1 Belén Jurjo Andreu (Level four - 11-12-13)

Book report of Pride and Prejudice1

by Jane Austen
Elizabeth is the second sister of the Bennet sisters, five unmarried sisters whom lives
in Loungbourn, a village in Hertfordshire witch they are the most important family. Her
sister, Jane, the eldest and prettiest of sisters, falls in love with a new neighbour of
Netherfield Park, Mr Bingley, a rich single man. At the same time, Elizabeth, who is
less pretty than her sister, becomes friendly with a soldier called Wickham. Elizabeth
(or Lizzy) is the favourite daughter of her father and thus he describes to his wife:

‘[…] though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy’

(Mrs Bennet) ‘I hope you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others,
but you are always showing a preference for her.’

‘They have none of them much about them to admire,’ he replied. ‘They are silly and
empty-headed like other girls, but Lizzy is a little more intelligent than her sisters.’

In these first words from his father, is already noticed the most important of the Lizzy’s
character: She’s a smart woman. However, this great mental acuity and speed in
judging the position and attitude of the people, brings to her some troubles for being
unusual in her time. For example, we have the fragment which Elizabeth meets for the
first time Mr Darcy in the first ball, in this fragment you can check the unseemly good
character of this young women:

(Mr Darcy to Mr Bingley) ‘Which do you mean?’ Darcy asked. Turning round, he looked
for a moment at Elizabeth, until, catching her eye; he looked away and coldly said: ‘She
is fairly pretty, but not good-looking enough’. He walked off, and Elizabeth remained
with no very friendly feelings towards him. But she told the story with great spirit among
her friends, because she had a playful nature and a strong sense of humour.

This character is that makes Mr Darcy falling in love with her irremediably.

[…] she saw Mr Darcy walk into the room. In a hurried manner he immediately began an
inquiry after her health. She answered him with cold politeness. He sat down for a few
moments, and then, getting up, walked around the room. Elizabeth was surprised, but
did not say a word. After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her in a
troubled manner, and began to speak:

‘I have struggled without success. My feelings will not be controlled. You must allow me
to tell you warmly I admire and love you’

[…] In spite of her deeply rooted dislike, she could not fail to realize what an honour it
was to receive such a man’s attention, and though her intentions did not change for one

1I used the book adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin elaborated by editorial
Penguin readers, to corresponding to level five.
 2 Belén Jurjo Andreu (Level four - 11-12-13)

moment, she was at first sorry for the pain he would receive, until, insulted by his
language as he continued, she lost all pity in anger. She tried to control herself, so she
could answer him patiently when he had finished. […] ‘If I could feel grateful, as I
believe one should in a such a situation, I would now thank you. But I cannot – I have
never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly given it most unwillingly. The
reasons which, you tell me, have long prevented the expression of your feelings, can
have little difficulty in bringing them under control.’ […] ‘why, with so clear an intention of
insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will. Was that not some
excuse for impoliteness, if I was impolite? But I have other reasons. Do you think that
any consideration would lead me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining,
perhaps for ever, the happiness of my most dearly loved sister?’

At first she rejects him for gossip about his bad behaviour with Wickham and with his
family. However, he clarifies the doubts and even when your family is in a tight spot the
fault of the youngest sister, Lydia, who runs away with the soldier Wickham which is
causing a strong humiliation to family Mr Darcy support her and returns to confess his
love again.

‘Mr Darcy, I am a very selfish creature, and, in order to give relief to my own feelings, do
not care how much I may be wounding yours. I can no longer help thanking you for your
deep kindness to my poor sister.’ […] ‘Do not blame my aunt. Lydia’s thoughtlessness
first caused the truth to be known, and I could not rest until I knew the details. Let me
thank you again, in the name of all my family.’

[…] ‘You are too generous to keep me in uncertainly. If your feelings are still what they
were last April, tell me so at once. My love and wishes are unchanged, but one word
from you will silence me on this subject for ever.’ […] ‘I have been selfish all my live.
Unfortunately, I was spoiled by my parents, who, though good themselves, encouraged
me to be proud and to think with scorn of the rest of the world. That is how I was, and
how I might still be if I had not met you, dearest Elizabeth! You taught me a lesson, a
hard one, but most advantageous. You showed me how small were all my claims to
please a woman who deserved to be pleased.’

At first, Elizabeth believed that Mr Darcy was arrogant and cold man. It’s for this reason
that when he declares his love for the first time she rejects him and is very surprised.
Over time and actions of him it ultimately breaks the barrier of prejudice and pride that
both had wrought and she realizes that loves him and confesses to his innermost
confidant, his father.

Her father was walking about the room, looking serious. ‘Lizzy’, he said, ‘what are you
doing? Are you out of your mind, to be accepting this man? Have you not always hated
him?’ How deeply she then wished that her former opinions had been more reasonable
and her expression of them less extreme! It would have saved her explanations that it
was very awkward to give.

She told him, in some confusion, of the strength of her feelings for Mr Darcy. ‘That is to
say, you are determined to have him. He is rich, to be sure, and you may have more
fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy? We all know
him to be a proud, unpleasant man.’ ‘I do, I do like him’ she replied, with tears in her
eyes. ‘And what you say of him is untrue. You do not know what he really is.’ […] My
child, do not let me have the unhappiness of seeing you unable to think well of your
partner in life’ […] she did persuade her father to believe her, and make him satisfied
with her choice. To complete his favourable opinion, she then told him what Mr Darcy
 3 Belén Jurjo Andreu (Level four - 11-12-13)

had done for Lydia. ‘Well, my dear’, he said, when she had finished speaking, ‘if this is
the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone who
did not.’

He reminded her of her confusion a few days before when he was reading Mr Collins’s
letter and, after laughing at her, allowed her to go, saying as she left the room, ‘If any
young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in. I am not busy.’

This novel is a shout for love, it believes in true love and forgiveness. Elizabeth isn’t the
most beautiful woman at the novel, but she is intelligent and knows reflect and
acknowledge her mistakes when it has been in order to love deeply.