Text Commentary on Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is set in 18th century England. A foolish mother, a patient father, and a mixture of five lively, intelligent, silly and good natured girls make up the family around which the story revolves.

Following is the complete text of P&P presented chapter-wise with line-by-line commentary highlighting and providing original insights into the characters and events. Contributors are invited to raise questions and/or add their own comments on the text.

Each line in the delightful novel can be studied to reveal great insights and truths. Lets take for example the description of Darcy's admiration for Elizabeth slowly raising its head from behind his disgust with the Bennets. Or his revealing his admiration for Elizabeth's eyes, and Caroline's reaction. Each line could be analysed in this way.

				Elizabeth was oblivious of Darcy’s interest in his, observing Jane and Bingley. What attracts is not necessarily a pretty face. Shallow persons fall for a face. Strong characters are attracted by character not by beauty. Eyes express strength of character. Darcy’s haste to criticise is the inversion of strong attraction. Dark eyes are of deep characters. Not having one good feature, Elizabeth is still powerfully attractive. Handsome face prevents seeing the character. Each positive factor is balanced by a negative trait. Lightness of figure indicates a free soul. A pleasing figure is that of a happy personality. Fashionable world gives a countenance. Easy playfulness is of inner freedom and is strikingly charming.
Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness.
				Actually Eliza’s refusal sends Darcy into a reverie of her fine eyes. In love, a rival can never escape. Dullness tries to attract by offence. No one, not even the lover, can know another man’s thoughts. A lover hastens to endorse the thoughts of his beloved. The cultured do not resent the uncultured. Sensitivity is the index of the unripe culture. Caroline’s self-importance is offended by the self-importance of the Assembly. In a weak position life responds with the opposite. Man describes himself in describing others. While in love, one cannot miss a single small opportunity. What attracts Miss Bingley is Darcy’s focus on Elizabeth. Caroline was the only person to whom Darcy speaks of Eliza. It was because she was in love with him. Lovers are sensitive about their love; still they itch to talk of them. Eyes express the soul. Serious Romance defies one’s strength if he has to speak.
My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow." Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity -- "Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 01
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 02
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 03
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 04
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 05
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 06
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 07
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 08
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 09
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 10
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 11
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 12
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 13
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 14
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 15
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 16
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 17
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 18
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 19
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 20
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 21
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 22
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 23
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 24
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 25
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 26
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 27
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 28
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 29
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 30
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 31
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 32
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 33
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 34
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 35
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 36
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 37
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 38
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 39
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 40
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 41
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 42
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 43
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 44
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 45
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 46
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 47
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 48
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 49
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 50
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 51
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 52
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 53
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 54
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 55
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 56
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 57
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 58
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 59
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 60
Pride & Prejudice: Chapter 61