Elizabeth, drawing attention to Elizabeth’s comparative complexity, ultimately suggesting that she, not Jane, is the book’s protagonist. In chapter XI, Austen instead contrasts Elizabeth and Miss. Bingley, emphasizing Eliabeth’s goodness.

“At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his [Darcy’s], she gave a great yawn, and said, “How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading” (40).

Reading is, by nature, a solitary activity, not to be broken by speech or trivial requests. Yet Miss Bingley ignores that rule
While stating her love for reading, she ironically breaks the silence. Since such irony suggests her character is not to be respected, Austen ultimately casts Elizabeth—capable of reading for long stretches—in a positive light.

“Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in any thing, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his two motives” (41).

The extreme “any thing” casts a ridiculous and hyperbolic light on Miss. Bingsley, and “incapable” pokes fun at her mental and physical ability.
Since this line is in response to Elizabeth desiring Darcy’s disappointment, Elizabeth seems intelligent and composed in comparison to Miss Bingsley’s overreaching.

In comparison to the lofty and poised Mr. Darcy, Mr. Collins is uneducated and unlikeable, and thus generally far inferior.

“Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but litle assisted by education or society” (50)

Since this chapter comes so soon after Darcy’s banter with Elizabeth, this description of Mr. Collins’ lack of education is particularly noticeable.

“Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth—and it was soon done—-done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring thae fire.

Austen makes Collins seem very unlikeable here.
“Only” suggests simplicity, but switching desire from one person to another is not such a simple thing.
Furthermore, “stirring the fire” is a very quick action, and Collins’ ability to change his mind on such a big idea, so quickly, makes him seem comedically incompetent and laughable speeed like collins is

Pride and Prejudice Notes (18-23)

By illustrating that what people say isn’t necessarily what they mean, Austen adds a layer of complexity to her novel that truly brings her characters to life.

“My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world of your excellent judgment in all matters within the scope of understanding, but permit me to say that [...]” ( 70).

Mr. Collins does not have any sort of high opinion, which is made clear by all reasoning after his statement of high opinion.
the ability to lie or mislead is one children must develop; while it is often frowned upon, it is arguably a sign of maturity
Austin’s deft demonstration of this maturity is a perfect example of her own maturity and cleverness

“Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy’s using him ill, it is perfectly false” (68).

Wickham was described as handsome and trustworthy, and he portrayed Darcy in a very negative light
this is the opposite, and it’s delivered with equal conviction. this leaves the audience to determine who is telling the truth, creating suspense and lovely complexity

By connecting worthiness of trust to physical beauty, Austen emphasizes the importance of appearance.

“ And yet, it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham” (61).

‘veracity’ means accuracy or truth, and ‘amiable’ connotes pleasantness. thus this sentence baldly forges a connection between truthfulness and physical features.

“If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy correct it. Besides, there was truth in his looks” (62).

not even a page later, Austen repeats the concept through this line, further linking truth and attractiveness
repetition cements an idea, so this idea must certainly be an important one

“Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart” (79).

this line adds the concept of gender to the idea
‘elegant’ fits into the idea of attractiveness and thus truthfulness, yet it is connected with femininity and thus must be discounted.
considering the earlier baseline of (male) handsomeness equating to truth, the fact that female beauty needs to be discounted for truth to be accepted reveals the ironic duality of gender expectations in Austen’s time

Pride and Prejudice Notes (VII Ch X-XIX)

In the first chapters of the novel, Jane was the obvious foil to Elizabeth. Austen used her kindness and perfection to show the readers, by contrast, that Elizabeth was imperfect and human. Yet when Austen introduces Lydia as a protagonist in VII Ch XVI, demonstrating her character and values through dialogue, it becomes clear that Lydia can also be viewed as a foil to Elizabeth. Where her contrast against Jane showed Elizabeth’s flaws or complications, her contrast against Lydia illustrates her quality. Austen presents Lydia as frivolous and insincere through her dialogue at the start of Ch XVI: “‘And we meant to treat you all,’ added Lydia; ‘but you must lend us the money, for we have just spent ours as the shop out there [...] I have bought this bonnet. I do not think it very pretty, but I thought I might as well buy it as not’” (151). “Treat[ing]” a sibling to lunch is a thoughtful sentiment, but all thoughtfulness is negated at Lydia’s admittance that she spent all her money. Her imperative command that her siblings “must” lend her the money she frivolously spent is quite ironic. Furthermore, purchases made without any real affection for the item purchased are exceedingly frivolous, and thus the cheery neutrality of Lydia’s description of her bonnet presents her as quite vapid. Since Austen never presents Elizabeth as this absurdly thoughtless, Elizabeth’s character is given more merit simply by comparison. Austen continues this idea by contrasting Lydia and Elizabeth’s care for their family. Elizabeth worries about Jane, and wants to ensure her well-being: “But Jane was to go home with her, and at Longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation” ( 150). “Observation” connotes close attenion, which stems from interest or care. Thus Elizabeth’s desire to watch her syster demonstrates her care for those she loves. Lydia, on the other hand, forgets to so much as write to her closest sister: “When Lydia went away, she promised to write very often and very minutely to her mother and Kitty; but her letters were always long expected, and always very short” (163). The flipping of qualifiers from “often” and “minutely” to “long-expected” and “short” creates the impression of a reckless change of value. Since hand-written and expressive letters to family members symbolize love and care, Lydia’s infrequent letter writing implies that she doesn’t think much about her family when she’s not with them. By contrast, Elizabeth’s consideration for Jane cements Austen’s portrayal of her character as caring and sincere.

Austen makes clear that Darcy’s letter had a significant effect on Elizabeth. Before reading the letter, Elizabeth angrily tells Mr. Darcy that he is the “last man in the world” that she would marry—not exactly a glowing compliment. In fact, the hyperbolic qualifier “last” creates a decidedly uncomplimentary sentiment. Yet immediately after reading Mr. Darcy’s letter, Elizabeth thinks about his words, reflecting that “the unhappy defects of her family [are] a subject of yet heavier chagrin” (147). Negative commentary on the Bennet family was heavily emphasized in Mr. Darcy’s letter, specifically the idea that the family’s chaos was one of the reasons Darcy didn’t want Jane to marry Bingley. Elizabeth’s thought here comes almost immediately after her reading of the letter; her seemingly factual statement about her family’s flaws demonstrates the weight she places on Darcy’s opinion. Later, Elizabeth, armed with the information from Darcy’s letter, creates a mild confrontation with Wickham: “When I said that he [Mr. Darcy] improved on acquaintance, I did not mean that either his mind or manners were in a state of imporvement, but that from knowing him better, his disposition was better understood” (161). One does not defend another person without having a high opinion of them, and the “understand[ing]” that Elizabeth mentions. Knowing Elizabeth’s opinion of Mr. Darcy was exceedingly low prior to reading the letter, the only possible reason for her sharp increase in affection is the letter she read—the letter that gave her understanding. A document like the one Mr. Darcy gave Elizabeth is incredibly personal, and able to convey both understanding and emotion. By illustrating the difference in Elizabeth’s behavior before and after reading Mr. Darcy’s letter, Austen crafts a compelling argument for the power of a passionately written letter.

Pride and Prejudice VIII ChV Paragraph

At home in Longbourn Chapter 5/47

Trace how the contrasting reactions to Lydia’s situation reflect much about the character/quality of Jane, Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Mary.

How does Austen confirm Lydia’s character through the letter Lydia writes to Harriet Forster?

Austen mocks Lydia through the upbeat and frivolous tone of Lydia’s letter to Harriet Foster, confirming that Lydia is a character incapable of mature emotional intelligence. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, relationships were dictated by fathers and wedding-less elopements ruined women. Therefore, Lydia’s decision to run off with Wickham should have been made with serious thought. Her family is certainly worried; Her father spent weeks searching for her and her mother took ill. Yet the first line of Lydia’s letter takes on an incongruously unconcerned tone: “You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am missed [...] What a good joke it will be!” (198). Laughter and joking are associated with light-hearted emotion, and Austen’s repetition of the concept only serves to emphasize the lack of serious thought with which Lydia regards her recent decision. Furthermore, Lydia is patently wrong about how those around her might react to her disappearance—her friend worriedly passed on the letter, her family panicked, but Lydia gave no mention of her family’s possible worry. Instead, her short letter was partially taken up by trivialities: “I shall send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown” (198). Clothes are significantly less important than marriage or the ruination of a reputation, yet Lydia writes for longer about them than about the significance of her match with Wickham. By juxtaposing the letter’s focus on the light-hearted and the mundane with the desperate concern of the letter’s readers, Austen indicates the extent of Lydia’s emotional immaturity and vapid worldview.

Pride and Prejudice VIII Ch VII-XIII

By presenting Mrs. Bennet, the woman arguably most representative of the structure and patterns of high society, as foolish and unintelligent, Austen comments on high society itself. Mrs. Bennet is a character clearly tied to society; her life’s goal is to get her daughters gainfully married. Her interactions involving the men her daughters might wed are endlessly scheming: “Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to supper but their carriage was unluckily ordered before any of the others, and she had no opportunity of detaining them” (233). “Design” carries a connotation of strategy and planning, through which Austen creates a conniving impression in the social context. A person without care for society, and aspirations within it, would not bother to scheme so. Yet even Mrs. Bennet’s off-hand comments are thoughtless and unintelligent. She tells Jane about a conversation regarding her beauty: “My dear Jane, I never saw you look in greater beauty. Mrs. Long said so too, for I asked her whether you did not” (233). One simply cannot say to a mother’s face that her daughter looks plain or un-pretty. By bringing up the subject first, especially in a way where ‘yes’ and ‘no’ are the only possible answers, Mrs. Bennet ensured a complimentary response, not a genuine one. By presenting her sharing of it in such a rambling, excited fashion, Austen creates an impression of obliviousness to the ineffectuality of the compliment. This foolishness also extends into insensitivity: “Wickham, Lydia were all forgotten. Jane was beyond competition her favorite child. At that moment, she cared for no other” (238). The asyndeton of “Wickham, Lydia” creates the effect of an emotionless list, emphasizing how little thought Mrs. Bennet puts into them as she centers Jane and her engagement. Furthermore, picking a favorite child is not a kind thing to do. By stating Mrs. Bennet’s preference so matter-of-factly, Austen emphasizes her lack of forethought– and her lack of thought for others. By attributing such obvious unintelligence and inanity to a character associated strongly with society, Austen suggests that society itself is inane and foolish.

Separately from Mrs. Bennet, Austen also ridicules the general society of ___shire by presenting them as capricious and unkind. She describes the spread of the news of Lydia’s marriage to Wickham: “To be sure it would have been more for the advantage of the conversation, had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or as the happiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant farm house” (210-211). This sentence centers the “advantage of the conversation,” rather than Lydia herself. Thus, Austen highlights society’s value of entertainment over people. Considering that “com[ing] upon the town” (engaging in prostitution or thievery) and “seclud[ing] from the world” (retreating for pregnancy) are both very serious things which could ruin not just a person but an entire family, Austen emphasizes society’s deficiency of care or kindness by focusing on the possible entertainment of the situation. Not much later in the novel, Austen again describes the spread of news, this time Jane’s: “The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world, though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune” (239). Austen uses the same tone as before, describing the opinion of society with detachment, though this time the general opinion is a more positive one. Though “misfortune” is usually a long-lasting condition, society’s view of the Bennett’s here switches very speedily. Through the abruptness of this change, Austen points out the capriciousness of societal opinions.

Title: Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Era/ Century: The Regency Period (early 19th century)

Setting(s):

In Hertfordshire–

Longbourn - the Bennet family home; relatively affluent

Meryton - the small town near Longbourn

Netherfield - a large, fancy estate near Longbourn where Mr. Bingley moves in

Lucas Lodge - the house nearest the Bennets, where the Lucases live.

In Kent–

Hunsford - Mr. Collin’s small house on Lady Catherine’s estate

Rosings Park - the huge estate of Catherine de Bourgh.

In Derbyshire–

Pemberley - Mr. Darcy’s estate. Described, in detail, as extremely beautiful and very natural (not over-curated)

In London–

The Gardiners' house - comfortable and relatively well-off, nothing overly affluent

The Hursts' house - affluent but uncomfortable

Key characters (note foils):

Mr. Bennet- the father, cynical and unkind. loves to make fun of people and their sillyness, including his own wife and daughters. strongly favors elizabeth. he and his wife are arguably parallels.

Mrs. Bennet - the mother, vapid, capricious, dramatic, disengenuous, clueless, and obsessed with society and the marriage of her daughters

Jane - perfect (overly, boring) female protagonst, a foil to Elizabeth to reflect Elizabeth’s imperfections as being less boring

Elizabeth - interesting female protagonist, not too perfect like Jane but not too flawed like Lydia. Witty and clever, if overly prejudiced. very much in love with Mr. Darcy by the end.

Mary - the middle sister, academically focused and unable to read a room. she and her father are parallel in their academia, but she is not liked by her father very much, likely because she is female—her traits would be very pleasing to Mr. Bennet in a son.

Kitty - the second youngest, follows Lydia almost completely. Is given practically no character aside from her subsurviance to her sister, but she seems to have some growth in personality after her sister is married.

Lydia - the youngest Bennet, very much like her mother. vapid and thoughtless and unkind, she never sends letters to her family (demonstarting her lack of care) and elopes with Wickham, ending up unhappy and poor not from poverty but because of greed.

Sir William and Lady Lucas - the Bennet’s neighbors. Sir William never stops talking about his experience of being knighted, and Lady Lucas is seen as competition by Mrs. Bennet because of her marriageable daughter.

Charlotte - the Lucas’s daughter, Jane’s friend. she was relatively kind and nice, but ended up marrying Mr. Collins. she was arguably a foil to Elizabeth, specifically because of their situations: Charlotte agreed to marry Collins after Elizabeth rejected him, and Charlotte suffered for her choice. Her purpose was mainly to be another example of how marriage can go horribly wrong.

Maria - Charlotte’s (unmarried) younger sister.

Mr. Charles Bingley - the very affluent man who moves into Netherfield. his arrival, and his subsequent bringing of Mr. Darcy, is arguably the catalyst to the entire story. he acts as a foil to Mr. Darcy in the same way Jane does to Elizabeth: he is rich and kind and a little too passive—a good man but a boring protagonist, making Darcy’s complexities more interesting by comparison.

Miss Caroline Bingley - Mr. Bingley’s little sister, who very much wanted to marry Mr. Darcy. She was presented in a negative light at the start of the novel, because she was competing (unnecessarily, but still) for Mr. Darcy’s attention. She could arguably be considered a foil to Elizabeth, her desperation highlighting Elizabeth’s relaxed disinterest.

Mr. and Mrs. Hurst - Mr. Hurst marries Miss Bingley, who then becomes Mrs. Hurst. Mr. Hurst is an average guy, nothing special but has sufficient funds and decency for it to be a good match.

Mr. Collins - Mr. Bennet’s cousin and heir, and the reverend at Lady Catherine’s estate. He is socially clueless, a real bantam rooster of a conversationalist. His painful lack of silence and truly miserable proposal to Elizabeth sets him as a foil to Mr. Darcy, presenting Darcy’s silence and insulting proposal as less awful by comparison.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh - the insufferable owner of the Rosings Park. she wants to be involved in everything, but unlike Mrs. Bennet there is no need for to be involved in anyone’s life but her own.

Anne de Bourgh - Lady Catherine’s sickly daughter

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy - the male protagonist of the story.

Georgiana Darcy - Mr. Darcy’s younger sister and the reason Mr. Darcy hates Wickham.

Colonel Fitzwilliam - Mr. Darcy’s cousin, less refined but more personable.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner - Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle. they are genuinly good people; Mr. Gardner helps locate Lyda after her elopement, and Mrs. Gardner helps Lydia figure out her Darcy situation. they are arguably foils to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, highlighting all the ways the Bennets could be kinder people.

Nationality/ Genre: British

Brief plot synopsis (1-2 ¶s...include conflicts):

Distinctive structural elements:

There is lots of almost play-like dialogue with very minimal narration.
Austen’s novel has a clear chronological structure that creates for the audience a very realistic sense of being in the story.
The book contains significant satire; most characters are heavily, if subtly, ridiculed. more specificially, their ridiculous actions often reflect onto the trait which they epitomize.
There is lots of focus on journeys; important conversations are had, and important letters are read, primarily on walks through the woods.
Many characters, each representing a trait or structure, are introduced quickly, and the dynamics of their interactions drives the action of the novel.

Motifs (repeated ideas/concepts):

class and high society, especially the structures of social events
the vulnerability and care of letters
love and marriage
money and inheritance
journeys
gender and the resulting expectations

6 Standout Scenes—connect to literary elements—symbols, images, foils, parallels, dramatic irony, etc:

Bingley’s move to Netherfield is the catalyst for the events of the rest of the story, and all the changes the characters undergo. Moving house represents a new start, and so while readers still get to know the Bennets by seeing a pretty normal day in their lives, the newness of Bingley’s arrival creates a good opportunity for introduction.
Mr. Darcy’s introduction, within the context of high scociety, as standoffish and rude. It sets up the rest of the plot really nicely, and is a perfect hint at the impact that uncomfortable society can have on a morally good person.
The embarrassing ball, where Mary sings too much, Mrs. Bennet comments on Bingley marrying Jane, and Mr. Bennet embarrases both of them. The scene very effectively demonstrates the social incompetence of the group of people so obsessed with society. It is also very effective in that it is painful to read.
Elizabeth reading Mr. Darcy’s letter and almost immediately flipping her perspective on several things, including the ridiculousness of her family. Not only is this an example of Darcy’s goodness and the importance of letters, but it is a turning point in Elizabeth’s character as well, as her pride significantly diminishes after she reads it.
Lydia’s elopement with Wickham. Since Lydia is the society-connected and vapid foil to Elizabeth, the horrible situation Lydia ends up in presents obsession with society as bad and Elizabeth’s situation better by comparison. Futhermore, Wickham’s request for funds gives Darcy the opportunity to be good and selfless, cementing Elizabeth’s love for him.
When Elizabeth arrives at Pemberley and sees it’s beauty, and Darcy’s comfort there. The grounds represent Darcy himself, and his pleasant countenance at home shows the goodness of his character when removed from society.

6-8 Quotable quotes:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good furtue, must be in want of a wife” (3).
“There are few people whom I love, and still fewer of whom I think well” (95).
“Wickham, Lydia were all forgotten. Jane was beyond competition her favorite child (238).
“But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were strnoger than their virtue” (212).
“Under such a misfortune as this, one cannot see too little of one’s neighbors” (199).
“Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration” (114)
“It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly at first” (67).

Themes—the author’s message(s) expressed in full sentences

The rituals and expectations of high society are ridiculous, vapid, and often unkind.
A flawlessly kind and pretty girl is not an interesting one.
While beauty can be indicative, external attractiveness does not necessarily equate to trustworthiness or goodness of character.
Compatibility of strengths and flaws, not total perfection, is required for romance.
Obstacles often must be overcome for love, but they can be overcome.
Integrity is more important than first impressions.
The maintenance of a woman’s reputation is vital.
While being discerning about the character of others is a good thing, too much pride can cause a person to miss out on valuable opportunity and even happiness.
No matter how inappropriate or frustrating they may be, family is still important.

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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen