In the novel Pride and Prejudice , Jane Austen takes you back to times where Pride were not only for the
rich and noble and Prejudice were the issues of the time. This is a classical love story from the eighteenth
century, which takes place in England. The novels focus in on a spirited young woman, Elizabeth and
her family, the Bennets. Mrs. Bennets main goal is to get all of her daughters married, no matter what the
consequence. Through many heart aches and pains Jane, Elizabeth and Lydia fulfills Mrs. Bennets dream
and marries, but they may all not live happily ever after.
     Jane was the first of five sisters to have an opportunity of engagement. A Mr. Bingley had just
come to the town of Netherfield, who was the talk of the town. “A single man of large fortune; four or
five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” (p. 9; Chapter I) Mrs. Bennet declared to have
him over and for Mr. Bennet to become acquaint with him so he could meet up with the girls. The first
meeting the two had with each other was at a ball where he asked to dance with her twice and did not let
any other girl have that same pleasure. Jane fell instantly in love with him, as she explained to her sister
Elizabeth “He is just what a young man ought to be.” said she, “sensible, good humored, lively; and I
never saw such happy manners!-so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!” (p.18; Chapter IV)
They would then have other meetings with each other and grew an intense liking for one another.
     One day Jane was to go to Netherfield and have dinner with Miss Bingley. His sister did not
really think she liked her brother because she showed him no particular affection. She tried to tell her to
be more persuasive and when she did not she and Mr. Bingley’s friend Mr. Darcy took him out of town
with haste. She received a letter on their departure and read it with Lizzy, “This is from Caroline Bingley;
what it contains, has surprise me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are
on their way to town; and without any intention of coming back again.” (p. 102; Chapter XXI) Jane wrote
to Miss Bingley many times, but in return she was told that Mr. Bingley was spending much time with
Miss Darcy. Crushed she decided to visit her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners. While her stay she learned
that the Bingley’s were in a near by town, but she never had an occasion where she bumped into Mr.
Bingley himself. Once again she was reminded by Miss Bingley that he was spending much time with
Miss Darcy. She now decided to conceal her hurtful feelings to herself and try to mend her wounds so
that she could move on with her life.
     Time passed and her plan almost worked until she found out that Mr. Binley was returning to
Netherfield and they were to have a meeting again. She tried to act calm about it. “I saw you look at me
to-day, Lizzy, when my aunt told us of the present report; and I know I appeared distressed. But don’t
imagine it was from any silly cause. I was only confused for the moment, because I felt that I should be
looked at. I do assure you, that the news does not affect me either with pleasure or pain. I am glad of one
thing, that he comes alone; because we shall see the less of him. Not that I am afraid of myself, but I
dread people’s remarks.” (p. 270; Chapter LIII) Even though time had passed the feeling for each other
had not changed, but rather grew from the time apart, when together they acted as if he had never left.
And within a few days she found her self engaged to Mr. Bingley.
     Elizabeth the second eldest of the sisters had not just one opportunity for engagement but had
three. She unlike her sister did not love either of them at first. Her first contestant was her cousin Mr.
Collins. He had come down to visit to look over their estate he would one day inherit, and as a favor to
Mr. Bennet he wanted to marry one of his daughters to show appreciation. After being there a little while
he decided that he would have Jane as his wife, but was later informed that she was to be engaged with
Mr. Bingley and was forced to go for his second choice, Lizzy. As he proposed to her she tried everything
to keep her from laughing and had to interrupt his extended speech by saying, “ You forget that I have
made no answer. Let me do it without further loss of time. Accept my thanks for the compliment you are
paying me. I am very sensible of the honor of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise
than to decline them.” (p. 94; Chapter XIX) As he took this with astonishment and not even believing
her at first he later took the loss and married her best friend Lady Lucas of Lucas Lodge.
     Contestant two, Mr. Wickham. He was a part of her refusing Mr. Collins. From her first
meeting with him she was totally into him. She found him interesting and she also found out that he
knew Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley’s friend. What she found out was intriguing, Mr. Wickham was Mr.
Darcy’s dad’s favorite. He told her that Mr. Darcy was a terrible man, that he treated him very badly and
to watch out for him. ‘Elizabeth honored him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than ever as
he expressed them.’ (p. 72; Chapter XVI) Lizzy hated Mr. Darcy even more, since she was not a fan of
him before this and continued looking forward to and enjoying her conversations with him. Then one day
there was to be a ball and Mr. Darcy was said to be there. ‘Elizabeth thought with great pleasure of
dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy’s looks
and behavior.’ (p. 77; Chapter XVII) But to her disappointment he did not attend the ball. She then
found herself dancing with Mr. Darcy, ‘...she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy, who took
her so much by surprise in his application for her hand, that, without knowing what she did, she accepted
him.’ (p. 80; Chapter XVIII) After the ball she finds out from her sister Jane that Mr. Wickham is not
the sweet man that she thinks he is. She informed her that everyone who knows Mr. Wickham dislikes
him and he deserves any anger that Mr. Darcy would like to bestow on him. Lizzy does not want to
believe her, but she will soon be able to see for herself what type of man he is.
     The last man standing, Mr. Darcy. Lizzy’s first meeting with him was truly one to remember

Bibliography:
"Pride and Prejudice.", Jane Austen.