Pride and Prejudice facts for kids

Pride and Prejudice is a famous book written by Jane Austen. It was first published in 1813. This classic story has been made into movies in 1940 and 2005. There were also two TV shows made by the BBC in 1980 and 1995.

Main Characters

• Elizabeth Bennet: Elizabeth is a smart, funny, and pretty 20-year-old woman. She is brave, intelligent, and loves to laugh at unusual people. Sometimes, her family's less refined ways make her feel a bit embarrassed. While not as beautiful as her sister Jane, Elizabeth has her own special charm.
  • Mr. Darcy first thought she was "tolerable" but not pretty enough for him. But he soon realized she was very intelligent. He also found her figure "light and pleasing" and her manners "easy and playful."
  • At first, Elizabeth didn't know Mr. Darcy liked her. When he asked her to marry him, she angrily said no. She believed he had separated her sister Jane from Mr. Bingley. She also thought he was unfair to Mr. Wickham.
  • Later, Elizabeth learned she was wrong about Mr. Darcy. He became kind and polite to her. Her feelings started to change. When he helped her sister Lydia, Elizabeth fell in love with him. He asked her to marry him again, and they got married happily.

• Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Mr. Darcy is very handsome and rich. He is also very smart. However, people in Elizabeth's town didn't like him at first. He seemed too proud and cold. Everyone liked the friendly Mr. Bingley much more.
  • Elizabeth disliked Mr. Darcy like everyone else. But he was attracted to her because she was pretty and had a lively mind. He didn't like Elizabeth's family because they seemed unrefined. (He did like Jane, though, and thought she was pretty).
  • Mr. Darcy learned to be less proud. At the same time, Elizabeth let go of her prejudice against him. He stayed loyal and continued to love her. He is very kind to his sister, Georgiana Darcy.

• Mr. Charles Bingley: Mr. Bingley is a good-looking and gentlemanly man. He is much friendlier and more cheerful than Mr. Darcy. He makes friends easily wherever he goes.
  • He thought Jane was "the most beautiful creature I ever saw." He also thought Elizabeth was "very pretty and agreeable."
  • Mr. Bingley is patient and modest. He is not as smart as Mr. Darcy. But he is more "sure of being liked wherever he appeared." He is kind and sweet-tempered. His sister, Miss Bingley, said his handwriting was messy.

• Jane Bennet: Jane is Elizabeth's older sister. She is very sweet and kind. She eventually marries Mr. Bingley.

• Lydia Bennet: Lydia is the youngest Bennet sister. She is 15 years old when the story begins. She runs away with George Wickham.

• George Wickham: Mr. Wickham has known Mr. Darcy since they were children. He is an army officer who seems charming at first. He quickly becomes interested in Elizabeth Bennet. He tells bad stories about Mr. Darcy. But later, it is found that Wickham was the one who did wrong. He runs away with Lydia. This would have ruined her reputation. But Mr. Darcy pays Wickham to marry her.

• Caroline Bingley: She is Mr. Bingley's rich but snobby sister. She tries to keep Elizabeth and Darcy apart. She wants Mr. Darcy for herself.

• Lady Catherine de Bourgh: She is Mr. Darcy's rich and snobbish aunt. She tries to stop Darcy from marrying Elizabeth.

The Story of Pride and Prejudice

The story begins with Mr. Bingley. He is a wealthy, handsome young man. He moves to a house near the Bennet family. He comes with his quiet friend, Mr. Darcy, and his pretty sisters.

Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley start spending a lot of time together. Mr. Bingley's sisters try to stop them. Most women in the town love Mr. Bingley. But Mr. Darcy is disliked by everyone. This is because he talks in an arrogant way and seems mean. Elizabeth Bennet, the second daughter, dislikes Mr. Darcy. She dislikes him even more after he refused to dance with her at a ball.

Elizabeth soon starts to like an officer named Wickham. He seems to hate Mr. Darcy just as much. Wickham tells Elizabeth a sad story about how Mr. Darcy was mean to him. This makes Elizabeth hate Mr. Darcy even more. Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy starts to fall in love with Elizabeth.

Mr. Bingley is about to propose to Jane. But he suddenly has to leave his house, Netherfield. He didn't plan to leave for long. But his sisters use this chance to move Bingley away from Jane. They follow Bingley to London. Bingley's quick departure makes Jane sad and confused. Elizabeth finds out that his sisters are behind it.

Before Mr. Bingley leaves, Mr. Collins arrives. He is the man who will inherit the Bennet family home, Longbourn. Mr. Collins works for the rich and pompous Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He wants to find a good wife from Mr. Bennet's daughters. He first tries to marry Jane. But after hearing about her and Mr. Bingley, he tries to marry Elizabeth. Elizabeth rejects his proposal. Her mother is angry because Elizabeth could have lived at Longbourn if she married Mr. Collins. Then Mr. Collins turns his attention to Elizabeth's friend, Charlotte Lucas. He decides to marry Charlotte. They get married. Charlotte invites Elizabeth to visit her house.

Elizabeth visits Charlotte's house in the Spring. It is close to Rose Park, which belongs to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine's nephew, is staying there when Elizabeth visits. They meet again. Elizabeth learns that Mr. Darcy was the one who ended Mr. Bingley and Jane's romance. She later rejects Mr. Darcy's marriage proposal. She tells him all the mean things she thought about his cruelty towards Wickham and his role in separating Jane and Mr. Bingley.

Darcy writes a letter to Elizabeth explaining everything. He explains that Mr. Wickham almost ran away with his 15-year-old sister, Georgianna. Mr. Wickham only wanted her money. Also, Darcy told Bingley not to propose to Jane. He thought Jane did not truly love Bingley. Elizabeth returns home soon after. She thinks about Darcy's explanations and how she misunderstood him.

A few months later, Elizabeth visits Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's estate, with her aunt and uncle. Mr. Darcy meets them there. He is very kind to them during their visit. Mr. Darcy's kindness makes Elizabeth like him even more. She also becomes friends with his sister, Georgianna. Later, Elizabeth gets a letter from Jane. It has sad news: their younger sister, Lydia, has run off with Wickham. They find out that Wickham does not want to marry Lydia. This would cause a big scandal and ruin Lydia's reputation. Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle quickly return home. Elizabeth thinks that Mr. Darcy will never speak to her again because of Lydia's behavior.

Then, Lydia and Wickham are found. They get married. They later visit Longbourn. While telling Elizabeth about her wedding, Lydia mentions Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth is surprised. She asks her aunt about it. She learns that Mr. Darcy had paid for all the wedding costs. He also paid Wickham to marry Lydia.

Bingley and Darcy come to Longbourn. Bingley proposes to Jane, and she accepts. Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, even though Lady Catherine does not like Elizabeth. Elizabeth accepts his proposal. Jane and Elizabeth marry their lovers on the same day.

Images for kids

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  Mr. Darcy says Elizabeth is "not handsome enough to tempt him" to dance. (Artist: C.E. Brock, 1895)

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  Scenes from Pride and Prejudice, by C. E. Brock (c. 1885)

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  Elizabeth and Mr Darcy by Hugh Thomson, 1894

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  Jane Austen described a picture she saw that looked like "Mrs Bingley" (Jane Bennet). This picture, "Portrait of Mrs Q," might be the one she meant.

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  Lady Catherine confronts Elizabeth about Darcy. This was on the title page of the first illustrated edition.

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  Title page of a 1907 edition illustrated by C. E. Brock

See also

In Spanish: Orgullo y prejuicio para niños