Elizabeth Bennet

Female protagonist Elizabeth (Lizzy) is the confident, lively and attractive, second oldest daughter in the Bennet family, and the favourite of her father, with whom she shares traits of wit and humour. Compared to her sister Jane’s tendency to assume the best in others, Elizabeth prides herself on her objectivity and analysis of behaviour before making judgments about people, and maintains a personal ideology that preferences independence of character and virtue over social position and fortune. Unfortunately, some of Elizabeth’s judgments about the motivations of others prove incorrect and result in her prejudice towards them and, at times, Elizabeth can also act in contradiction of her personal beliefs. By the end of the novel, Elizabeth is a matured, young women who is willing to admit her faulty preconceptions and revise her opinions, most pertinently towards Mr Darcy with whom she learns she has more in common than she initially thought. Despite the many conflicting examples around her that undermine her notions of the perfect marriage, Elizabeth stays true to her personal ideals and eventually attains the type of married relationship to which she always aspired.

Elizabeth Bennet Quotes

‘… but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.’ (Mr Bennet) Chapter 1

‘I hope I never ridicule what is wise and good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without.’ (Elizabeth to Mr Darcy) Chapter 11

‘I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.’ (Elizabeth to Lady Catherine when the latter requests Elizabeth refuse any marriage offer from Mr Darcy) Chapter 56

‘I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery.’ (Mr Bennet) Chapter 59

‘The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them.’ (Elizabeth to Mr Darcy) Chapter 61

Fitzwilliam Darcy

Male protagonist and close friend of Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy is the older brother of Georgiana and the nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He is very wealthy, owning the vast estate Pemberley Park, and exhibits a personal integrity in manner that, coupled with his emphasis in conforming with class, makes him appear proud and leads to the community of Hertfordshire, including Elizabeth, being strongly prejudiced against him from the start of the novel. Mr Darcy is attracted to Elizabeth, but his awkwardness in expressing his feelings and his insensitive remarks about the status and behaviour of Elizabeth’s family, keep alive Elizabeth’s misunderstandings of his true character. Prompted by Elizabeth’s harsh assessment of him when she rejects his first marriage proposal, Mr Darcy re-evaluates his behaviour and attitudes, and acts in ways that reveal his true nature.

Fitzwilliam Darcy Quotes

Mr Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien [appearance], and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. Chapter 3

He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offense. Chapter 4

‘You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You shewed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.’ (Mr Darcy to Elizabeth) Chapter 58

Mr Bennet

Mr Bennet is an educated and well-intentioned man, but is in an unfulfilled and mismatched marriage, which he manages by making sarcastic comments towards his wife and daughters or retreating to his library, and is caught in the predicament of having to leave his estate to a male relative instead of his daughters. Possibly influenced by his inability to provide for his daughters’ futures, Mr Bennet seems unwilling at times to take parental responsibility. It is his poor judgment in allowing Lydia to go to Brighton, despite Elizabeth’s pleading for him to intervene, which brings further disadvantage upon the family.

Mr Bennet Quotes

‘… 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.’ (Mr & Mrs Bennet) Chapter 1

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. Chapter 1

Her father, contented with laughing at them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters … Chapter 37

Mrs Bennet

An impulsive and unstable woman, prone to mood swings and lacking in good sense, Ms Bennet’s purpose in life is to see her five daughters married and to gossip. She lacks the self-awareness of her distasteful behaviour and often embarrasses Elizabeth by her incessant chatting in social situations.

Mrs Bennet Quotes

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. (about Mrs Bennet) Chapter 1

The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news. (about Mrs Bennet) Chapter 1

Jane Bennet

The eldest Bennet sister, Jane is beautiful, sweet-natured and humble, and the favourite of her mother. Compared to Elizabeth, with whom she shares a close relationship, she rarely forms bad judgments of others and chooses instead to see their motives in a positive light. Elizabeth casts this tendency of Jane’s to be a fault, which is seen when Jane is shunned by Miss Bingley, whom she held to be her friend. However, the novel also suggests there is a value to Jane’s reserving of judgment in that it makes her less likely to hold prejudices.

Jane Bennet Quote

‘… You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.’ (Elizabeth to Jane) Chapter 4

Lydia Bennet

Wilful and immature, Lydia is the youngest Bennet sister, a favourite with her mother and the daughter most like her. Lydia benefits from a parental negligence to set appropriate boundaries on her behaviour, and spends most of her time seeking after and flirting with officers, which culminates in her reckless eloping with Wickham. Like her mother, Lydia lacks insight into her behaviour and appears unashamed by Mr Darcy having to intervene and arrange her marriage with Wickham in order to save the family’s name or by continuing to impose herself upon Elizabeth’s good fortune once Elizabeth is Mr Darcy’s wife.

Lydia Bennet Quotes

Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. Chapter 9

They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there forever. (Lydia and Kitty) Chapter 37

Catherine (Kitty) Bennet

The second youngest Bennet sister, Kitty is highly impressionable and mirrors Lydia’s behaviour.

Catherine (Kitty) Bennet Quotes

Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Lydia’s guidance, had been always affronted by their advice … (Jane and Elizabeth) Chapter 37

They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there forever. (Lydia and Kitty) Chapter 37

Mary Bennet

The middle Bennet sister, Mary is always trying to distinguish herself from her livelier siblings and display her knowledge and accomplishments.

Mary Bennet Quotes

‘…What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection … and read great books and make extracts.’
Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how. (Mr Bennet to Mary) Chapter 2

… Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display. Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Chapter 6

George Wickham

Initially appearing as the model gentleman, Wickham is the duplicitous opportunist whose untruthful account of Mr Darcy serves to reinforce a mistaken perception of the latter’s true character. He is self-serving, and focuses his attention on finding a wife who comes with her own fortune so that he may pay off his gambling debts and secure a prosperous future.

George Wickham Quotes

…the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. … a happy readiness of conversation— a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming… (Wickham) Chapter 15

‘Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends— whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain.’ (Mr Darcy to Elizabeth) Chapter 18

Charles Bingley

The handsome yet humble, wealthy yet unmotivated by class privilege, Mr Bingley is best friend to Mr Darcy and brother of Caroline Bingley and Mrs Hurst. Mr Bingley’s malleable nature makes him prone to the biased influences of his sisters and best friend, however, his kind character and personal virtues do not desert him and he wins the girl he pursues whom shares his positive qualities.

Charles Bingley Quotes

Mr Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. Chapter 3

Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offense. Chapter 4

Charlotte Lucas

Elizabeth’s neighbour and close friend, and a realist when it comes to the prospects of nineteenth-century English women, Charlotte marries Mr Collins for financial security rather than love.

Charlotte Lucas Quotes

‘Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.’ (Charlotte Lucas) Chapter 6

Poor Charlotte! it was melancholy to leave her to such society! But she had chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that her visitors were to go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms. (Elizabeth) Chapter 38

Mr Collins

Mr Bennet’s cousin and heir to Longbourn estate, Mr Collins is a pompous clergyman who is financially supported by Lady Catherine and concerned with impressing others. He is condescending to the Bennet family and excessively flattering of Lady Catherine and her daughter.

Mr Collins Quotes

‘He must be an oddity, I think. … I cannot make him out. There is something very pompous in his style. And what can he mean by apologising for being next in the entail? We cannot suppose he would help it if he could…’ (Elizabeth about Mr Collins) Chapter 13

His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure. (Mr Bennet on Mr Collins) Chapter 14

Sir William and Lady Lucas

The Bennets’ neighbours and Charlotte’s parents, Sir William is obsessed by his high rank, while Lady Lucas is a friend of sorts to Mrs Bennet.

Mr and Mrs Gardiner

Mrs Bennet’s brother and sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, are loved by the Bennet sisters and act as parent figures for Elizabeth and Jane. Mr Bennet operates his own trade and, compared to his sister, is sensible, well-natured and educated, while Mrs Gardiner is intelligent and elegant.

Mr and Mrs Gardiner Quote

Mrs Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire a few days longer, as the former thought her presence might be serviceable to her nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet, and was a great comfort to them in their hours of freedom. (after Lydia has run away with Wickham) Chapter 48

Mr and Mrs Phillips

Mrs Bennet’s sister and brother-in-law. Like her sister, Mrs Phillips enjoys gossip. Mr Phillips is a lawyer, which does not have the same status as today and was considered a working profession.

Mr and Mrs Phillips Quote

Their other aunt also visited them frequently, and always, as she said, with the design of cheering and heartening them up— though, as she never came without reporting some fresh instance of Wickham’s extravagance or irregularity, she seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than she found them. (Mrs Phillips, after Lydia has run away with Wickham) Chapter 48

Caroline Bingley

Charles Bingley’s sister, Caroline, is obsessed by social status and, jealous of Elizabeth, tries to belittle her in social situations and denigrate her to Mr Darcy because she wants to be the one to marry him.

Caroline Bingley Quotes

‘A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the world will be but half-deserved.’ (Miss Bingley on the ‘accomplished woman’) Chapter 8

Mr and Mrs Hurst

Charles Bingley’s sister, Mrs Hurst, who is married to Mr Hurst, is still influenced in her behaviour by her sister Caroline.

Georgiana Darcy

Mr Darcy’s younger sister, Georgiana is very shy and good-natured, but for a large part of the novel is misunderstood to be as prideful as her brother is mistaken to be.

Georgiana Darcy Quotes

… she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy. (Elizabeth, on Miss Darcy) Chapter 44

Miss Darcy looked as if she wished for courage enough to join in it; and sometimes did venture a short sentence when there was least danger of its being heard. Chapter 45

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

The wealthy and bossy, Lady Catherine, aunt to Mr Darcy, feels entitled to interfere in the lives of everyone around her and is obsessed with class conformity.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh Quotes

‘Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.’ (Mr Collins to Elizabeth) Chapter 29

Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. (Lady Catherine) Chapter 29

Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady’s attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. (Lady Catherine) Chapter 29

Miss de Bourgh

Miss de Bourgh is the sickly daughter of Lady Catherine, whom the latter insists is promised in marriage to Mr Darcy.

Colonel Fitzwilliam

Mr Darcy’s cousin.

Colonel and Mrs Forster

Colonel Foster is the head of Wickham’s regiment. Mrs Foster invites Lydia to stay with them in Brighton from where she elopes with Wickham.