Pride & Prejudice recap

Elizabeth Bennet meets the wealthy, reserved Fitzwilliam Darcy after his friend Charles Bingley rents Netherfield and falls in love with Elizabeth's sister Jane. Darcy's pride and a slight at their first assembly make Elizabeth dislike him, while the charming George Wickham gives her a false account of Darcy's cruelty. Darcy separates Bingley from Jane and later proposes to Elizabeth in a manner that emphasizes her inferior connections; she angrily refuses. His explanatory letter exposes Wickham's misconduct and forces her to reconsider her own prejudice. After Darcy behaves generously at Pemberley, Elizabeth begins to love him, but her sister Lydia's flight with Wickham threatens the family. Darcy secretly arranges their marriage. Bingley returns and marries Jane. When Lady Catherine tries to prevent Elizabeth from marrying Darcy, Elizabeth refuses to promise she will reject him. Encouraged, Darcy proposes again and is accepted. Their marriage rests on hard-won self-knowledge, while Jane and Bingley also settle happily nearby.

The Bennet family of Longbourn has five unmarried daughters, and Mrs Bennet is delighted when the wealthy bachelor Charles Bingley rents nearby Netherfield Park. Mr Bennet quietly makes the required visit despite teasing his wife about it. At the Meryton assembly, Bingley proves friendly and dances twice with the beautiful eldest daughter, Jane. His richer friend Fitzwilliam Darcy appears handsome but aloof; after refusing to dance with Elizabeth Bennet and slighting her within earshot, he becomes an object of her amused dislike. Jane and Bingley continue to admire one another, though Jane's calm manner conceals the strength of her feelings. Bingley's sisters cultivate Jane, while Elizabeth doubts their sincerity. As the neighborhood discusses the newcomers, Darcy begins noticing Elizabeth's intelligence and expression. She remains unaware of his growing interest and refuses him a dance when an opportunity arises at the Lucases' gathering.

Charles Bingley's arrival at Netherfield has brought the Bennets into close contact with his party. Jane and Bingley are mutually attracted, while Elizabeth dislikes Darcy for his proud behavior even as he becomes increasingly interested in her. When Jane rides to Netherfield in bad weather at her mother's urging, she falls ill and must remain there. Elizabeth walks across muddy fields to nurse her, provoking disdain from Bingley's sisters but admiration from Darcy. Several days in the same house sharpen the contrast between Elizabeth's lively independence and Caroline Bingley's efforts to impress Darcy. Elizabeth and Darcy repeatedly debate manners, vanity, and character, each alert to the other's judgments. Mrs Bennet visits and embarrasses Elizabeth by speaking too openly of Jane's prospects. Once Jane recovers enough to travel, the sisters return to Longbourn. Elizabeth leaves convinced that Darcy is disagreeable, while his attraction has deepened despite his objections to her family's position and conduct.

Jane and Bingley's attachment has grown, while Darcy's interest in Elizabeth remains hidden behind exchanges she reads as argumentative. Mr Bennet's cousin William Collins arrives at Longbourn: he is a pompous clergyman, heir to the estate, and tireless admirer of his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. In Meryton, Elizabeth meets the charming militia officer George Wickham. He claims Darcy deprived him of the church career intended for him by Darcy's father, confirming Elizabeth's worst assumptions. At the Netherfield ball, Wickham is absent, Darcy unexpectedly asks Elizabeth to dance, Collins makes himself conspicuous, and Mrs Bennet loudly anticipates Jane's marriage. Soon afterward, Collins proposes to Elizabeth. She refuses firmly despite her mother's pressure. He then turns to Elizabeth's practical friend Charlotte Lucas, who accepts him for the security of a home, shocking Elizabeth. Meanwhile Bingley leaves for London, and Caroline writes that the whole Netherfield party will remain there while hinting that Bingley may marry Darcy's sister. Jane is hurt but still unwilling to suspect deliberate interference.

After Bingley leaves Netherfield, Jane visits London but receives a cool response from Caroline and no visit from Bingley. Elizabeth concludes that his friends have separated him from Jane. She later travels to Kent to visit Charlotte, now managing marriage to Mr Collins with practical skill. At nearby Rosings, Lady Catherine questions Elizabeth with intrusive authority. Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam arrive to visit their aunt. Darcy frequently calls at the parsonage and meets Elizabeth on her walks, but his intentions remain unclear. Fitzwilliam casually reveals that Darcy recently saved a friend from an unsuitable marriage, and Elizabeth realizes he was responsible for separating Bingley and Jane. Soon afterward Darcy proposes to her. He declares strong feelings but dwells on her inferior connections and on the struggle required to offer marriage. Elizabeth rejects him, accusing him both of ruining Jane's happiness and of cruelly mistreating Wickham. Darcy is astonished and asks whether her answer might have been different without his insulting manner; she tells him his conduct had already fixed her opinion of him.

After Elizabeth rejects Darcy, he gives her a letter answering her charges. He admits persuading Bingley that Jane was indifferent, but says he acted from honest concern and from objections to the Bennet family's behavior. He also explains that Wickham squandered his inheritance, then tried to elope with Darcy's fifteen-year-old sister Georgiana for her fortune. Elizabeth recognizes how prejudice and wounded pride shaped her judgment. Back home, she tells Jane part of the truth but cannot prevent Lydia from going to Brighton with the militia. Elizabeth later tours Derbyshire with the Gardiners and visits Pemberley only after being assured Darcy is absent. His housekeeper's praise and his estate unsettle her former picture of him. Darcy unexpectedly returns and treats Elizabeth and her relations with striking courtesy. She meets the shy Georgiana, while Caroline Bingley unsuccessfully tries to revive old resentments. The changed relationship is abruptly interrupted by letters from Jane: Lydia has run away with Wickham, apparently without marrying him. Elizabeth tells Darcy and leaves at once, believing her family's disgrace has ended any possibility between them.

Lydia's flight with Wickham throws the Bennet family into crisis. Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner search in London while Mrs Bennet collapses into agitation. Mr Gardiner eventually reports that the couple have been found and will marry if Mr Bennet settles modest financial terms. Mr Bennet assumes his brother-in-law must have paid a much larger hidden sum, and Elizabeth regrets that Wickham will now be permanently connected to the family. Lydia returns to Longbourn as a heedless bride, pleased with her status and indifferent to the harm she caused. She accidentally mentions Darcy's presence at her wedding. Elizabeth asks Mrs Gardiner for an explanation and learns that Darcy found Lydia and Wickham, paid Wickham's debts, secured his commission, and arranged the marriage. He acted quietly, accepted Mr Gardiner's public credit, and said he was responsible because he had concealed Wickham's character. Elizabeth now understands the full extent of Darcy's generosity and realizes that her feelings for him have changed, though she has no reason to believe he still wishes to marry her.

Darcy secretly rescued the Bennets from Lydia and Wickham's scandal, and Elizabeth now loves him, though neither knows the other's present feelings. Bingley and Darcy return to Netherfield. Bingley resumes his courtship of Jane and proposes; she accepts, bringing joy to both families. Lady Catherine then arrives at Longbourn after hearing a rumor that Darcy may marry Elizabeth. She demands a promise that Elizabeth will refuse him, arguing that family inferiority and an intended match with her own daughter make the union impossible. Elizabeth refuses to bind herself. Lady Catherine reports this defiance to Darcy, but it gives him hope that Elizabeth's feelings may have changed. During a walk, Elizabeth thanks him for saving Lydia. Darcy renews his proposal, and she accepts. They acknowledge their earlier errors: his pride and reserve, her quick judgment, and the misunderstandings that followed. Mr Bennet gives consent after Elizabeth assures him she truly respects Darcy. Jane marries Bingley and lives near Pemberley; Elizabeth marries Darcy and forms a close bond with Georgiana. Lydia and Wickham remain improvident, Kitty improves through her sisters' influence, and the Gardiners are warmly welcomed at Pemberley.

Darcy's role in finding Lydia and paying the costs needed for her marriage to Wickham is revealed to Elizabeth through Mrs Gardiner. Bingley returns to Netherfield, renews his attentions to Jane, and becomes engaged to her. Lady Catherine visits Elizabeth to forbid a rumored match with Darcy, but Elizabeth refuses to promise that she will never accept him. When Lady Catherine repeats the confrontation to Darcy, Elizabeth's refusal gives him hope. Elizabeth thanks him for helping Lydia, and he tells her his feelings remain unchanged. His second proposal is accepted. They discuss how his pride and her prejudice distorted their first impressions and how both have changed. Mr Bennet consents once convinced that Elizabeth respects Darcy. Jane and Bingley marry and later live near Pemberley; Elizabeth becomes mistress of Pemberley and a loving sister to Georgiana. Kitty benefits from spending more time with her elder sisters, Mary remains at home, and Lydia and Wickham continue to need financial help. The Gardiners retain a close place in Elizabeth and Darcy's life.