English Literature books summary

English Literature books summary

him.

Chapter Twenty-Eight:

The death of Mrs. Moore assumes more subtle and lasting shapes in

Chandrapore than in England. A legend sprang up that Ronny killed her for

trying to save Aziz's life, and there was sufficient truth in that legend

to trouble authorities. Ronny reminds himself that Mrs. Moore left India of

her own volition, but his conscience is not clear, for he behaved badly to

her. Adela will leave India and not marry Ronny, for that would mean the

end of his career.

Chapter Twenty-Nine:

Sir Gilbert, the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, visits

Chandrapore. Fielding finds himself drawn more and more into Miss Quested's

affairs, and appreciates her fine loyal character and humility. Victory had

made the Indians aggressive, attempting to discover new grievances and

wrongs. Fielding uses Mrs. Moore as an attempt to persuade Aziz to let

Adela off paying. Adela admits to Fielding that she was thinking of Ronny

when she first entered the cave, and now she no longer wants love. Adela

leaves India. On her travel out of India, Antony tries to blackmail her by

claiming that she had an affair with Fielding, but she turns him away. When

Adela arrives in England, she vows to look up Ralph and Stella and to

return to her profession.

Chapter Thirty:

Another local consequence of the trial is a Hindu-Moslem entente. Mr.

Das visits Aziz, seeking favors; he asks Aziz to write poetry for the

magazine he publishes. Aziz accommodates him, but asks why he should

fulfill these when Mr. Das tried to send him to prison. Aziz thinks that

the magazine for which Mr. Das asks him to write is for Hindus only, but

Mr. Das tells him that it is for Indians in general. When Aziz says there

is no category of "Indian" (only Hindu and Moslem), Das says that after the

trial there may be. Hamidullah gossips with Aziz, telling him that Fielding

may have had an affair with Adela, but this does not faze Aziz, for he

claims that he has no friends and all are traitors, even his own children.

Chapter Thirty-One:

The sequence of the events had decided Aziz's emotions and his

friendship with Fielding began to cool. He assumes that the rumor about

Fielding and Adela is true and resents it. Aziz speaks to Fielding about

it, but Fielding tells him not to speak so melodramatically about "dismay

and anxiety." Aziz speaks about enemies, but Fielding seems to dismiss the

idea that either of them have great enemies. Fielding becomes angry that

Aziz thinks that he and Adela had an affair during such a difficult time,

but the two clear up the misunderstanding. Aziz and Fielding discuss their

future plans. Fielding is conscious of something hostile against him. He

leaves Chandrapore, with Aziz convinced that he will marry Miss Quested.

Chapter Thirty-Two:

Fielding leaves India for travels in other exotic parts of the world.

Fielding found Egypt charming, as well as Crete and Venice. He felt that

everything in Venice and Crete was right where everything in India was

wrong, such as the idol temples and lumpy hills. Elsewhere there is form

that India lacks.

Part Three: Temple

Chapter Thirty-Three:

Hundreds of miles west of the Marabar Hills, Professor Godbole stands

"in the presence of God" during a Hindu birth ceremony. Godbole prays at

the famous shrine at the palace at Mau. Godbole is now the Minister of

Education at Mau. He sings not to the god who confronts him during the

ritual, but to a saint. The ritual does not one thing that the non-Hindu

would consider dramatically correct. By chance, while thinking about a wasp

that he sees, Godbole remembers Mrs. Moore, even though she was not

important to him.

Chapter Thirty-Four:

Dr. Aziz, who had taken part in the ceremony, leaves the palace at the

same time as Godbole and sees the Professor, who tells him that Fielding

arrived at the European Guest House. Fielding is making an official visit;

he was transferred from Chandrapore and sent on a tour through Central

India to see what the more remote states are doing with regard to English

education. Fielding had married; Aziz assumes that his bride is Miss

Quested. In Mau the conflict is not between Indians and English, but

between Brahman and non-Brahman. Aziz had destroyed all the letters that

Fielding had wrote to him after he learned that Fielding had married

someone he knew. Unfortunately, Aziz never read any letters past the phrase

"someone he knew" and automatically assumed it was Miss Quested. Aziz still

remains under criminal investigation since the trial. Colonel Maggs, the

Political Agent for the area, is committed to investigating Aziz, still

convinced that he must be guilty based on events in Chandrapore. Aziz

receives a note from Fielding, but he tears it up.

Chapter Thirty-Five:

There are two shrines to a Mohammedan saint in Mau. These commemorate

a man who, upon his mother's order to "free prisoners," freed the inmates

at the local jail, but whose head was cut off by the police. These shrines

are the sites where the few Mohammedans in Mau pray. Aziz goes to the

Shrine of the Head with his children, Ahmed, Jemila and Karim. The children

see Fielding and his brother-in-law, and tell Aziz. They suggest throwing

stones at them, but Aziz scolds them. Aziz, who is fortunately in a good

temper, greets Fielding, although he had not intended to do so. Aziz greets

the brother-in-law as "Mr. Quested," but he says that his name is Ralph

Moore. Fielding had married Stella, the daughter of Mrs. Moore. Fielding

blames Mahmoud Ali for the ill will between them, for he knew definitively

that Fielding had married Stella. Aziz behaves aggressively and says that

he forgives Mahmoud Ali. He tells Fielding that his heart is for his own

people only. He leaves Fielding and returns to his house, excited and

happy, but realizes that he had promised Mrs. Moore to be kind to her

children, if he met them.

Chapter Thirty-Six:

The birth procession had not yet taken place, although the birth

ceremony finished earlier. All would culminate in the dance of the

milkmaidens before Krishna. Aziz could not understand the ceremony any more

than a Christian could, puzzled that during the ceremony the people in Mau

could be purged from suspicion and self-seeking. Godbole tells Aziz that he

has known that Fielding was married to Stella Moore for more than a year.

Aziz cannot be angry with Godbole, however, because it is not his way to

tell anybody anything. Aziz and Godbole continue in the procession as it

leads out of town. Aziz becomes cynical once again. He thinks that the pose

of "seeing India" is only a form of conquest. Aziz goes to the Guest House

where Fielding stays and reads two letters lying open on the piano. In the

East the sanctity of private correspondence does not exist. The letters

primarily concern Ralph Moore, who appears to be almost an imbecile, but

there is a letter from Adela to Stella in which she says that she hopes

Stella will enjoy India more than she did and says that she will never

repay a debt. Aziz notices the friendly intercourse between these people,

men and women, and believes that this is the strength of England. Ralph

Moore enters, and Aziz claims that he is there to bring salve for his bee

stings. Aziz abruptly prepares to leave, but apologizes. Ralph tells him

that his mother loved Aziz, and Aziz claims that Mrs. Moore was his best

friend in the world. Aziz offers to take Ralph Moore out on the river, as

an act of homage to Mrs. Moore. Ralph is curious about the procession,

which marks him as Mrs. Moore's son. The boat which Ralph and Aziz are in

collides with another boat carrying Fielding and Stella.

Chapter Thirty-Seven:

Fielding and Aziz are friends again, but aware that they can meet no

more. After the funny shipwreck there is no bitterness or nonsense. Aziz

admits how brave Miss Quested was, and claims that he wants to do kind

actions to wipe out the wretched business of the Marabar forever. Fielding

realizes that his wife does not love him as much as he loves her. They

realize that socially the two men have no meeting place. Fielding cannot

defy his own people for the sake of a stray Indian, and Aziz is but a

memento. Aziz explains what he can of the birthing ceremony to Fielding.

They discuss who should rule India. Fielding mockingly suggests the

Japanese, but Aziz wants his ancestors, the Afghans, to rule. To Aziz,

India will then become a nation. Aziz cries "down with the English. That's

certain," then states that only then will he and Fielding be friends.

Pride and Prejudice by J. Austen

Volume I, Chapter 1 Summary:

The novel begins with a conversation at Longbourn, the Bennet

household, regarding the impending arrival of Mr. Bingley, "a single man of

large fortune" to Netherfield Park, a nearby estate. Mrs. Bennet sees Mr.

Bingley as a potential suitor for her daughters, and attempts to persuade

Mr. Bingley to visit him. There are five daughters in the Bennet family.

Mr. Bennet seems to prefer Elizabeth, the second oldest, because of her

intelligence, while Mrs. Bennet seems fonder of the oldest, Jane, because

of her beauty, and the middle child, Lydia, because of her good humor.

Volume I, Chapter 2 Summary:

Without telling his family, Mr. Bennet pays a visit to Mr. Bingley. He

surprises his family by slipping the news unexpectedly into a conversation,

but disappoints them by eluding their barrage of questions about Bingley's

character.

Volume I, Chapter 3 Summary:

The ladies of the household meet Mr. Bingley and his friend from

London, Mr. Darcy, at a ball at Meryton. Mr. Darcy is quickly judged as

"the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world" because of his reserve

and unwillingness to dance with anyone outside of his own party. When both

Darcy and Elizabeth are sitting out a dance and Bingley attempts to

persuade him to dance with her, Elizabeth overhears Darcy's reply "She is

tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me." Mr. Bingley, on the other

hand, is judged to be entirely amiable. He danced first with Charlotte

Lucas, Elizabeth's friend, but the only person with whom he danced twice

was Jane. Upon returning home, Mrs. Bennet attempts to explain the event of

the ball in detail to Mr. Bennet, but he is indifferent and even annoyed.

Volume I, Chapter 4 Summary:

When they are alone, Jane confides to Elizabeth that she admires Mr.

Bingley. Elizabeth approves of him, although she points out that Jane never

sees faults in others. While Elizabeth is critical of the snobbish behavior

of Bingley's sisters, Jane insists that they are pleasing in conversation.

Bingley has a long-standing friendship with Darcy, in spite of their

opposite personalities. Bingley is easy-going and open, while Darcy is

haughty and reserved. While Bingley found the company at the Meryton ball

to be quite amiable, Darcy saw no one with whom he wished to associate, and

even though he assents to Jane's beauty, he complains that she smiles too

much.

Bingley's sisters also tell him that they like Jane, and he feels

"authorised by such commendation" to think what he likes of her.

Volume I, Chapter 5 Summary:

Sir William Lucas and his family live near Longbourn, and Sir

William's eldest daughter Charlotte is a close friend of Elizabeth. The day

after the ball Charlotte and Lady Lucas go visit the Miss Bennetts to talk

over the ball. They speak about general admiration for Jane's beauty and

Bingley's attraction to her, and then go on to criticize Darcy's pride and

his treatment of Elizabeth. Mary makes a remark about universality of pride

in human nature and its differentiation from vanity.

Volume I, Chapter 6 Summary:

Bingley's sisters, while not desirous of become better acquainted with

Mrs. Bennett and the younger Bennet sisters, begin to become better

acquainted with Jane and Elizabeth. Jane is pleased by their attention, but

Elizabeth is still critical of them. The mutual regard of Jane and Bingley

for one another is evident to Elizabeth, though Jane's composure and

"uniform cheerfulness of manner" prevent her regard for him from becoming

obvious.

Charlotte remarks that it may not be such a good thing that Jane's

affection is guarded, because it may cause discouragement in Bingley.

Charlotte believes that a woman should show more affection than she feels

in order to make a man form an attachment to her, and thinks that

"happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance."

Mr. Darcy begins to take an interest in Elizabeth, attracted by her

dark eyes and the "easy playfulness" of her manners. Before conversing

directly with her, he listens on a conversation between Elizabeth and Sir

William Lucas. Elizabeth refuses to dance with Darcy, in spite of the

entreaties of Sir William. Darcy mentions his admiration for Elizabeth to

Miss Bingley, who is vainly attempting to attract his admiration to

herself. Miss Bingley responds by satirically criticizing Bennett family.

Volume I, Chapter 7 Summary:

Lydia and Catherine, the two youngest in the family, often go to visit

their aunt, Mrs. Phillips, in Meryton, where a militia regiment has

recently arrived. Mr. Bennet complains of his daughters' foolishness, but

Mrs. Bennet does not consider their obsession with the officers to be a

cause for concern.

Jane receives an invitation to have dinner with Bingley's sisters.

Rather than allowing her to use the carriage to go to Netherfield, Mrs.

Bingley tells Jane to go on horseback, hoping that it will rain and that

Jane will have to spend the night at Netherfield. Jane does not like the

scheme, but has no choice but to accept it.

The plan works all too well, however‹not only is Jane forced to spend

the night at Netherfield, but she falls ill as a result of getting soaked

in the rain, and has to stay at Netherfield until her recovery. Elizabeth

goes to Netherfield to visit Jane, and because there are no horses

available she walks. The Bingley sisters are scandalized that Elizabeth

walked such a distance in the mud. Jane's condition having intensified,

Elizabeth attends to her with great solicitude. Because Jane does not want

Elizabeth to leave, Miss Bingley invites her to stay at Netherfield.

Volume I, Chapter 8 Summary:

When Elizabeth leaves the dinner table to continue attending to Jane,

the Bingley sisters harshly criticize her pride and stubborn independence

for having walked to Netherfield alone, but Mr. Bingley and Darcy admire

Elizabeth's devotion to Jane. The Bingley sisters also deride the low

family connections of Jane and Elizabeth. Bingley does not seem to care

about their low connections, although Darcy considers it an impediment to

their marrying well.

In the evening after Jane has fallen asleep, Elizabeth joins the others in

the drawing room, and they have a conversation about what it means for a

woman to be accomplished. Darcy and Miss Bennett provide such unrealistic

criteria that Elizabeth claims she has never seen such a woman in her life.

Volume I, Chapter 9 Summary:

Elizabeth asks that her mother be summoned to come and see Elizabeth.

Mrs. Bennet is happy because she sees that Jane is not in danger but that

she is ill enough to continue her stay at Netherfield. Elizabeth is

thoroughly embarrassed by her mother's conduct in the conversation, and

particularly by her extreme rudeness to Darcy. Mrs. Bennet returns home and

Elizabeth continues to attend to Jane.

Volume I, Chapter 10 Summary:

That evening in the drawing room Darcy writes a letter to his sister

while Miss Bennet observes him and continually makes comments in admiration

of his letter-writing style. The group gets into a discussion about

Bingley's characters, which leads to Elizabeth's praise of someone who

yields to the persuasion of friends.

As the Bennet sisters sing and play the piano, Elizabeth notices how

frequently Mr. Darcy looks at her, but unable imagine that he might admire

her she assumes he is staring at her because of his disapproval of her.

Darcy asks her to dance a reel, but Elizabeth assumes that there is some

sarcasm in this invitation, and satirically declines the offer. Miss

Bingley notices, and begins to taunt Darcy by speaking about the

possibility of marrying into the Bennet family and emphasizing the

inferiority of her connections.

Volume I, Chapter 11 Summary:

After dinner Jane is feeling well enough to join the others in the

drawing room, and Elizabeth is delighted by the attention which Bingley

shows to her. Miss Bingley continues in her vain attempts to please Darcy,

and even feigns a love for reading, picking up the second volume of the

book which he is reading. She then begins to walk around the room,

attempting to catch Darcy's admiration. She fails, but as soon as she

invites Elizabeth to walk with her Mr. Darcy looks up and stops reading.

They begin to converse about Darcy's character, and Darcy admits that he

has a tendency to be resentful.

Volume I, Chapter 12 Summary:

Jane having recovered from her illness, she and Elizabeth resolve to

go home the next morning. Her mother is unwilling to send the carriage so

soon, wanting to extend Jane's stay as long as possible, but Elizabeth and

Jane are resolved to go and they ask for the Bingleys to lend them their

carriage. Elizabeth and Jane are glad to be returning home, and all except

Bingley are happy to see them go. Darcy is glad to be removed from the

danger of Elizabeth's company, and Miss Bingley is glad to be rid of her

competition.

Volume I, Chapter 13 Summary:

At breakfast the following day Mr. Bennet announces that Mr. Collins,

a cousin of his whom he has never met, will be coming to visit. Because of

the laws of inheritance at the time and because Mr. Bennet has no sons, Mr.

Collins is in line to inherit Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet hates Mr. Collins

because of this, but Elizabeth and Jane try to explain the nature of the

laws of entailment.

To inform them of his visit, Mr. Collins writes a letter to Mr.

Bennet. In the letter Mr. Collins explains that he has recently been

ordained and is under the patronage of Lady Catherine De Bourgh.

Mr. Collins arrives in the afternoon as expected. He is 25 years old,

tall and heavyset, with a grave air and formal manners. When he is

conversing with the women of the household before dinner, he mentions that

he is well aware of the hardship involved in the entailment of the estate

and that he wants to make amends for this hardship. He has come "prepared

to admire" the young ladies of the household. Mr. Collins also expresses

his admiration for the house itself and for the quality of the dinner.

Volume I, Chapter 14 Summary:

After dinner Mr. Bennet invites Mr. Collins to speak about his

patroness Lady Catherine. Mr. Collins describes Lady Catherine with great

solemnity and effusive praise, remarking on her great affability and

condescension to him in spite of her high rank. He also describes Lady

Catherine's daughter, Miss de Bourgh, as quite charming but rather sickly.

He tries to ingratiate himself with Lady Catherine by thinking up pretty

and flattering phrases to tell her about Miss de Bourgh while trying to

make his praise seem spontaneous. Mr. Bennet is convinced that Mr. Collins

is absurd.

After tea Mr. Bennet invites Mr. Collins to read aloud to the ladies.

Mr. Collins declares that he never reads novels and instead begins to read

with a book of sermons with "monotonous solemnity." After a few pages Lydia

interrupts the reading by asking her mother a question about her uncle

Philips. Mr. Collins is offended but takes the hint and stops reading after

briefly reprimanding the frivolity of Lydia. He then proposes playing a

game of backgammon.

Volume I, Chapter 15 Summary:

Mr. Collins' upbringing by an "illiterate and miserly father" along

with his unexpected good fortune in finding a patroness like Lady Catherine

has led to his lack of good sense and his strange combination of

obsequiousness and self-conceit. Now that he is settled he wants to "make

amends" for inheriting the Longbourn estate by marrying one of the young

ladies in the Bennet household. After meeting them, he was first attracted

to Jane because of her beauty, but after hearing from Mrs. Bennet that Jane

may soon be engaged, he switches his affections to Elizabeth.

Mr. Collins joins the ladies for a walk to Meryton. Upon reaching Meryton

they meet Mr. Denny, an officer with whom Lydia and Kitty are acquainted,

and he introduces them to a new member of the regiment, Mr. Wickham. Mr.

Wickham is handsome and charming. While they are all conversing, Bingley

and Darcy notice them as they are riding by and stop to greet them. As soon

as Darcy notices Mr. Wickham, he turns white, and Mr. Wickham turns red.

Bingley and Darcy continue on their way.

Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham take leave of the young ladies once they

arrive at Mr. Philip's house. Jane introduces Mr. Collins to Mrs. Phillips.

Mrs. Philips plans to invite Mr. Wickham to dinner tomorrow and invites the

Longourn ladies and Mr. Collins to join them.

Volume I, Chapter 16 Summary:

At the beginning of the event at the Phillips' house the next day, Mr.

Collins speaks to Mrs. Philips about Lady Catherine and her mansion

Rosings, and Mrs. Philips is favorably impressed.

Elizabeth forms a very favorable impression of Mr. Wickham, and

converses with him at length during the evening. Elizabeth is curious to

find out about the obvious animosity which exists between him and Darcy.

Wickham brings up the subject by inquiring how long Darcy has been in the

area. Elizabeth expressed her dislike of Darcy to Wickham, and Wickham

mentions that he and Darcy have been intimately acquainted since childhood.

After feigning to avoid the subject, Wickham divulges to Elizabeth that

Darcy's father was his godfather and had promised to provide an ample

living for him, but after his death Darcy had circumvented his father's

promise and had given the living to someone else because of his dislike for

Wickham. Elizabeth is outraged and suggests that Darcy ought to be publicly

dishonored for his actions, but Wickham refuses to do so ought of respect

for Darcy's father. Wickham attributes Darcy's dislike of him to jealousy.

Elizabeth and Wickham also speak of Darcy's pride, which Wickham believes

is the source of all his generosity in the use of his money and excellent

care for his sister. Wickham alludes to a previously close but now very

cold relationship with Darcy's sister.

Wickham also mentions to Elizabeth that Lady Catherine de Bourgh is

Mr. Darcy's aunt, and that Mr. Darcy is expected to marry Miss de Bourgh in

order to unite the fortunes of the two families.

Volume I, Chapter 17 Summary:

When, the next day, Elizabeth relates to Jane the substance of her

conversation with Wickham, Jane refuses to think ill of either Wickham or

Darcy, and assumes that they must in some way be mutually deceived.

Mr. Bingley and his sisters come to Netherfield to announce a ball.

When Elizabeth asks Mr. Collins whether or not he plans to attend, he state

that he does and asks her for the first two dances. While she had wanted to

reserve those dances for Wickham, she gracefully accepts his offer.

Elizabeth begins to realize that she has become Mr. Collins choice for a

future wife, but she ignores his hints in that direction hoping that he

will not ask her.

Volume I, Chapter 18 Summary:

At the Netherfield Ball Elizabeth is disappointed because of Wickham's

absence, which she assumes is all Mr. Darcy's doing. After relating her

disappointment to her friend Charlotte Lucas, she suffers through her two

dances with Mr. Collins. Mr. Darcy asks her for a dance and Elizabeth is so

taken by surprise that she accepts. During the dance with Mr. Darcy

Elizabeth makes a bit of sarcastic conversation, poking fun at his

character. She alludes to her new acquaintance with Wickham and to the fact

that she thinks he has not behaved well toward him. They change the subject

after a brief interruption from Sir William Lucas, but then she goes back

to it by asking him about his previous admission that he has a tendency

toward resentment, explaining that she is unable to figure out his

character because she has received such contradictory accounts. After the

dance they part in silence but Darcy forgives her questioning and blames

Wickham.

Miss Bingley, having heard from Jane that Wickham has talked with

Elizabeth about Darcy, tries to warn her not to trust Wickham and assures

her that Darcy has done nothing wrong to Wickham but that Wickham has

treated Darcy shamefully. Elizabeth reacts rudely and considers Mr. Bingley

to be blinded to the truth. Jane also tells Elizabeth that Mr. Bingley

believes Darcy's behavior is above reproach and that Wickham is not reputed

to be of good character, but Elizabeth dismisses Bingley's opinion because

he received all his information from Darcy.

Mr. Collins finds out the Darcy is Lady Catherine's nephew and decides

to introduce himself, in spite of Elizabeth's warnings that it would be

inappropriate to do so because of Mr. Darcy's superior social status. Darcy

is surprised at Mr. Collins but replies to him with civility and then walks

away.

Jane seems to be having a wonderful time with Mr. Bingley, and

Elizabeth enjoys herself in thinking of her sister's happiness. Mrs. Bennet

is also happy to see how well Jane and Mr. Bingley are getting along, and

during dinner speaks unceasingly and loudly about the imminence of their

engagement in close proximity to Mr. Darcy, much to Elizabeth's great

embarrassment.

After dinner Mary accepts an invitation to play and sing at the piano,

and is insensible to Elizabeth's hints that she ought to decline. After

Mary's second piece Elizabeth gets her father to tell Mary to stop playing.

Mr. Collins then makes a speech about the importance of music which

nonetheless should not take precedence to more important parish duties.

Elizabeth feels completely embarrassed by her family's conduct during the

evening.

At the end of the ball Mrs. Bennet invites Bingley to dinner at

Longbourn and he promises to come as soon as he returns form a short trip

to London.

Volume I, Chapter 19 Summary:

The next day Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth, in a long speech explaining

that he considers it appropriate for him to marry and that he wants to

marry one of the Miss Bennets in order lessen the difficulty of the

entailment of the estate. Elizabeth refuses him in no uncertain terms, but

Mr. Collins refuses to believe that her refusal could be sincere,

considering it a formality of female coquetry to always refuse a proposal

the first time. Elizabeth repeats and strengthens her refusal, but as he

still cannot believe her to be sincere, she simply leaves.

Volume I, Chapter 20 Summary:

When Mrs. Bennet hears that Elizabeth has refused to marry Mr.

Collins, she entreats Mr. Bennet to force Elizabeth to change her mind. Mr.

Bennet agrees to speak with Elizabeth, but actually tells her that he would

never hear of her marrying such a man as Mr. Collins. Mrs. Bennet does not

give up however, and continually attempts to persuade Elizabeth to accept

the proposal. In the midst of all this confusion, Charlotte Lucas comes to

visit. Eventually Mr. Collins accepts Elizabeth's refusal.

Volume I, Chapter 21 Summary:

Mr. Collins reacts by treating Elizabeth coldly for the rest of the

day and shifting his attentions to Charlotte Lucas. The girls all walk to

Meryton after breakfast. Elizabeth speaks with Wickham and he accompanies

them back to Longbourn, paying particular attention to Elizabeth.

When they return Jane receives a letter from Caroline Bingley stating

that they have all left Netherfield for town and have no intention of

returning. She states that Mr. Bingley will most probably not return for at

least another six months. The letter also speaks of the family's

expectation that Mr. Bingley will marry Georgiana Darcy, implying that they

do not want him to marry Jane. Elizabeth attempts to comfort Jane by

reassuring her that Mr. Bingley really is attached to her and that in spite

of his sisters' efforts to prevent him from marrying Jane he will most

assuredly return to Netherfield.

Volume I, Chapter 22 Summary:

Charlotte Lucas continues to engage Mr. Collins in conversation for

the rest of the day. Early the next morning Mr. Collins goes to Lucas Lodge

to propose to Charlotte. Charlotte accepts and Sir William and Lady Lucas

approve of the match.

Mr. Collins left the next day without informing the Bennets of his

engagement. His promise to return soon was met by assurances on the part of

Mr. Bennet that they would not be offended if the fulfillment of his duties

prevented his speedy return.

Later in the day Miss Lucas tells Elizabeth about her engagement.

Elizabeth is shocked but tries to be kind in her reaction. She is however,

very unhappy about Charlotte's decision because she thinks that the match

is completely unsuitable.

Volume I, Chapter 23 Summary:

Later in the day Sir William Lucas came to announce the engagement, to

the great surprise of the rest of the family. Mrs. Bennet is incredulous

and after being convinced that the news was true is extremely angry at

Elizabeth for having turned down the proposal.

Elizabeth and Charlotte do not discuss the subject of the marriage between

themselves, and their friendship gradually diminishes.

Jane and Elizabeth are concerned because they have not heard anything

at all from Mr. Bingley.

Mr. Collins returns again to Longbourn in order to make preparations for

his marriage. The Bennets are not too happy to see him but they are glad

that he spends most of his time at Lucas Lodge.

Volume II, Chapter 1 Summary:

Jane receives another letter from Miss Bingley confirming that they

will definitely not return before the end of the winter, and boasting about

the whole family's increasing intimacy with Miss Darcy and the hopes of an

engagement between her and Mr. Bingley. When Elizabeth and Jane are finally

able to speak alone, Jane confides her disappointment to Elizabeth. In

spite of Elizabeth's arguments, Jane refuses to believe that the Miss

Bingleys and Mr. Darcy are responsible for persuading Mr. Bingley not to

propose to Jane.

Mrs. Bennet only aggravates the situation by speaking of Bingley so often,

and Mr. Bennet only responds sarcastically.

Some comfort is provided to the household by Mr. Wickham's society.

Soon the whole town knows Wickham's story about Darcy and is happy to

believe it and judge Darcy to be completely in the wrong.

Volume II, Chapter 2 Summary:

Mr. Collins leaves Longbourn with his usual solemnity.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet's brother and his wife, come to

Longbourn to visit. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are both sensible, intelligent

and refined. Elizabeth and Jane are very fond of them. Mrs. Gardiner and

Elizabeth speak about Jane and Bingley. Mrs. Gardiner offers to bring Jane

back to London with her in order to cheer her with the change of scene.

Elizabeth hopes that while in London Jane will run into Bingley.

During the course of the visit Mrs. Gardiner observes Elizabeth with

Wickham and notices her preference for him. Mrs. Gardiner enjoys speaking

with Wickham about mutual acquaintances and about Mr. Darcy and his father.

Volume II, Chapter 3 Summary:

Mrs. Gardiner speaks with Elizabeth about the imprudence of becoming

attached to Wickham because of his poor financial state. Elizabeth makes no

promises that she will not become attached to him, but does promise to try

to prevent the attachment as much as possible.

Mr. Collins returns to Hertfordshire for his wedding. Charlotte Lucas makes

Elizabeth promise to visit her at Hunsford

Jane writes to Elizabeth telling about her stay in London. Caroline

Bingley is extremely inattentive to her, pretending first that she is

unaware of Jane's presence in London, and then waiting a fortnight to make

a promised visit, which itself is rudely short.

In a letter to Mrs. Gardiner Elizabeth relates that Mr. Wickham's

affections for her have subsided and have been transferred to another young

lady, Miss King, who recently acquired 10,000 pounds. Elizabeth concludes

that she must not have been in love with him, because her feelings are

still cordial toward him.

Volume II, Chapter 4 Summary:

After a couple of dull winter months in Hertfordshire, Elizabeth is

looking forward to going with Sir William Lucas and his second daughter to

visit Charlotte. She parts very amiably with Wickham, reinforced in her

belief that he is a "model of the amiable and the pleasing." The travellers

stop for a night in London to see the Gardiners. Elizabeth is pleased to

see that Jane is looking well. Mrs. Gardiner informs her, however, that

Jane does undergo periods of dejection occasionally. Mrs. Gardiner is

critical of Wickham so quickly shifting his attentions to Miss King, but

Elizabeth defends him. Elizabeth is pleasantly surprised to be invited to

accompany the Gardiners on a tour of the country during the summer.

Volume II, Chapter 5 Summary:

The next day Elizabeth, Sir William and his daughter Maria set out for

Hunsford to visit Charlotte. Upon arriving Mr. Collins welcomes him to the

house with his usual verbose formality. Charlotte‹now Mrs. Collins‹seems to

endure Mr. Collins' silliness very well, and to take pleasure in managing

the house. On reflection, Elizabeth concludes that Charlotte is handling

things well.

Elizabeth's reflections are interrupted by shouts from Maria telling

her to look outside because Miss de Bourgh is there in her carriage.

Elizabeth is happy that Miss de Bourgh looks sickly and cross, thinking

that she'll make a perfect wife for Mr. Darcy. After the carriage drives

away Mr. Collins congratulates them because they have all been invited to

dine at Rosings the next day.

Volume II, Chapter 6 Summary:

The day of the dinner at Rosings is spent mostly in listening to Mr.

Collins, who is trying to prepare his guests for the grandeur they are

about to encounter. While Maria and Sir William are extremely nervous about

meeting Lady Catherine, Elizabeth sees nothing to be intimidated about,

being unimpressed by "the mere stateliness of money and rank."

Lady Catherine is "a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked

features," and her manner of receiving her visitors is one which does not

fail to remind them of their inferior rank. Miss de Bourgh is extremely

thin and small. Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them, has an unremarkable

appearance and spends most of her time fussing over Miss de Bourgh.

At dinner nothing much is said other than continuous compliments about

the food from Mr. Collins, which are echoed by Sir William. After dinner

Lady Catherine speaks about her opinion on every subject which comes to

mind and offers advice to Charlotte about even the smallest details of

household management. She then barrages Elizabeth with impertinent

questions about her and her family. Elizabeth answers with composure but

without fear of giving her own opinion. For the rest of the evening they

play cards.

Volume II, Chapter 7 Summary:

Sir William Lucas stays only for a week at Hunsford, but Elizabeth

stays for quite some time longer. She passes the time pleasantly,

conversing with Charlotte and taking long walks through the gardens. They

all dine regularly at Rosings about twice a week, and all dinners follow

the model of the first.

After having stayed a fortnight at Hunsford Elizabeth hears that Mr.

Darcy is planning to visit Rosings. She looks forward to his coming because

he will provide a new face at the dinner parties and because she wants to

see how he acts with Miss de Bourgh, whom he is expected to marry. When Mr.

Darcy arrives with his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, the two gentlemen

immediately call at Hunsford. Elizabeth asks Darcy whether or not he has

seen Jane in the past few months, in order to see if he betrays any

knowledge about what happened between Jane and the Bingleys. He looks a bit

confused but simply answers that he has not seen her.

Volume II, Chapter 8 Summary:

It is about a week before Elizabeth and Mr. and Mrs. Collins are

invited again to Rosings, since Lady Catherine is no longer in need of

company. During the evening Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth have a very

enjoyable conversation. Lady Catherine seems annoyed that she is not a part

of the conversation, and interrupts them in order to join in. Mr. Darcy

looks a bit ashamed at his aunt's impertinence and ill-breeding in treating

Elizabeth as an inferior.

At Colonel Fitzwilliam's request, Elizabeth begins to play the piano.

As she playing Darcy walks away from Lady Catherine in order to go up to

the piano and watch her. They have a very lively conversation, teasing each

other playfully about their characters. Soon Lady Catherine interrupts

demanding to know what they are talking of, and Elizabeth immediately

resumes playing. Lady Catherine offers generous criticisms and advice about

Elizabeth's playing. Elizabeth tries to observe how Mr. Darcy reacts to

Miss de Bourgh, and she finds in him no sign of affection for her.

Volume II, Chapter 9 Summary:

The next morning, when only Elizabeth is at home, Mr. Darcy comes to

visit alone. He had thought that the other ladies were also at home. They

converse for a while about several subjects, including his quick departure

from Netherfield last November, and Charlotte's marriage to Mr. Collins.

When Elizabeth tells Darcy that, contrary to his opinions, Charlotte is not

exactly close to her family since they lack the income to travel

frequently, he tells Elizabeth emphatically that she must not have such

strong local attachments. Elizabeth is surprised and he quickly cools his

tone of voice and changes the subject to a general conversation about the

countryside. Charlotte and Marie return from their walk Mr. Darcy stays for

a few minutes and then leaves. Charlotte tells Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy

must be in love with her, but Elizabeth convinces her that such is not the

case.

Colonel Fitzwalliams calls on the ladies frequently because he enjoys

their company. Elizabeth can tell that he admires her. He reminds her of

Wickham. Neither Elizabeth nor Charlotte are able to figure out why Mr.

Darcy calls on them so often. Charlotte keeps suggesting that Mr. Darcy

must be partial to her, but Elizabeth simply laughs at the idea.

Volume II, Chapter 10 Summary:

Elizabeth often unexpectedly meets Mr. Darcy during her walks in the

Park, in spite of the fact that she has told him where she usually walks in

hopes of deterring him from taking the same path. When they meet he not

only stops to say hello but also walks all the way back to the house with

her. During one conversation he asks questions which seem to imply that in

the future when she comes to Kent she will be staying at Rosings. Elizabeth

thinks that he may be alluding to the prospect of her marriage to Colonel

Fitzwilliam.

On another walk Elizabeth runs into Colonel Fitzwilliam. He speaks to

her about the fact that because he is a younger son he cannot ignore

financial concerns in his choice of whom to marry. Elizabeth thinks that

this statement may be made for her sake. They also speak of Miss Darcy, and

then of Bingley. Colonel Fitzwilliam tells Elizabeth that Darcy recently

saved a good friend probably Bingley from an imprudent marriage.

When she is alone and reflecting on the conversation, Elizabeth is

sure that it was due to Darcy's influence that Bingley did not propose to

Jane. Her reflections distress her so much that she begins to have a

headache, and her headache combined with her desire to avoid seeing Mr.

Darcy lead her to stay at home even though they have been invited to

Rosings that evening.

Volume II, Chapter 11 Summary:

While Elizabeth is at home alone, the door bell rings and she thinks

that it might be Colonel Fitzwilliam. To her surprise, however, it is Mr.

Darcy. After he inquires about her health, he paces around the room for a

few minutes and then makes a declaration of love for her. While he speaks

eloquently about his admiration for her, he also clearly expresses the

inferiority of her connections and the family obstacles which prevented him

from proposing sooner. Elizabeth turns down his proposal rather harshly,

and he is both surprised and resentful.

Elizabeth explains her reasons for turning him down. These reasons

are, first, the arrogant manner of his proposal; second, his actions to

separate Bingley and Jane; and third, his actions toward Wickham. Darcy

replies angrily that her calculation of his faults is indeed heavy, but

that she might have overlooked them if he had not been honest about the

fact that her family connections had made him try to avoid becoming

attached to her. She simply states that his manner of proposal had no

influence on her other than to "spare me the concern of refusing you, had

you acted in a more gentlemanlike manner." After she finishes speaking he

quickly leaves the room.

Elizabeth collapses and cries from weakness as a result of what has

passed. She is flattered that he should have proposed to her, but any

softness which she feels toward him because of his affection is quickly

dissipated as soon as she thinks of his "abominable pride" and all that he

has done to Jane and to Wickham.

Volume II, Chapter 12 Summary:

The next morning Elizabeth decides to go for a walk. Though she avoids

her usual walking route, Mr. Darcy finds her and gives her a letter, then

quickly leaves. First the letter explains Darcy's reasons for persuading

Bingley not to marry Jane. Darcy admits that the impropriety of the Bennet

family made him hope that the two would not marry, but that his main reason

for preventing Bingley from proposing to Jane was that he did not think

that Jane had any particular regard for Bingley. The only part of his

conduct which he is uneasy about is that he concealed from Bingley his

knowledge that Jane has been in London for the past few months.

In response to Elizabeth's charge that Darcy had injured Mr. Wickham,

Darcy relates the whole account of Wickham's relationship with him and his

family. Darcy's father was very fond of Wickham and paid to provide him

with an excellent education. Before his death Darcy's father asked Darcy to

promote Wickham's professional advancement and stipulated that if Wickham

should become a clergyman Darcy should provide him with a good family

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