Pride and Prejudice Chapter 11-23 Summary

1. Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen
Volume 1 (Chapters 1-23)
Summary
(Second Half)

2. Chapters 11 and 12
Summary
Jane Bennet was feeling much better; Elizabeth brought her to the
drawing-room where their evenings were usually spent. Jane Bennet was
welcomed by everyone; especially by Mr. Bingley who sat beside her while
Elizabeth was at the opposite side, looking at them with great enjoyment.
When they finished their tea, Mr. Hurst told Miss Bingley to play cards but
she rejected his request because she stated that Mr. Darcy did not want to
play cards and no else was interested.
Miss Bingley’s attention is focused on Mr. Darcy. She watched his
progress on his book and attempted to make a conversation with him, but
he barely answered her questions. Miss Bingley overheard Mr. Bingley and
Miss Bennet’s conversation about the ball and joined the discussion; she
said that the ball would be a punishment rather than a pleasure.
Thereafter, she walked well around the room with good posture, trying to
get Mr. Darcy’s attention, though she couldn’t. In desperation, she asked
Elizabeth to walk with her, knowing that it would be effective to get Mr.
Darcy’s attention; she wasn’t mistaken. When Elizabeth joined her, Mr.
Darcy looked up, and closed his book. He was invited by Miss Bingley, but
did not join because he didn’t want to interfere. The women discussed the
possibility of finding something to mock in his character. Elizabeth and Mr.
Darcy had a conversation in which Miss Bingley could not share anything;
she cut them off by asking for music. Mr. Darcy had realized that he is
paying Elizabeth too much attention.

3. The next day, Elizabeth wrote to her mother begging
to send the carriage for them but Mrs. Bennet sent them
back a letter telling them that the carriage would be sent by
Tuesday. Since, Elizabeth was unhappy about it and had been
longing to go home, she insisted Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley’s
carriage; their request was granted. With real sorrow, Mr.
Bingley tried to persuade them to stay longer and told Jane
that she wasn’t fully recovered yet, but they insisted. To Mr.
Darcy, it was his pleasure to see them leave the Netherfield
because Elizabeth had attracted him more than he liked.
When Elizabeth and Jane arrived at their house, they weren’t
welcomed by their mother. But their father was really glad to
see them back.

4. Chapters 13-15
Summary
The next morning, Mr. Bennet informed Mrs. Bennet
that he was expecting someone to join them in their dinner.
Mrs. Bennet thought that it was Mr. Bingley who would come
to their house in the evening, but Mr. Bennet stated it was
someone he hadn’t seen in his whole life. Mrs. Bennet and
their five daughters were puzzled who it was; Mr. Bennet
revealed to them that Mr. William Collins, his cousin, had
wrote a letter to him about a month ago. Mr. William Collins
would inherit all of Mr. Bennet’s properties once he was gone.
Mrs. Bennet was saddened by the news. At four o’clock, Mr.
Collins arrived at Longbourn and was welcomed with
politeness. Mr. Collins mentioned in his letter that he is
serving a parish owned by Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

5. Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins talked about the entailment of
the property and how beautiful their daughters are and that he could
see them in a marriage.During the dinner, Mr. Bennet was silent and
thought it was time to have a conversation with his guest. He started
the discussion by asking about Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mr. Collins
stated that Lady de Bourgh has a daughter who would inherit the
Lady’s properties. After the dinner, they went to the drawing-room
and had tea. Mr. Bennet asked Mr. Collins to read a novel aloud for
the ladies but he refused; admitting that he never read novels.
Instead, he grabbed a sermon book, and was interrupted by Lydia.
She told her mother that her uncle, Mr. Phillips could be hired by
Colonel Forster and she would walk to Meryton to hear more about
it. She was told by her sisters to hold her tongue. Mr. Collins was
offended; he turned to Mr. Bennet and played backgammon. Mrs.
Bennet and the four girls apologized to Mr. Collins. They requested to
him to continue reading the book but he refused.

6. Since Mr. Collins is inheriting a good house and has sufficient
income, he is in search of a wife and is choosing between the five
Bennets. In the evening, he settled for Jane, but the next morning, he
changed his mind. Mrs. Bennet had told him that Jane might be
engaged soon; he changed from Jane to Elizabeth.
Lydia’s intention of walking to Meryton was entertained by her
sisters except for Mary. Mr. Bennet told them to bring Mr. Collins with
them; he’s longing to get rid of him and just have his library to himself.
When they arrived at Meryton, the girls’ eyes were fixed on a young
man, who they haven’t seen yet before. Mr. Denny, the
officer, introduced them to Mr. Wickham. They stood there and
talked, until they heard horses coming down the street; it was Mr.
Bingley and Mr. Darcy, who happened to be on their way to Longbourn
to visit Jane. Elizabeth, however, noticed that Mr. Wickham and Mr.
Darcy are awkward to each other, and she wondered why. Another
minute had passed and the two gentlemen left. Mr. Denny and Mr.
Wickham joined the group to Mr. Phillips’s house.

7. Mrs. Phillips was glad to see her nieces, especially
Jane and Elizabeth who had been gone for a long time. Jane
introduced Mr. Collins to Mrs. Phillip. Mrs. Phillips promised
the girls to invite Mr. Wickham for dinner the next day, as
they were invited for dinner in the Meryton. While walking
back to Longbourn, Elizabeth told Jane about the strange
meeting of Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy. On the other hand,
Mr. Collins told Mrs. Bennet that he had never seen an
elegant woman like the de Bourgh’s, except for Mrs. Phillips
that welcomed him with great mannerisms.

8. Chapters 16 and 17
Summary
The Bennets, together with Mr. Collins, went back to
Meryton; the girls were glad to hear Mr. Wickham had accepted the
invitation for dinner. Everyone’s attention was focused on Mr.
Wickham, while Mr. Collins seemed likely to be out of place.
Afterwards, Mr. Wickham sat beside Elizabeth, and asked her about
Mr. Darcy’s stay in Netherfield; Elizabeth discovered that Mr.
Wickham is connected to Mr. Darcy’s family. She told him her
opinion about Mr. Darcy being a disagreeable man and that
everyone does not like him because of his pride. Mr.
Wickham, however, told her everyone is blinded by his fortune and
she shall not express her disgust to other people.

9. Mr. Wickham discussed to Elizabeth he wanted to be a
minister in a church, but ended up in the military because of the
lack of fortune. Mr. Darcy’s father was supposed to help him to be a
minister, but as selfish as Mr. Darcy was, he kept all the money to
himself when his father died; he was jealous of the attention his
father gave to Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth told Mr. Wickham he, Mr.
Darcy, shall be publicly disgraced, and having a kind heart, Mr.
Wickham stated he will be disgraced but not through him as he still
respects the late Mr. Darcy.
The discussion went on how Mr. Wickham was connected to
the Darcys. Mr. Wickham’s father happened to devote his time on
taking the Darcy’s property, the Pemberley. When his father died,
the late Mr. Darcy promised him he would take care of Mr.
Wickham. Mr. Wickham exposed to Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy’s only
friend was his pride, and Miss Darcy is very much like his brother.
After few other conversations, Elizabeth brought back the topic
about Mr. Darcy again. She stated how a man like Mr. Bingley could
befriend such a man like Mr. Darcy. Mr. Wickham concluded Mr.
Bingley doesn’t have enough knowledge to know Mr. Darcy fully. On
the other hand, Mr. Collins heard their conversation about Mr. Darcy
being related to Lady Catherine de Bourgh and joined them. Mr.
Collins mentioned Mr. Darcy would marry Miss de Bourgh that put
smile on Elizabeth’s face, thinking of poor Miss Bingley.

10. Elizabeth told Jane her conversation with Mr. Wickham the
next day. Jane defended Mr. Darcy by telling Elizabeth that there
must a misunderstanding between the two men. Later on, their
conversation had ended, and Mr. Bingley together with his sisters
appeared on their doorstep to formally invite them for the long
expected ball that would occur on Tuesday in the Netherfield; Mrs.
Bennet gladly accepted the invitation. Elizabeth thought of dancing
with Mr. Wickham and see Mr. Darcy’s reaction to confirm the things
she knew about him.
Elizabeth asked Mr. Collins if he’s going to accept the
invitation; he hoped to dance with all his cousins especially with
Elizabeth for the first two dances. Elizabeth was taken aback
because she wanted to dance with Mr. Wickham. Her happiness of
dancing with Mr. Wickham was delayed as she accepted Mr. Collins
proposal. She noticed the attention Mr. Collins was giving her and
knew she is the girl he intended to marry.

11. Chapters 18-21
Summary
Much to Elizabeth’s dismay, Mr. Wickham did not attend the ball. She
had suspected Mr. Wickham did not attend the ball because of Mr. Darcy’s
presence. Her dismay increased when Mr. Collins was being gawky during
their dance. Elizabeth danced with Mr. Darcy, but could not have a continuous
conversation. Elizabeth mentioned Mr. Wickham in their discussion and Mr.
Darcy was not happy at all. Luckily for Mr. Darcy, Sir William Lucas had
interrupted them. When Sir Lucas left them, Elizabeth told him it didn’t slip in
her mind their previous conversation. Mr. Darcy, however, diverted their
conversation to books which gave way to Elizabeth to question him about his
character.
When they separated, Miss Bingley approached Elizabeth; she told
him not to trust Mr. Wickham as he does not know what he is saying about Mr.
Darcy. As the tension arises, Jane joined them and informed Elizabeth she
had asked Mr. Bingley of what he knows about Mr. Wickham, but he knows
nothing. On the other hand, Mr. Collins told Elizabeth he would introduce
himself to Mr. Darcy; she tried to stop him. In the dinner, Mary performed
badly in front of the guests, which brought embarrassment to the Bennets.
The Bennets were the last to leave the Netherfield.

12. Mr. Collins wished to talk to Elizabeth himself about his offer of
marriage. When they were left alone, Mr. Collins proposed his offer, but was
rejected by Elizabeth. Mr. Collins attempted to persuade her; he was
disappointed as Elizabeth found reasons not to marry him in spite of things he
had offered. However, Mr. Collins was really determined to marry Elizabeth and
he gave her more time to think about his offer. When Mrs. Bennet knew
Elizabeth’s decision, she assured Mr. Collins that Elizabeth would be brought to
reason to change her mind. Mrs. Bennet called down Mr. Bennet to discuss the
matter. Mrs. Bennet blackmailed Elizabeth; if she did not marry Mr. Collins, she
would never see her mother, while Mr. Bennet told Elizabeth she had to choose
because if she married Mr. Collins, she would not see her father. Elizabeth was
pleased that his father is on her side.
A few days after Mr. Collins proposal was rejected, the girls walked to
Meryton and had encountered Mr. Wickham. Mr. Wickham said it is better he did
not attend the ball because it would only cause unpleasant scene to arise
between him and Mr. Darcy; Mr. Wickham had walked them back to Longbourn.
After their return, Miss Bennet received a letter from Netherfield. The letter
stated the Bingleys, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and Mr. Darcy had left and were not
coming back again. It also stated Mr. Bingley is to marry Mr. Darcy’s sister,
Georgiana. Elizabeth comforted Jane and told her it is not of Mr. Bingley’s free
will, but of Miss Bingley’s. She also told her that Mr. Bingley would be back at
Netherfield.

13. Chapters 22 and 23
Summary
The Bennets had a dinner with the Lucas’s and Charlotte was
so kind to listen to Mr. Collins. In a short time of getting to know each
other, Charlotte Lucas was to be married to Mr. Collins. Sir Lucas and
Lady Lucas were pleased by the news; however, Elizabeth was shocked
by the news. Charlotte told her friend she is not a romantic girl,
therefore, she only wants a comfortable home where she could leave.
Elizabeth was seated with her mother and sisters; she doesn’t
know whether she would tell them about the marriage of Mr. Collins
and Miss Lucas, but Charlotte sent his father, Sir Lucas, to the Bennets
to announce her engagement with Mr. Collins. Mrs. Bennet could not
believe because she thought Mr. Collins still intended to marry
Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet was mad at Elizabeth for letting such a man slip
off of her own hands. Days had gone by and Jane still hadn’t received a
letter from Mr. Bingley, which put Mrs. Bennet’s hopes down of getting
Jane married soon.