Pride & Prejudice Need to Know:

The Meet-Cute: The Reveal: Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy first Elizabeth learns that Darcy did not refuse meet at the Meryton Assembly Ball, Wickham his inheritance. Darcy did, in an event that Mr. Darcy is less than fact, give him the money, which Wickham enthused to attend. Elizabeth finds promptly squandered and then asked him rude and prideful. She is more for more to pursue a career in the law. than happy never to see him again. He lost this money as well, and then asked for more again. Darcy refused, The Obstacles: at which point their relationship soured. • A soldier named Mr. Wickham tells Elizabeth about his past The Scandal: with Darcy: they grew up together, Lydia, Elizabeth’s youngest sister, leaves as Wickham’s father had passed the family to summer in Brighton. Once away and Darcy’s father was there, she and Wickham run off alone Wickham’s godfather. When Darcy’s to London as lovers. Mr. Bennet and father died, Darcy Mr. Gardiner, Elizabeth’s uncle, was supposed to pass leave at once to prevent a on a sum of inheritance scandal. They succeed in to Wickham so that arranging a marriage for he could join the clergy. Wickham and Lydia. Darcy withheld the money, seemingly The Rescue: out of jealousy for Elizabeth learns that it was Wickham’s relationship Mr. Darcy who put up the with his father. money for Lydia and Wickham’s wedding. Her opinion of him • Darcy convinces alters as she learns that not Mr. Bingley not to only has Darcy saved her family marry Elizabeth’s sister from societal shame, but that Jane, an engagement that up until he has encouraged Bingley to once then seemed inevitable, because of again pursue an engagement to Jane. the social status of the Bennets and the perceived social impropriety of The Happily Ever After: Mrs. Bennet and the younger sisters. Mr. Darcy comes to visit the Bennet family at Longbourn, after Jane and • Mr. Darcy attempts to propose to Mr. Bingley have finally gotten engaged. Elizabeth. He does so rudely, with Darcy again asks Elizabeth to marry him, frequent mention of the lower status to which she agrees wholeheartedly. of the Bennets and the sacrifice he is making with the proposal. Elizabeth, due to his behavior and the perceived slights to her family, refuses, calling him arrogant, conceited, and selfish.