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Chapter-wise Summary of Pride and Prejudice

Volume I

  1.  We are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, of Longbourn Estate. Mrs. Bennet has interesting news that a wealthy gentleman from the north is about to move in to a nearby estate. She immediately plans to marry him to one of her five daughters. She asks her husband to call on the new neighbor Bingley as soon as he arrives. She reminds him of their daughters, while he teases her by feigning disinterest in the newcomer.
  2. Elizabeth and three of her sisters, Kitty, Mary, and Lydia are introduced. After Mr. Bennet’s early teasing over visiting Bingley, it is revealed that he was first in line to meet Bingley, and subsequently the rest of the chapter is spent considering when Bingley will visit the Bennets in return.
  3. Bingley returns Mr. Bennet’s visit and the Bennets invite him to dinner, but he declines as he has business in town. When he returns for a ball, he brings his sisters and a friend, Darcy. The first introduction of Darcy is not favorable as the Meryton folk observe that he is rich and attractive but too proud. He makes his own comments on Elizabeth, that she is not quite “handsome enough” for his tastes, turning down Bingley's suggestion that he ask her to dance. Jane, meanwhile dances with Bingley. Bingley’s interest in Jane excites Mrs. Bennet.
  4. In each other’s confidence, Jane tells Elizabeth that she admires Bingley and enjoys his sisters’ company as well. Elizabeth is not so easily charmed and finds her sister too easy to impress. She finds Bingley’s sisters proud. Miss Bingley, the unmarried of his sisters is to live with him in Netherfield and the friendship between Darcy and Bingley is revealed to be rather deep with Bingley having a high regard for Darcy’s intelligence.
  5. Sir William and Lady Lucas have a quite large family. Their oldest daughter Charlotte is one of Elizabeth’s best friends and the chapter shows the conversations between Charlotte and the Bennet daughters as they discuss Darcy and his pride Charlotte feels his wealth justifies his pride.
  6. The Bennet sisters spend more time with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, although Bingley’s sisters are largely disinterested in being with anyone but Jane and Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Charlotte discuss Jane’s budding relationship with Bingley and the two disagree over how Jane should show her feelings, with Elizabeth agreeing with Jane’s coy approach and Charlotte thinking she should be more expressive, lest nothing come of it. Darcy begins to show a bit more interest in Elizabeth. Beyond his early observations that she was just tolerable, he begins to find her much more interesting and when he requests her to dance with him, she turns him down. It is here that Miss Bingley discovers that Darcy has an interest in Elizabeth.
  7. The two youngest Bennet sisters, Kitty and Lydia, visit their aunt Mrs. Phillips in Meryton. A military regiment is stationed in Meryton and in due time the two become acquainted with the officers in the regiment. Jane is invited to Netherfield to have supper with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, and is advised by her mother to go on horseback so that if there is rain, she will be invited to stay longer. In the course of the three mile ride, Jane is soaked in the rain and falls ill. So she has to stay back at Netherfield. Elizabeth visits her and ends up staying at Netherfield herself at the request of her sister.
  8. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst do not fully appreciate Elizabeth and take the opportunity to jab at her behavior and lack of manners whenever she is not around. They voice their empathy for Jane as well because of her family and lack of connections. They worry for her chances of making a good match. That evening, the Bingleys, Hursts, and Darcy have a card game in which more details regarding Pemberley – Darcy’s own estate – and his sister are revealed.
  9. Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Lydia visit Jane –– and it is generally decided that she should not yet return home as she is not quite well. Lydia mentions to Bingley that he had made mention of a ball being held at his own estate, to which he agrees. Mrs. Bennet gets into an argument with Darcy before she leaves with her younger daughters. Bingley sisters once again laugh at the Benent family. Darcy, however does not join in.
  10. As Jane continues recovering, with the women reading, writing, and playing music, Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance. She once again turns him down, unwilling to allow him “the pleasure of despising” her. Miss Bingley grows increasingly jealous of Darcy’s attention to Elizabeth, a girl she finds beneath her.
  11. With Jane feeling better, she arrives in the drawing room and spends a few hours of the evening talking with Bingley. In an attempt to draw Darcy’s attention, Miss Bingley asks Elizabeth to walk with her. Darcy and Elizabeth analyse their characters. She comments that his problem is a “propensity to hate everybody” and he responds by saying that she tries to “willfully misunderstand”.
  12. With Jane’s recovery complete, she and Elizabeth decide to return home. Darcy notes that he has been paying too much attention to Elizabeth and decides to speak with her less. The Bennet sisters return home to a mother who is not entirely happy that Jane has returned, having wanted her to stay with Bingley for as long as possible. Kitty and Lydia are full of news of the military officers in Meryton.
  13. Mr. Bennet announces, after some playfulness in withholding the name, that his cousin Collins has written to him announcing his trip to Longbourn. He is the heir to Mr. Bennet’s estate because Mr. Bennet has no sons. Collins is a man of the church and has been given an important patronage. Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth feel Collins might be lacking in sense, from reading his letter. When he arrives, they find their conjecture was right. It is soon realized that he intends to marry one of the Bennet girls.
  14. Collins goes on and on about his patroness the Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her residence in Rosings Park. He tells the Bennets how he is exceptionally well suited at flattering Lady de Bourgh and her daughter. Mr. Bennet is not impressed and finds his cousin rather silly.
  15. Collins decides he will ask for Jane’s hand in marriage, but is dissuaded when Mrs. Bennet tells him that there is another to whom Jane is likely to be engaged. Quickly, Collins decides on Elizabeth. The Bennet sisters, accompanied by Collins take a walk to Meryton where they run into Denny, one of Lydia and Kitty’s officer friends. He has with him Wickham, a recently commissioned corps member. All the girls find Wickham appealing. As the group meets and converses, Bingley and Darcy arrive. Elizabeth takes note of both Darcy and Wickham’s change in color at meeting each other, Darcy appears to be angry with the officer. The sisters move on with Collins to visit Mrs. Phillips, who invites them to dinner the next day.
  16. The Bennet girls and Collins arrive at Mrs. Phillips’ for dinner. Wickham is present. Wickham and Elizabeth engage in a long evening of conversation in which Wickham speaks a lot of falsehood about Darcy. He speaks of his childhood in Pemberley where he grew up with Darcy as his father was steward to Darcy’s father and that in the will Wickham was to receive the position of a clergyman in a rectory Darcy’s family oversees. However, Darcy did not honor the will. This angers Elizabeth no end. Wickham informs Elizabeth that Darcy is Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s nephew and is intended to marry Miss de Bourgh. Elizabeth is taken in by Wickham’s charm and believes his lies.
  17. Elizabeth and Jane discuss the information Wickham has given. Jane, as one who always looks for the good, entreats Elizabeth to consider that there might be a misunderstanding somehow as no man would disrespect his father’s wishes in such a manner. Elizabeth believes Wickham however. The Bingley sisters arrive in the meantime to invite everyone to the Netherfield ball, though they leave quickly to avoid speaking with the younger Bennet sisters and their mother. The Bennets are duly excited. Collins asks Elizabeth for the first two dances, which she is disappointed by as she had hoped to save those for Wickham.
  18. Upon arriving at the ball, Elizabeth realizes that Wickham is absent because of Darcy. She is mortified during the first two dances by Collins’ clumsiness. Darcy once again requests her to dance with him and this time she agrees unwillingly. To annoy him, she brings up the topic of Wickham. Darcy gets angry, but controls himself. Sir William drops by and hints at future congratulations for Bingley and Jane. Mrs.Bennet, Collins and the younger girls behave in a most embarrassing way at the ball. The last to leave, the Bennets are not missed by Bingley’s sisters.
  19. Collins arrives at the drawing room and asks Mrs. Bennet and Kitty for some time alone with Elizabeth. She tries to keep her family with her but realizes that she might as well deal with the inevitable. Collins begins by stating his reasons for marrying, of which Lady de Bourgh’s advice to do so is one, and proposes to her. Elizabeth however, rejects him as she says they would not make each other happy. Collins finds her rejection to be an attempt at modesty and decides to wait and ask again. Despite her avid declaration that she will continue rejecting him, Collins believes that eventually he can woo her.
  20. Mrs. Bennet is upset by Elizabeth’s refusal. She decides she must convince her daughter to marry him and tries to get her husband to help. She states that if Elizabeth refuses she will never talk to her again. Mr. Bennet bluntly refuses to oblige her, not wanting Collins to marry into his family. Charlotte arrives and learns of what has happened.
  21. After he withdraws his suit to Elizabeth, Collins quickly begins to ignore her in favor of Charlotte. The girls visit Meryton again where they meet Wickham. He informs Elizabeth that his absence at the ball was due to his desire to avoid Darcy. He walks her back home where she introduces him to her parents. Jane receives a letter shortly from Miss Bingley stating that the Bingleys have returned to London indefinitely and that Bingley will hopefully be marrying Georgiana, Darcy’s sister. Elizabeth sees through Caroline’s letter and tries to convince Jane that Bingley will return. However, Jane is incapable of believing that Bingley’s sisters could be so deceiving.
  22. The Bennets dine with the Lucases the next day and Elizabeth expresses her gratitude to Charlotte for spending time with Collins. However, it is revealed that much of Charlotte’s attention to Collins is in hopes of securing him for herself. They are soon engaged to be married and Elizabeth is shocked that her friend would agree to a marriage where there is no love and almost certain unhappiness. Collins leaves soon thereafter to his parish.
  23. When Sir William arrives to announce to the Bennets that Charlotte and Collins are engaged, Mrs. Bennet is angry. Elizabeth believes she and Charlotte can no longer be truly close in light of what has happened. Mrs. Bennet wonders if the Bingleys will return, upsetting Jane further. Elizabeth begins to fear herself that the Bingley sisters might be successful in their attempt to keep Bingley away from Jane. 

Volume II

  1. (December 1811) Miss Bingley writes to Jane, informing her that they will be staying in London for the duration of the winter. Elizabeth continues to talk against the marriage of Charlotte and Collins. She also tries to comfort Jane, stating that Bingley’s sisters and Darcy are keeping him away from her. Wickham spends more time with the Bennets and soon the stories of Darcy’s ill treatment of him become public knowledge.
  2. Mr. Collins leaves for his parish and Mrs. Bennet’s brother Mr. Gardiner and his wife arrive for Christmas. Mrs. Gardiner is very close to both Jane and Elizabeth and is acquainted with news of Bingley, Darcy and Wickham. She invites Jane to stay with her in London for a while.
  3. (January 1812) Mrs. Gardiner advices Elizabeth to keep away from Wickham, as he does not have any money and she will only disappoint her father if she were to marry the man. Later, Collins returns to marry Charlotte. They return to Kent, and Charlotte invites Elizabeth to visit her. It has been four weeks since Jane left for London and she relays in her letters to Elizabeth that she is yet to see Bingley or hear from his sister. She eventually decides that he would have come by then if he really cared and that his sister is not a true friend. Wickham has found another woman with money of her own to lavish his attentions on.
  4. (March 1812) Elizabeth prepares to visit Charlotte with Sir William and Maria, Charlotte’s sister. On the way to Kent, they stop in London and visit Jane and the Gardiners. Mrs. Gardiner informs Elizabeth that Jane is often quite by the thought of Bingley. Elizabeth accepts an invitation to accompany the Gardiners on a tour.
  5. Elizabeth and the Lucases arrive in Kent to visit Collins and Charlotte, and Collins makes a point of showing off his Parsonage to them. Lady de Bourgh invites them all to join her for dinner the next day.
  6. Collins congratulates his guests on their luck for so quickly being invited to dine with Lady de Bourgh. On the walk, the Lucases are duly nervous and after arriving Collins makes a show of complimenting everything in Lady de Bourgh’s home, to which she is grateful. The Lady gives Charlotte advice on running a household and various other domestic concerns. She turns her attentions then to Elizabeth, and is shocked by Elizabeth’s response to her questions, not as nervous and awestruck as the rest of her guests.
  7. Satisfied with the match, Sir William returns home. Every so often, Lady de Bourgh arrives to offer advice to Charlotte and invites them to her home for dinner. A few weeks into her stay, Darcy arrives with his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Darcy is slightly altered in his behavior. He visits the Parsonage often, but mostly stays silent.
  8. (April 1812) After the arrival of Darcy and Fitzwilliam arrived, Elizabeth and the others at the Collins household hardly receive any invitations to dinner. When at last, they are invited, Darcy is embarrassed by his aunt’s condescending behavior towards them. He moves closer to Elizabeth while she plays the piano, and clearly shows no interest in Miss Anne De Bourgh.
  9. While alone the next day, Elizabeth receives a visit from Darcy, who states that he was unaware that she was alone. Both are embarrassed. She inquires whether Mr. Bingley will ever return to Netherfield. Darcy replies that it is unlikely. As soon as Charlotte and Maria return, Darcy leaves. Elizabeth does not understand why Darcy keeps coming.
  10. Having told Darcy that she often walks in the park, Elizabeth cannot understand why he keeps going there and they keep crossing paths. One day she comes across Fitzwilliam while walking and they walk together for a while. Conversation turns to Bingley, and Fitzwilliam reveals that Darcy has just saved Bingley from an undesirable connection. Elizabeth is convinced that Darcy has separated Jane and Bingley, and is deeply disturbed. She does not join the others to visit Lady de Bourgh that evening.
  11. While Collins' family is at the estate, Darcy visits Elizabeth alone. He shocks her by declaring that he admires and loves her, and wishes to marry her. He has fought against his feelings because of her family’s position and lower status, but cannot any longer and in his pride assumes she will accept. She, however does not accept, and accuses him of cruelty to Jane and Wickham. Darcy admits to his role in separating Jane and Bingley. Elizabeth accuses him of ungentlemanly behavior and declares that he is the last man she will ever marry.
  12. Disturbed by the unexpected events, Elizabeth decides to go for a walk. Darcy meets her in the park and hands her a letter. In the letter, Darcy justifies his acts. He claims that he has seen Bingley fall in love often in the past. He saw that Bingley was infatuated but also saw that Jane seemed disinterested. He convinced Bingley of Jane’s indifference and got him to leave for London. Darcy also reveals Wickham’s true character, shocking Elizabeth with news of Wickham’s past profligacy and near elopement with Georgiana, Darcy’s sister.
  13. Elizabeth does not believe Darcy immediately. However, realization dawns on her slowly as he reconsiders all past events. She realizes she had been taken in by Wickham’s charm. She remembers Charlotte had already warned against Jane’s guarded manners.
  14. The next morning, Darcy and Fitzwilliam leave Rosings and Lady de Bourgh invites Collins and his family to dinner. She attempts to keep Elizabeth around for one more month, but Elizabeth is intent on leaving as planned. Elizabeth and Maria receive advice on how to pack for their return trip and travel home.
  15. (May 1812) Just before Elizabeth leaves, Collins takes the opportunity to show off his prospects, and remind her of what she has missed by refusing to marry him. Maria and Elizabeth leave and are soon at Mr. Gardiner’s home in London. Elizabeth is excited to see Jane and cannot wait to tell her about Darcy and his proposal.
  16. Elizabeth and Jane return home and are met by Lydia and Kitty on the way. They inform them that the officers in Meryton are leaving soon. Lydia hopes to convince their father to take them to Brighton where they are set to be stationed during the summer.
  17. Elizabeth finally tells Jane what happened with Darcy, deciding to leave out any part of the story that might upset Jane. Jane is appropriately shocked, and feels bad for Darcy. Elizabeth relates the story of Wickham and Jane is once again shocked. They decide however that they will not expose Wickham.
  18. Kitty and Lydia are upset that the officers are to leave Meryton. They pester Mr. Bennet to take them to Brighton. Mrs. Forster, the Colonel’s wife invites Lydia with her at Brighton, so Lydia is allowed to go. Elizabeth attempts to persuade her her father to stop Lydia, but he doesn’t listen. Elizabeth gives up. She meets Wickham before the regiment leaves, and hints that she knows more than he has revealed about his past. Lydia leaves with the officers and Mrs. Forster.
  19. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty are largely bored and complain often, making Elizabeth wish that her trip with the Gardiners could arrive sooner. The trip is postponed though and will be shortened to a trip to Derbyshire instead. The Gardiners leave their children in the care of Jane as they leave with Elizabeth. When Mrs. Gardiner mentions that she would like to see Pemberley, Elizabeth worries that she might run into Darcy, until she learns that he and his family are not around.

Volume III 

  1. (August 1812) Elizabeth is thrilled seeing Pemberley and notes how good it might be to be the Mistress of Pemberley. The housekeeper greets them and speaks very highly of Darcy, surprising Elizabeth. Later, they run into Darcy. At first, both Elizabeth and Darcy are stunned and embarrassed. His behavior is different, he is most gentlemanly. He asks to be introduced to her friends, the Gardiners, surprising Elizabeth. Darcy also asks her if he could introduce her to his sister. Later, Elizabeth can think of nothing but Darcy and his manners.
  2. Darcy arrives promptly the day his sister returns home, to introduce her to Elizabeth. Elizabeth is surprised that Miss Darcy is shy and not excessively proud as Wickham had claimed. Bingley arrives as well, joining the party with his sisters. Elizabeth notes that Bingley doesn’t seem to show any interest in Miss Darcy. The Gardiners are surprised by Darcy’s actions and decide that he is interested in Elizabeth. As he continues trying to please her family, Elizabeth is duly surprised and when he leaves, he invites them to dinner at Pemberley.
  3. Elizabeth decides that Miss Bingley is jealous of her, that being the source of her dislike. During the visit, Miss Bingley watches Elizabeth and Darcy's behavior. After Elizabeth leaves, Miss Bingley takes the chance to assault almost every aspect of her. Darcy and his sister do not join.
  4. Elizabeth returns to the hotel to find two letters from Jane. In the first letter, Jane informs her that Lydia has run off with Wickham to Scotland. The second letter states that the couple has not gone to Scotland to marry as assumed, and that Wickham does not plan to marry Lydia at all. As Elizabeth sets out to inform the Gardiners, she meets Darcy at the door. She informs him of the disturbing news. Darcy becomes quiet, and leaves shortly. Elizabeth believes she will never see him again.
  5. Elizabeth and the Gardiners return to Longbourn. The trip home is spent pondering what will happen. They reach home to find that no news has come from Mr. Bennet in London, Mrs. Bennet claims to be ill, and the house is in disarray.
  6. Mr. Gardiner leaves for London, Mrs. Gardiner stays with the Bennets to help. Mr. Gardiner writes that he and Mr. Bennet are looking for Lydia in the city’s hotels. Mr. Collins writes to convey his disapproval. Mr. Bennet returns dejected, and confesses to Elizabeth that she was right and he should have listened to her advice about Lydia.
  7. Two days later, Mr. Gardiner writes that he has found Lydia and Wickham, and that Wickham has agreed to marry Lydia if some minor financial settlements are made. Mrs. Bennet is overjoyed, her daughters are relieved. Mr. Bennet, however, guesses that Mr. Gardiner is concealing the fact that he has paid a huge sum to Wickham to bring this about.
  8. Mr. Bennet takes stock of the situation. He regrets his past irresponsible behavior. He decides he must repay Mr. Gardiner. Mrs. Bennet starts planning for the wedding, Mr. Bennet announces that Lydia and Wickham will not be allowed at Longbourn. Elizabeth regrets having informed Darcy about the elopement. She realizes she would have been happy with him, but despairs of seeing him again.
  9. (September 1812) After their wedding, Lydia and Wickham arrive at the Bennet household. Mrs. Bennet is excited, Mr. Bennet is quiet and unhappy. Lydia is anything but embarrassed and actually brags about her match. Lydia talks on about the wedding despite Elizabeth’s disinterest, and lets slip that Darcy was at her wedding. Burning with curiosity, Elizabeth writes to Mrs. Gardiner asking for an explanation.
  10. Mrs. Gardiner replies promptly. She reveals that Darcy had gone to London and found Lydia and Wickham himself. He had paid Wickham to marry Lydia, and given Mr. Gardiner the credit for doing so, wanting his role to be kept secret.
  11. After Lydia and Wickham leave, Mrs. Bennet learns that Bingley is returning to Netherfield. Jane decides she will be friendly with Bingley and think no more of him. Mrs. Bennet asks Mr. Bennet to visit Bingley when he arrives and after his refusal decides to invite Bingley to dinner instead. To everyone’s surprise, Bingley himself arrives, with Darcy. Both are their usual former selves, Bingley cheerful and pleasant, Darcy serious and quiet.
  12. Bingley and Darcy come home for dinner. Mrs. Bennet is excited to see Bingley paying attention to Jane. Elizabeth hopes Darcy will talk to her, but he remains quiet.
  13. Darcy returns to London for a few days and Bingley visits the Bennets on his own. Mrs. Bennet maneuvers to get Jane and Bingley together, and Bingley proposes to Jane. Jane and Bingley are engaged, and the whole family is immensely happy.
  14. (October 1812) Lady de Bourgh arrives to question Elizabeth about the rumor that she is engaged to Darcy. The Lady does not approve of such a match, and tries to make Elizabeth promise that she will not marry Darcy. Elizabeth refuses to make any such promise, enraging Lady de Bourgh.
  15. Elizabeth wonders what Lady Catherine de Bourgh will do next, and what effect that will have on Darcy. Mr. Bennet confronts her with a letter from Mr. Collins congratulating the family on Jane’s engagement and warning them against Elizabeth’s engagement to Darcy. Mr. Bennet is amused by the confusion, Elizabeth is perplexed.
  16. When Darcy returns, he and Bingley visit the Bennets and head out on a walk with Jane and Elizabeth. Darcy and Elizabeth find themselves alone. Elizabeth takes the opportunity to express her gratitude for his role in Lydia’s marriage. Darcy proposes again, and Elizabeth accepts the proposal.
  17. Elizabeth informs Jane about her engagement, and Jane is shocked, Darcy talks with Mr. Bennet and receives his consent. However, Mr. Bennet is disturbed and later asks Elizabeth if she is sure of what she is doing. Elizabeth reassures him. On receiving the information, Mrs. Bennet is shocked at first, but quickly recovers and celebrates the match.
  18. Elizabeth questions Darcy about his attitudes and reasons for loving her, including why he was so silent when he first returned to visit with her. He states that he was embarrassed and it was the liveliness of her mind that attracted him. The two soon write letters to relatives, to announce their engagement.
  19. Mrs. Bennet is ecstatic on the marriage day of her two eldest daughters. Mr. Bennet visits Pemberley often. Jane and Bingley soon buy an estate near Pemberley. Kitty spends a lot of time with Jane and Elizabeth and improves. Wickham and Lydia are often in need of money. Mary and Mrs. Bennet remain at Longbourn. Miss Darcy lives at Pemberley and becomes close to Elizabeth. The Gardiners are welcome guests at Pemberly, and are favorites of the Darcys for bringing them together.

 



book | by Dr. Radut