Prized as a shining example of domestic
fiction due to the treatment of the every day lives of its characters,
Pride and Prejudice concerns itself with proper social behaviors and the scandals that are brought about when these niceties are ignored. Austin''s novel has sparked many a debate as to whether the author truly meant to produce a straight-froward story about
romance among the early eighteenth century upper and upper-middle class people or if she may have been just a bit sarcastic in what can be seen as a satirical treatment of such. Either way, Pride and Prejudice is a delightful read that garners hidden amusements the second, or even third read around. Elizabeth Bennet is a spirited, intelligent young woman who is determined to marry for true love, or not at all. She does not have any qualms about refusing
marriage proposals from those she sees as less-than-suitable. She turns down Mr. Collins though he stands to inherit her family''s estate upon the death of her father. Not caring that she has the power to secure her mother''s and four sister''sfuture, if she but offers her left ring-finger to the clergyman, she sticks to her notion of a loving and equal partnership despite her mother''s urgings that she accept Mr. Collins'' proposal. The Bennet sisters hear of another match that might be suitable for any one of them in the arrival of Charles Bingly. Elizabeth shows no interest in the match, leaving her sweet sister Jane to catch the wealthy young man''s eye. The two begin to court, but the interference of Bingly''s friend Mr. Darcy cuts the courtship short. He does not think the match suitable for his impressionable friend due to the dubious social standing of the Bennet family. He is also much annoyed by Elizabeth, and she feels much the same, seeing Mr. Darcy as arrogant and insufferable. Rumors told to her by an old associate of his, the young soldier George Wickham, do not help her opinion in the least. Later, Mr. Darcy''s affections toward Elizabeth take an inexplicable turn for the better and he proposes to her. His interference between her sister and her beloved Bingly coupled with the rumors factor greatly in Elizabeth''s very vehement denial of the proposal. Once again Elizabeth turns down a very appealing opportunity to secure the security of her family''s fortune by marrying for money instead of love. All that was left for Mr. Darcy to do was to compose a letter explaining his actions in the past; a letter which begins to sway Elizabeth''s opinions of the man. While traveling with some acquaintances, Elizabeth happens to visit Mr. Darcy''s estate. He is much beloved by his household and she begins to feel even more strongly that her bad opinion of Mr. Darcy is ill-conceived. But she feels that her opportunity to reacquire Mr. Darcy''s affections is well past. In the meantime, one of Elizabeth''s younger sisters, Lydia runs off with the young soldier, Darcy''s erstwhile acquaintance, George Wickham. The family worries about what this will do to their already suspect reputation, but have no luck in finding the couple. Some very disturbing information has been discovered about Wickham''s past plots to gain an advantageous marriage in order to secure his own comfort and support his gambling addiction. Things are not looking good for Lydia or the Bennet''s reputation until Darcy finds the two and secures Wickham''s promise to marry the girl in return for money to pay off his debts. At last Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are reunited and engaged despite the bullying of Lady Catherine, Darcy''s aunt. Bingly and Jane also decide to marry, much to the joy of Mrs. Bennet, who is seeing the fortune of her family secured beyond her greatest expectations.