Pride and Prejudice

Lesson 1. First Impressions.

Mrs. Bennet has an issue: she has five daughters of eligible age, but no dowry to spare at all. Therefore, she's happy to hear that a close-by property, Netherfield, has finally been rented. The new occupant is a youthful, unmarried gentleman, Charles Bingley, who ends up being an extraordinary catch. He is appealing, gracious, open-minded, and rich. At a ball, the nearby women enviously hold on as he showers his attention on Jane, the most beautiful Bennet sister. His companion Fitzwilliam Darcy arouses blended feelings. He only dances with Bingley's female relations and avoids Elizabeth, the second eldest Bennet sister.

Mrs. Bennet does everything in her power to pair her eldest daughter with Mr. Bingley. When Jane is invited for dinner by his sisters, the scheming mother decides to send her on horseback, so that the pouring rain can give Jane a reason to stay. The plan succeeds. Jane gets ill and is forced to stay. The morning after, Elizabeth arrives, covering nearly 3 miles on foot to look after her sister. She arrives at Netherfield, her clothes all muddy. Darcy is impressed by Elizabeth’s intelligence, but dislikes her relatives. Mrs. Bennet is loud, and lacks manners.

Lesson 2. Sudden Visit.

Mr. Collins is a clergyman and a relative of Mr. Bennet. He decides to visit Longbourn. Mr. Bennet’s property can only go to a male heir. Since he only has daughters, this means that Mr. Collins will inherit the property. This is not at all what Mrs. Bennet wants. To add to their misery, Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth. He is very confident that she will accept the proposal, and even when she rejects, he sees that as an opportunity for a second proposal.

Mrs. Bennet explains to him that she will stop Elizabeth from being a “foolish girl”, but the very next day, he proposes to Elizabeth’s friend Charlotte, and she accepts the proposal instantly. Later she explains to Elizabeth that she had no other alternative, since she wanted a comfortable home. Elizabeth on the other hand, is attracted to a dashing officer, George Wickham, who tells her that Darcy is a fraud and has robbed him of his inheritance. Elizabeth, without hearing Mr. Darcy’s side of the story, believes George and is filled with anger towards Mr. Darcy.

Lesson 3. Dashed Hopes.

Then, Jane tries to hide her extraordinary dissatisfaction: while her mom is bragging about the unavoidable marriage between her and Mr. Bingley,