chapter summary of P & P

Chapter 1: Mrs. Bennet announces to her husband that Netherfield Park, a large Hertfordshire estate, has been let to a Mr. Bingley, "a young man of fortune from the north of England", who she hopes may marry one of their five daughters. She attempts to persuade him to visit the newcomer and is frustrated when he says that he has no intention of doing so.

Chapter 2: Mr. Bennet continues to let his family think that he will not visit Mr. Bingley, when in fact he has already done so. They are all delighted when he reveals the truth.

Chapter 3: Mr. Bingley, after having returned Mr. Bennet's visit and made a short trip to London, makes his first appearance at a local ball. With him are his sisters Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley and his friend Mr. Darcy who are all staying with him at Netherfield. Darcy is admired at first for his good looks and large fortune, but soon offends everyone by his disdainful, proud manner. He is particularly rude to Elizabeth Bennet, the second of the Bennet sisters, by refusing to dance with her, saying she is not "handsome" enough. Mr. Bingley, by contrast, is universally liked, and distinguishes Jane Bennet, the eldest and most beautiful of the sisters, by dancing with her twice.

Chapter 4: Jane confesses to Elizabeth how much she likes Mr. Bingley and in replying Elizabeth comments on her sister's ability to see the good in everyone; she herself is more given to cynicism. Austen then gives us more details about the Bingleys: the sisters are "proud and conceited"; Mr. Bingley is expected to purchase property soon, and is renting Netherfield as a temporary measure. Mr. Darcy is cleverer than Bingley, but "haughty, reserved and fastidious".

Chapter 5: Charlotte Lucas, the eldest daughter of some of the Bennets' neighbours and Elizabeth's friend, comes to Longbourn, the village where the Bennets live, to talk over the ball. Bingley's apparent admiration of Jane and Darcy's pride is the main topic of conversation.

Chapter 6: The acquaintance between the Bingleys and the Bennets is advanced by two further visits. Elizabeth remarks to Charlotte that although Jane is attracted to Bingley, she will keep this well hidden by her unwavering "composure of temper". Charlotte replies that Jane would do better to encourage Bingley if she hopes to make him ask her to marry him. Charlotte is much more concerned than Elizabeth with the importance of marrying well, feeling that falling in love is secondary to being comfortably settled. At a party at the Lucas's Darcy begins to notice Elizabeth and even asks her to dance, which she declines.

Chapter 7: We learn that because Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have no sons the Longbourn estate will be inherited by a "distant relation". The younger daughters, Kitty and Lydia, have been introduced to some officers of a regiment encamped at Meryton, a nearby town, by their aunt and uncle Philips, and can think of nothing else. Jane is invited to Netherfield and Mrs. Bennet insists on her going on horseback in the hope that she will catch cold from riding in bad weather and be forced to stay longer. The next day news arrives that Jane is indeed ill and Elizabeth decides to walk to Netherfield to visit her. She is invited to stay in order to be near her sister while she is unwell.

Chapter 8: Elizabeth spends the evening with Bingley, his two sisters and Darcy. Darcy continues to her admire her, which provokes the jealousy of Miss Bingley, who, it becomes clear, is hoping to marry Darcy herself. While she is with her sister, Miss Bingley takes the opportunity of disparaging Elizabeth and her "vulgar" relations. By the end of the evening Jane is no better, and it is agreed that a doctor will be called in the morning.

Chapter 9: Jane is slightly better on the following morning, but nevertheless Elizabeth wants her mother's opinion. Mrs. Bennet arrives with Kitty and Lydia; she embarrasses Elizabeth with her tactless remarks, and Lydia reminds Bingley of his promise to give a ball at Netherfield, which he confirms he will do as soon as Jane is better.

Chapter 10: As Jane continues to recover Elizabeth spends another evening and day with Bingley and his guests. Miss Bingley distracts Darcy from writing to his sister with compliments on his handwriting and later teases him about Elizabeth. Darcy himself becomes more and more attracted to Elizabeth.

Chapter 21: Mr. Collins finds consolation in talking to Charlotte Lucas, who is spending the day with them. Wickham accompanies Elizabeth and her sisters back from Meryton and confirms the report that he did not attend the Netherfield ball in order to avoid Darcy. When they get home a letter arrives for Jane from Miss Bingley, saying that they are all going to London and do not intend to return to Netherfield for some time. Jane is distressed but composed; Elizabeth thinks that Miss Bingley has deliberately parted Jane and Bingley because the Bennets are not rich enough and because she wants her brother to marry Miss Darcy in the hope that Darcy will then be more likely to propose to her.

Chapter 22: Mr. Collins proposes to Charlotte, who accepts him. She wants no more than to be comfortably settled and is not blind to his character. Mr. Collins then leaves Hertfordshire. Charlotte announces her engagement to Elizabeth, who does her best to hide her shock.

Chapter 23: Sir William Lucas, Charlotte's father, announces his daughter's engagement to the whole Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet is incensed at what she sees as a betrayal on Charlotte's part. Elizabeth's anxiety grows that Bingley's sisters will successfully keep their brother in London all winter, as gossip has it that he will not return to Netherfield for some time.

Chapter 24: A letter arrives from Miss Bingley which confirms this report. Jane resigns herself to losing Bingley and in a discussion with Elizabeth attempts to acquit everyone concerned of any possible blame. Elizabeth is more cynical, reasserting her conviction that Bingley's sisters and Darcy are at the bottom of it all. Elizabeth's acquaintance with Wickham grows as his relationship with Darcy becomes common knowledge.

Chapter 25: Mr. Collins leaves the county again, having returned as soon as possible to spend time with Charlotte. No sooner has he left than Mrs. Bennet's other sister, Mrs. Gardiner, arrives with her husband. They are particularly welcome guests to Jane and Elizabeth and, after hearing the whole sorry tale of Jane and Bingley, Mrs. Gardiner invites Jane to return with them to London when they leave the Bennets, thinking that a change of scene might do her good.

Chapter 26: Mrs. Gardiner warns Elizabeth against falling in love with Wickham, on the grounds that he is poor. Elizabeth takes her aunt's advice well, but does not promise her to follow it. The Gardiners leave for London with Jane. Charlotte and Mr. Collins are married; before leaving for Kent Charlotte asks Elizabeth to visit her when Sir William and Maria Lucas do. Jane writes from London that Miss Bingley has behaved coldly towards her and that she now considers the acquaintance entirely at an end. Wickham transfers his attentions from Elizabeth to a Miss King, who is rich. Elizabeth excuses him and feels little regret for herself, concluding that she cannot have been in love with him.

Chapter 27: Elizabeth leaves for Kent, going via London, where her aunt asks her about Wickham's new attachment. Mrs. Gardiner then invites her niece to visit Derbyshire and the Lakes with her and her husband in the summer.

Chapter 28: Elizabeth and the Lucas's arrive at Mr. and Mrs. Collins's home. They are promptly invited to dine at Rosings, Lady Catherine de Burgh's estate, the next day.

Chapter 29: The dinner-party at Rosings takes place; Elizabeth finds Lady Catherine domineering and supercilious. Lady Catherine, for her part, thinks Elizabeth is impertinent and too forward in offering her opinion.

Chapter 30: Elizabeth's visit continues to be dominated by engagements at Rosings; Lady Catherine does not improve on acquaintance and Mr. Collins's obsequiousness continues to amuse and irritate Elizabeth. Darcy arrives in Kent on his annual visit to his aunt, bringing with him his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Both men visit the parsonage; Darcy is as awkward as ever, but Fitzwilliam is friendly and likeable.

Chapter 31: The parsonage party dine again at Rosings; while Elizabeth is playing the piano, Darcy watches her, and she and Fitzwilliam tease him about his awkward manners.

Chapter 41: Mrs. Forster, the young wife a Colonel in the regiment and Lydia's friend, invites Lydia to Brighton with her. Mrs. Bennet is delighted, Kitty is jealous and Elizabeth is worried. The officers have dinner at Longbourn before they go; Elizabeth hints to Wickham that she knows the truth of his relationship with Darcy. They part amicably but with relief. Lydia leaves Longbourn.

Chapter 42: Elizabeth sets off for Derbyshire with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. They decide to go to Pemberley, Darcy's house, which is famous for its beauty.

Chapter 43: The housekeeper at Pemberly, who shows the Gardiners and Elizabeth around, gives a glowing account of Darcy's behaviour as a master, a son and a brother. While walking in the grounds they meet Darcy himself, who has returned home a day before he was expected. Elizabeth keeps up an awkward conversation; she is amazed, however, to see him being polite to her uncle and aunt and to herself, asking if he may introduce his sister to her.

Chapter 44: Darcy, his sister and Bingley (who is staying at Pemberly) visit Elizabeth. Georgiana is shy but not proud; Bingley is as pleasant as ever and hints that he is still thinking of Jane; Darcy goes out of his way to be polite, asking Elizabeth and the Gardiners to dinner. Elizabeth concludes that he must still be in love with her and begins to wonder whether she could make him propose again. This marks the beginning of her total change of heart towards him.

Chapter 45: While Darcy, Bingley and Mr. Gardiner are fishing, Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner call on Georgiana and Bingley's sisters. Miss Bingley is barely civil to Elizabeth; she is jealous of Darcy's affection.

Chapter 46: A letter arrives from Jane; Lydia has eloped with Wickham. At first it was thought that they had gone to Scotland to get married, but it now appears that they are in London and no-one knows whether they have any intention of marrying or not. Mr. Bennet has gone to London to try and find Lydia and wants Mr. Gardiner to join him. As Elizabeth is reading this, Darcy comes in and hears the news. His reaction is to leave quickly, which Elizabeth interprets as a desire to disassociate himself from the scandal. The Gardiners return from their walk, are informed of what has happened, and the whole party is very soon on the road home.

Chapter 47: Elizabeth tells her aunt and uncle about Wickham's history, showing that his eloping with Lydia is by no means uncharacteristic behaviour. They arrive home to find Mrs. Bennet near hysterical. Jane fills Elizabeth in on the details, showing her the letter that Lydia left for Mrs. Forster. It is flippant and thoughtless, but reveals that she loved Wickham and hoped that they would be married.

Chapter 48: There is no news from London; the hunt for Lydia and Wickham is so far unsuccessful, but it has come out that Wickham was quite seriously in debt. Elizabeth worries about the effect that this scandal in her family will have on her relationship with Darcy. Mr. Bennet arrives home, leaving Mr. Gardiner in London to continue the search.

Chapter 49: Mr. Gardiner writes to say that he has found Lydia and Wickham and that they are not married, but that if Mr. Bennet will send money to settle on Wickham they soon will be. From the small sum asked of him Mr. Bennet concludes that Mr. Gardiner must have put a lot of his own money into making the couple marry and hence saving the family from further disgrace. Mrs. Bennet is delighted by the way everything has turned out: it is enough to her to have a daughter married, however it came about.

Chapter 50: The news spreads through the neighbourhood; Elizabeth wishes that she had not told Darcy what was happening in Derbyshire, and is afraid that she has lost him. She is now convinced that they could be happy together. News arrives from Mr. Gardiner that Wickham has decided to join a regiment near Newcastle and that as soon as they are married they will leave for their new home. Mr. Bennet, having said that he would not receive the couple in his house, is persuaded by Jane and Elizabeth to let them pay a farewell visit.