Pride and Prejudice - Character

New acquaintances draw the Bennets to the attention of more distant figures such as Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and each of these characters is shown to be connected in a wider network which underpins the social relationships in the novel, as Mr Collins’s patroness is revealed to be Mr Darcy’s aunt, as well. Mr Wickham, too, links characters in unexpected, and unwelcome, ways. Very few characters are portrayed outside this class-based social circle, with the exception of a few supportive servants, whose importance lies in their ability to offer trustworthy judgements of their employers’ characters.

Interestingly, Pride and Prejudice is heavily-weighted towards dialogue, rather than narration. Even when we read a letter included in the text (and there are many), we are hearing the voice of a character. What do we learn of characters through their dialogue, their behaviour in public, their behaviour in private, and their near-private thoughts as expressed in letters?

When reading fiction, pay attention to how each character interacts with others. Can you identify anyone whose behaviour changes in different company? What do we learn when we see Mr Collins engaged in conversation with someone he views as a social inferior? Does Elizabeth Bennet change her behaviour depending on her company? Who changes over the course of the novel and how?

Answer the questions below to see how well you understand the characters in Pride and Prejudice.