Summer Reading: Sunrise on the Reaping
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Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
Study Guide
Pride and Prejudice Q&A
Q&A
Why does Charlotte Lucas marry Mr. Collins?
Charlotte marries Mr. Collins because he has a stable income and offers her the opportunity to
have a home of her own. She does not love him, but she doesn’t believe that love is essential
for a successful marriage. As Charlotte explains to Elizabeth, “I’m not a romantic, you know. I
never was. I ask only a comfortable home.” Since Charlotte is not particularly beautiful and is
growing older, she decides to make the most of an opportunity.
Why is Lizzy Mr. Bennet’s favorite daughter?
Lizzy is her father’s favorite child because she is the only one to share his wit and sense of
humor. Early in the novel, Mr. Bennet is described as “a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic
humor, caprice, and reserve.” Lizzy shares many of these qualities: she is also a keen
observer of human nature, and she also possesses a dry and witty sense of humor. Mr.
Bennet admires that Lizzy can think for herself and make good decisions, which is why he
supports her decision to refuse Mr. Collins’s proposal.
Why does Darcy dislike Wickham?
Darcy has long seen Wickham to be selfish and unscrupulous, characterized by “vicious
propensities.” In particular, Darcy detests Wickham because after Darcy refused to give
Wickham money, Wickham seduced Darcy’s fifteen-year-old sister and planned to elope with
her in order to get his hands on her fortune. Although Darcy has never made this story public
in order to protect his sister’s reputation, he knows that Wickham has a history of predatory
behavior.
Why does Lizzy form a negative first impression of Darcy?
When Lizzy first meets Darcy at the ball, he makes a bad first impression by being cold,
reserved, and unfriendly toward everyone. Like the other guests, Lizzy decides that “he was
the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world.” The bad impression is further solidified
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when she accidentally overhears him talking about her and commenting on her appearance.
Darcy remarks that she is “tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
Why does Lizzy reject Darcy’s first proposal to her?
Lizzy rejects Darcy’s first proposal because while he admits to loving her, he also says many
insulting things about her family and social position. Darcy makes clear “his sense of her
inferiority, of its being a degradation, of the family obstacle, which judgment had always
opposed to inclination.” He also seems confident that she will consider it an honor to marry
him. These attitudes are offensive to Lizzy, because she does not think Darcy is inherently
better than her.
What is the significance of the novel’s opening line?
The novel’s opening line summarizes the story that follows by focusing the reader’s attention
on the subject of marriage and the two main characters to come: “the single man in
possession of a good fortune”—Mr. Darcy—and his wife-to-be—Elizabeth Bennet. The
sentence also suggests the novel’s import and timelessness by suggesting that its plot and
themes are “truths universally acknowledged.” The line’s tone is lighthearted, which sets the
mood for the bulk of the narrative.
According to Mr. Darcy, what qualities make a woman “accomplished”?
Mr. Darcy agrees with Charles Bingley that an accomplished woman must have a knowledge
of music, art, and languages and that she should also possess a “certain something in her air
and manner of walking, the tone of her voice.” However, Darcy adds one more quality to the
list: “the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.” This addition, of course, applies
explicitly to Elizabeth. The reader will learn that Mr. Darcy’s family estate at Pemberley has an
extensive library and that Mr. Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s articulate and literate banter will
constitute much of their mutual attraction.
What role do letters play in the novel?
In addition to face-to-face conversation, letters are the means that characters use to convey
their intentions and wishes and one of the ways readers learn important information about
characters and critical plot developments. A few examples of the role letters play include the
following: Elizabeth writes to her mother to summon a carriage to Netherfield; Mr. Collins
sends a letter to Mr. Bennet announcing his upcoming visit; Mr. Darcy sends a long letter of
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explanation to Elizabeth, which marks the beginning of her change of heart toward him; Mr.
Gardiner communicates with his brother-in-law about Lydia by letter; Mr. Gardiner sends a
letter to Elizabeth in which he confirms Mr. Darcy’s generosity to her family; Lydia sends
letters to her family before her marriage, assuring them of her health and happiness; and Mr.
Bennet’s brief letter to Mr. Collins announcing Elizabeth’s marriage to Mr. Darcy slyly suggests
that Mr. Bennet will have to console Lady Catherine.
What is revealed about the characters after Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collins’s proposal?
After Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collins’s proposal, readers discover different characters’ opinions
about marriage. Readers learn that Elizabeth will not marry someone with whom she isn’t in
love and that she considers Mr. Collins an imbecile. Readers learn that Mr. Collins is intent on
finding a wife and that he does not care who she is, for he proposes the next day to Charlotte
Lucas, who accepts. Mr. Bennet respects Elizabeth’s judgments and doesn’t want to see her
marry unhappily. Mrs. Bennet thinks Elizabeth has made a terrible mistake because Mrs.
Bennet cares most about seeing her five daughters married well.
How is the novel a critique of the social norms of its time?
Austen shows that people who have more money or a higher social status are not necessarily
better people. In fact, often they have less integrity, less intelligence, and less ability to make
the world a better place. For example, Caroline Bingley finds the Bennet sisters boring and
their mother intolerable, but she is only trying to woo Mr. Darcy for herself. Mr. Collins is a
buffoon who defines himself by his patron and prattles on about topics that do not interest his
audience. Lady Catherine, a character of high social standing, is conceited and rude to
Elizabeth in their final conversation. Austen uses her characters to reveal a universal truth:
Wealth and status do not make people good people.
How are Mr. and Mrs. Bennet different?
The nervous Mrs. Bennet only wants her daughters to marry for fortune and status, and soon,
but the logical Mr. Bennet enjoys the company of his daughters and hopes that they marry for
love when they are ready. Mrs. Bennet’s domain is the hearth and the kitchen, and she is
flighty and busy most of the time. Mr. Bennet’s domain is his study, and he prefers to withdraw
and detach from the family. Elizabeth is Mr. Bennet’s favorite because of her intelligence, but
Mrs. Bennet doesn’t seem to play favorites. Her ambitions for her daughters are equal and
consistent: She wants them all to marry upward.
What is entailment, and what role does it play in the novel?
Based on the evidence in the novel, entailment is a legal situation in which a property or estate
automatically transfers to a predetermined heir regardless of how many children the property
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owner has. In the case of the Bennet family, their property will automatically be inherited by
William Collins, not any of the Bennet daughters. This controversial reality is evoked many
times by Mrs. Bennet and confirmed by her husband and children, and the situation provides
the momentum for marrying off the five Bennet daughters to men of means since the family
property can never become theirs. Mrs. Bennet reveals her feelings about entailment to Mr.
Bennet when she says, “I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for any thing about the entail.
How any one could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one’s own daughters I
cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins too!—Why should he have it more than
anybody else?”
Who is Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and how does she influence the plot?
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is Mr. Darcy’s aunt and the benefactor to Mr. Collins and his wife,
Charlotte, which makes her an important supporting character. She represents the old way of
planned marriage and clerical servitude. Lady Catherine says that her daughter must marry
Mr. Darcy since it was planned upon her daughter’s birth. Lady Catherine is powerful and tries
to forbid Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s marriage, but Elizabeth undoes her power. The old way
does not prevail—love does.
Why does Wickham lie to Elizabeth?
George Wickham lies to Elizabeth and omits many of the details about the truth because he
wants to impress her and disparage Mr. Darcy. Wickham tells Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy’s
father’s wishes were ignored when they were not. He fails to tell her about his dalliance with
Georgiana Darcy, his leaving his studies in both theology and law, and his mismanagement of
money. It’s ironic that Elizabeth declares that Mr. Darcy should be publicly disgraced when her
comment and attitude apply more to Wickham than to Mr. Darcy.
What role does prejudice play in the novel?
Repeatedly, the novel warns against trusting one’s first impressions or prejudices. Elizabeth’s
first impression of Mr. Darcy is that he is arrogant and aloof, but in the end, she loves him
deeply. Conversely, her first impression of Wickham is that he is charming and good-looking,
but he turns out to be a liar and a cheat. The Bennets’ first impression of Lady Catherine is
admiration for her great wealth and status, but they eventually despise her and her outdated
attitudes. Over the course of the novel, several characters revise their prejudices as loathing
turns to admiration and vice versa.
Pride and Prejudice – Character Sketch (Q&A Format)
1. Elizabeth Bennet
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Q. Write a character sketch of Elizabeth Bennet.
Ans. Elizabeth, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, is the heroine of the novel. She
is intelligent, witty, and independent in her thoughts. Unlike her sisters, she values self-respect
over wealth. She dislikes Mr. Darcy at first due to his pride, but later admires his honesty and
kindness. Elizabeth represents reason, dignity, and the struggle of women to marry for love,
not just money.
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2. Mr. Darcy
Q. Give a character sketch of Mr. Darcy.
Ans. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a wealthy gentleman of high social class. At first, he appears
arrogant and full of pride, especially when he insults Elizabeth. However, as the story
progresses, his true nature is revealed: he is kind, responsible, and deeply loyal. His love for
Elizabeth transforms him into a humbler man. Darcy represents pride corrected by love.
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3. Mr. Bennet
Q. Write a note on the character of Mr. Bennet.
Ans. Mr. Bennet, the father of the five daughters, is intelligent but careless as a parent. He
often hides from responsibilities by staying in his library. He loves Elizabeth most for her
intelligence but fails to guide his family properly. His witty remarks add humor, but his
weakness allows his family to face difficulties.
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4. Mrs. Bennet
Q. Give a character sketch of Mrs. Bennet.
Ans. Mrs. Bennet is a nervous and talkative woman whose main goal in life is to see her
daughters married. She lacks refinement and often embarrasses her family with her behavior.
Although she loves her daughters, her obsession with marriage makes her impractical and
sometimes foolish.
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5. Jane Bennet
Q. Describe Jane Bennet’s character.
Ans. Jane, the eldest Bennet daughter, is beautiful, gentle, and kind-hearted. She always sees
the good in people and avoids judging others harshly. Her relationship with Mr. Bingley reflects
true love based on respect and affection. Jane represents goodness and patience.
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6. Mr. Bingley
Q. Give a character sketch of Mr. Bingley.
Ans. Mr. Bingley is a wealthy and friendly gentleman. Unlike Darcy, he is humble and polite to
everyone. He is easily influenced, especially by Darcy and his sisters. His genuine love for
Jane shows his good nature. He represents simplicity, charm, and honesty.
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7. Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Q. Write a note on Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Ans. Lady Catherine is Darcy’s aunt, a proud and domineering aristocrat. She interferes in
other people’s lives, believing her social status gives her authority. She opposes Darcy’s
marriage to Elizabeth but ultimately fails. She represents arrogance and the rigid class system
of the time.
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