This document provides background information on the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It discusses Austen's life and background, an overview of the plot and characters in the novel, including Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Charlotte Lucas and others. Key quotes from characters are also included to aid in analyzing their roles and development over the course of the story.

1. Pride and Prejudice:
L.O: To explore the key
characters in the novel.

2. JANE AUSTEN
Jane Austen was born on 16th December 1775 in Steventon,
Hampshire. The daughter of a clergyman, she was the seventh of
eight children.
Her formal education ended when she was just 11 years old, but her
father, rather like Mr Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, had a good library
and Jane used it well.
Even as a teenager, her writing was lively and humorous. Although
Pride & Prejudice was published in 1813, she’d written an earlier
version many years before – it was refused by a London publisher in
1797.

3. JANE AUSTEN
Her novels were published anonymously until after her death, when her
authorship became known. While it was not unheard of for women to
publish under their own names in Austen's lifetime, it was still a rarity.
Despite the fact that her books focus on the intricate rituals of courtship
and marriage among the British middle class, Austen herself remained
single throughout her life, preferring the life of a writer over that of a wife
and hostess. She did however (like Elizabeth) turn down at least one
proposal.
Her writing on the surface could be considered to be just about these
rituals. However, Austen’s novels are often identified as “novels of
manners” because she critiques social customs, conventions, and
behaviours of her social class.
Jane Austen died on the 18th July 1817.

4. As with Blood Brothers you need to collect quotes
and notes for the most important characters,
themes and symbols in the novel.
Context is also assessed for this novel in the
exam.
QUOTE COLLECTING

5. CHARACTERS

6. — The novel's heroine and the second oldest of the five Bennet sisters,
Elizabeth is smart, lively, and attractive. She prides herself on her ability to
analyse other people, but she is very often mistaken in her conclusions
about their motivations.
Elizabeth places little value on money and social position. Instead she
prizes a person's independence of character and personal virtue. Although
she is drawn to Darcy, she resists him based on her own mistaken
preconceptions about him (prejudice)
ELIZABETH (ELIZA, LIZZY) BENNET

7. —Bingley's closest friend, the brother of Georgiana, and the nephew of
Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Darcy is very wealthy and a person of great integrity, but his extreme
class-consciousness makes him appear vain and proud. He finds
Elizabeth attractive, even ideal, but is clumsy in expressing his feelings
and disdains her sometimes crass family.
Elizabeth's harsh appraisal of him compels him to reassess his
behavior and attitudes. Her intelligence and her disregard for mere
social rank teaches him to see people more for who they are, rather
than the status in to which they were born.
FITZWILLIAM DARCY

8. Jane Bennet— The oldest of the Bennet sisters,
Jane seems almost too good to be true: beautiful,
sweet-tempered, and modest. Her sole fault is that
she refuses to think badly of anyone. She always
looks on the bright side and is quick to defend
someone when Elizabeth suspects them of having
shortcomings.
JANE BENNET

9. — Bingley is Darcy's best friend and the brother of Caroline Bingley
and Mrs. Hurst. Unlike Darcy, however, Bingley is down to earth.
Despite his huge wealth, he is humble and modest, placing no great
weight on social standing.
CHARLES BINGLEY

10. — Wickham is an officer in the local military regiment and appears to
be the very model of a gentleman. In reality, he is a liar, hypocrite,
and an opportunist. He thinks nothing of ruining a young woman's
reputation, and is instead much more concerned with paying off his
massive gambling
debts.
GEORGE WICKHAM

11. — Mrs. Bennet is a giddy, frivolous woman whose only purpose in life
seems to be gossiping and marrying off her five daughters. She lacks
any awareness of her vulgar conduct and embarrasses Elizabeth and
Jane to no end. Her behavior depicts what can happen to women
when they lack an education and the ability to think for themselves.
MRS. BENNET

12. — Though a discerning, well-educated man, Mr. Bennet has made a
bad marriage and is resigned to endure it. He is a good-hearted
person, but fails his family by remaining sarcastically detached:
everything is a joke to him.
This leads to poor judgment, as when he does not interfere in Lydia’s
request to go to Brighton.
MR. BENNET

13. — The youngest of the Bennet sisters, Lydia is a vain, emptyheaded
flirt who has never had to deal with the consequences of her actions.
She is her mother's favourite.
LYDIA BENNET

14. Catherine (Kitty) Bennet— The second youngest of the Bennet
sisters. A bit of a whiner, she tends to follow Lydia.
Mary Bennet— The middle child of the five Bennet sisters. Mary is
plain looking and a recluse who enjoys lecturing others about
morality, which she learns from books.
THE OTHER SISTERS

15. —Mr. Bennet's cousin and heir to the Bennet estate (in Austen's time
entailment law meant that only men could inherit certain properties).
His patroness is Lady Catherine. He is a ridiculous pompous
clergyman concerned only with impressing others.
His language is overly ostentatious and is heavily satirised by
Austen.
MR. COLLINS

16. — A close friend of Elizabeth's. She weds Mr. Collins for security, not
love, but nevertheless finds happiness in her situation.
CHARLOTTE LUCAS

17. Sir William Lucas—Charlotte's father, foolishly obsessed with rank.
Lady Lucas—Charlotte's mother.
Maria Lucas – Charlotte’s younger sister, she goes with her father
and Elizabeth to visit her sister and Mr. Collins

18. Mrs. Gardiner—Mrs. Bennet's sister-in-law. Intelligent and caring,
she is the mother that Elizabeth and Jane cannot find in Mrs. Bennet.
Mr. Gardiner—Mrs. Bennet's brother and a successful, warm-
hearted, cultivated merchant.

19. Caroline Bingley—Charles Bingley's sister. She cares only about
social status and tries to undermine Elizabeth because she wants
Darcy for herself.
Mrs. Hurst—Bingley's other sister. Though married, her views and
temperament mirror her sister Caroline's.
Mr Hurst-Bingley’s brother-in-law. Pompous and often drunk. There
appears to be little affection between him and his wife
BINGLEY’S FAMILY

20. —Darcy's younger sister. Georgiana is a shy, good-spirited person
whom Elizabeth wrongly dislikes until they meet and become friends.
Georgiana has her own scandalous history with Wickham.
GEORGIANA DARCY

21. Lady Catherine de Bourgh— Domineering and rich, Lady Catherine
meddles in everyone's affairs and cannot tolerate any breach of class
rank.
Miss de Bourgh—Lady Catherine's sickly daughter. Her mother
intends for Darcy to marry her.
LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH

22. —Darcy's cousin and Georgiana's guardian. He's a model
gentleman, though as a second son he lacks any inheritance and so
must seek out money through marriage.
COLONEL FITZWILLIAM

23. Mrs. Philips—Mrs. Bennet's shallow silly sister. The gossip queen of
Meryton.
Colonel Forster— The leader of Wickham's regiment.
Mrs. Forster—Colonel Forster's wife. She irresponsibly aids Lydia in
her elopement with Wickham

24. FAMILY TREES

25. HOW WOULD YOU SURVIVE AS A 19TH CENTURY WOMAN?
The Game

26. Your father recently died, leaving your
mother, you and your four other sisters with
little money. You…
a. immediately find your best dress and attend
all the balls so that eligible bachelors can
dance with you.
b. take a job as a tutor for your distant aunt’s
children.
c. sit around all day hoping that some
handsome, wealthy young man will find you.

27. What is your number one priority?
a. being happy
b. helping others
c. finding a husband

28. You are known for your…
a. lovers
b. love of books
c. good looks or other talent such as playing
the piano

29. In looking for a dress for a ball, which
of the following would you
accentuate?
a. wrists…it’ll be risky, but the men will
notice me more
b. waist…a slender waist is what I’m
looking for
c. eyes..the color of the dress must
compliment my eyes and make me look
mysterious

30. MOSTLY A’S
THE RUINED MAIDEN
You wasted the time you should have
been using to find a suitable husband by
flirting with men. You could be seen at
parties batting your eyelashes at many
fellows. Be careful! This seemingly
innocent flirting could result into
something worse so that you may never
be seen as fit for a respectable marriage.

31. MOSTLY B’S
THE GOVERNESS
Maybe you’re not very handsome,
maybe you just like helping others.
Congratulations on your smarts and
compassion. However, that won’t get
you very far in the world. You may be
able to make some money to send your
family or even buy a new dress. But
what’s the point in flashy clothing
when you’re just going to watch the
children all day.

32. MOSTLY C’S
THE WIFE
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the
top. Well technically speaking, your
husband probably has but you’ve done
well marrying a rich man. Look he’s so
rich you can commission a painting of
yourself! Good job going to all the balls,
knowing the right people and conducting
yourself in a respectable manner. Now
go have fun and make lots of kids-
hopefully a son so there is an heir to your
husband’s estate.