Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Austen's most loved novel. Sharp, funny, and surprisingly modern. The longest of the easier books in the plan.
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It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.Jane Austen, Pride and PrejudiceRead 15 hand-picked quotes from Pride and Prejudice, with meaning →4 Pride and Prejudice memes, decoded →
Pride and Prejudice: study guide
Everything you need to follow Pride and Prejudice: what happens, who it happens to, what it means, and the words worth learning along the way. The links at the top of the page jump straight to any part of it.
Pride and Prejudice summary
Elizabeth Bennet navigates issues of manners, upbringing, morality, and marriage in the society of early 19th-century England. Her initial prejudice against the proud Mr. Darcy transforms as they both learn more about each other.
Setting: The story is set in rural England during the early 19th century, primarily in the fictional towns of Longbourn and Meryton.
Show the full summary↓
Contains spoilers, including the ending.
The novel opens with the Bennet family learning that a wealthy bachelor, Mr. Bingley, has rented a nearby estate. Mrs. Bennet is eager to marry off one of her five daughters to him. At a ball, Mr. Bingley shows interest in Jane Bennet, while his friend, Mr. Darcy, is perceived as arrogant by Elizabeth Bennet.
As the story progresses, Mr. Darcy's initial disdain for Elizabeth turns into admiration, but she rejects his first marriage proposal due to his pride and his role in separating Jane and Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy is challenged when she learns the truth about his actions and his true character.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth's younger sister Lydia elopes with the unscrupulous Mr. Wickham, which threatens the family's reputation. Mr. Darcy intervenes discreetly to resolve the situation, which leads Elizabeth to see him in a new light.
Mr. Bingley returns and proposes to Jane, who accepts. Darcy overcomes his pride and proposes again to Elizabeth, who accepts this time, realizing her love for him. The novel concludes with the marriages of Elizabeth and Darcy, and Jane and Bingley.
The story explores themes of love, reputation, class, and individuality, with Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship reflecting personal growth and understanding.
The novel ends on a positive note, with the characters finding happiness and understanding, despite societal pressures and initial misunderstandings.
Pride and Prejudice characters
The main characters of Pride and Prejudice, who they are and what they do in the story.
Elizabeth Bennet
protagonistElizabeth is the intelligent and spirited second daughter of the Bennet family. She is known for her wit and her ability to judge character, though her initial prejudice against Mr. Darcy leads to misunderstandings.
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy
protagonistMr. Darcy is a wealthy and reserved gentleman who initially appears proud and aloof. His love for Elizabeth leads him to change his ways and overcome his pride.
Jane Bennet
supportingJane is the eldest Bennet sister, known for her beauty and kindness. Her relationship with Mr. Bingley is central to the plot and highlights themes of love and societal expectations.
Mr. Charles Bingley
supportingMr. Bingley is a wealthy and amiable gentleman who rents Netherfield Park. He is immediately taken with Jane Bennet and is characterized by his good nature and sociability.
Mr. Bennet
supportingMr. Bennet is the sarcastic and somewhat detached father of the Bennet sisters. He often retreats from family matters, leaving his wife to manage their daughters' futures.
Mrs. Bennet
supportingMrs. Bennet is the mother of the Bennet sisters, obsessed with marrying them off to wealthy men. Her lack of tact and social awareness often leads to embarrassing situations.
Mr. George Wickham
antagonistMr. Wickham is a charming but deceitful officer who initially wins Elizabeth's favor but later elopes with Lydia Bennet, causing scandal.
Lydia Bennet
supportingLydia is the youngest Bennet sister, known for her impulsive and flirtatious nature. Her elopement with Mr. Wickham creates a crisis for the family.
Miss Caroline Bingley
antagonistMiss Bingley is Mr. Bingley's snobbish sister who looks down on the Bennet family and attempts to separate her brother from Jane.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh
antagonistLady Catherine is Mr. Darcy's wealthy and domineering aunt, who disapproves of his relationship with Elizabeth and tries to prevent their marriage.
Themes in Pride and Prejudice
The major themes of Pride and Prejudice and what each one means in the story.
Love and Marriage
The novel explores the complexities of love and marriage, emphasizing that true love is based on mutual respect and understanding rather than societal expectations.
Pride and Prejudice
The title reflects the central theme of the novel, where pride and prejudice must be overcome by the characters, particularly Elizabeth and Darcy, to find happiness.
Social Class
Social class and its impact on relationships are central to the novel, highlighting the constraints and expectations placed on individuals based on their social standing.
Individual Growth
The novel emphasizes personal growth and self-awareness, as characters like Elizabeth and Darcy learn from their mistakes and grow as individuals.
Family and Reputation
Family dynamics and the importance of reputation are explored, showing how individual actions can affect the entire family's social standing.
First Impressions
The novel illustrates how first impressions can be misleading, as seen in Elizabeth's initial judgment of Darcy and his later transformation in her eyes.
Pride and Prejudice vocabulary
24 useful words from Pride and Prejudice, from easier to harder. Each has a simple meaning and an example sentence, so you learn words you can actually use, not just recognise. While you read here, tapping any word does the same thing.
- truthnoun
the quality or state of being true or accurate
“She always speaks the truth.”
- fortunenoun
a large amount of money or assets
“He made a fortune in the stock market.”
- propertynoun
something owned; a possession
“The house is her property.”
- replyverb
to answer someone by saying or writing something
“She replied to his email quickly.”
- answernoun
a response to a question
“He gave the wrong answer to the question.”
- delightnoun
a feeling of great pleasure
“The children screamed with delight.”
- marryverb
to join in marriage
“They plan to marry next year.”
- visitverb
to go to see someone or a place
“We visit our grandparents every summer.”
- beautynoun
a combination of qualities that pleases the senses
“The beauty of the landscape was breathtaking.”
- considerverb
to think carefully about something
“She considered his offer before making a decision.”
- consentnoun
permission for something to happen
“She gave her consent to the plan.”
- admireverb
to look at something with pleasure
“I admire her dedication to her work.”
- opinionnoun
a belief or judgment about something
“In my opinion, the movie was great.”
- acquaintancenoun
a person one knows slightly
“She is just an acquaintance from work.”
- disagreeableadjective
unpleasant or offensive
“The disagreeable smell made him leave the room.”
- complimentnoun
a polite expression of praise
“She received a compliment on her dress.”
- pridenoun
a feeling of deep pleasure from one's own achievements
“He took pride in his work.”
- conceitedadjective
having an excessively high opinion of oneself
“He was so conceited that he never listened to others.”
- affectionnoun
a gentle feeling of fondness or liking
“She has a deep affection for her pets.”
- gratitudenoun
the quality of being thankful
“She expressed her gratitude for their help.”
- resentmentnoun
bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly
“He felt resentment towards his boss for the unfair criticism.”
- astonishmentnoun
great surprise
“She looked at him in astonishment when he arrived unexpectedly.”
- intimateadjective
closely acquainted; familiar
“They have an intimate friendship.”
- reconciliationnoun
the restoration of friendly relations
“They reached a reconciliation after their argument.”
How readClassicly reads Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is book 10 of 12 in our free year-long classics reading plan. At our daily pace of 8 pages, the book takes around 8 weeks to finish.
You log pages as you go in a private dashboard. When you finish, a short quiz unlocks the next book in the sequence. No deadlines, no summaries pretending to be reading.
Don't want to follow the order? You don't have to. Members can start with any of the twelve books, and the plan just nudges you back to the recommended path if you fall behind.
Why we picked it
A Regency novel about misjudgement, manners, and slow revelation. Sharper and funnier than its reputation.
Suitable for 12+. Level B2, which means readers comfortable with upper-intermediate English will follow it without a dictionary; lower-intermediate readers can read with light support.
Pride and Prejudice: reading level & FAQ
What reading level is Pride and Prejudice?↓
Pride and Prejudice is rated B2 on the CEFR scale and is suitable for ages 12+. It is a good fit for readers building toward or reading comfortably at that level.
Can I read Pride and Prejudice online for free?↓
Yes. Pride and Prejudice is in the public domain and free to read online at readClassicly, with a reading tracker and a short quiz. No account is needed to read it.
What is Pride and Prejudice about?↓
Elizabeth Bennet navigates issues of manners, upbringing, morality, and marriage in the society of early 19th-century England. Her initial prejudice against the proud Mr. Darcy transforms as they both learn more about each other.
How does Pride and Prejudice end?↓
The novel ends on a positive note, with the characters finding happiness and understanding, despite societal pressures and initial misunderstandings.
Wondering how long it takes? Pride and Prejudice is 121,905 words, about 8 hours, broken down by reading speed and by how many minutes a day you give it.
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