Outline of the main characters from Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin

As part of our FREE character profiles for 12 key GCSE texts. We want to help you revise and learn GCSE English and GCSE English Literature to your full potential.

We have listed profiles of the key characters from Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin below. We hope the information provided helps you with your GCSE English Literature.

Elizabeth Bennet – Elizabeth Bennet is the novel’s main character. She is the second born and has four sisters. She is the most intelligent, well read and witty out of her sisters. However, her abrupt nature often gets her into trouble. She eventually overcomes her doubts about Mr Darcy and starts to see a more becoming side of him by the end of the novel.

Fitzwilliam Darcy – Darcy is a wealthy gentleman who owns Pemberley. He is nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Darcy is intelligent and honest but his sense of self pride lets regard others as social inferior to him and is not afraid to express his prejudices towards others. He eventually falls in love with Elizabeth after initially loathing her sharp wit and temper.

Jane Bennet – Jane Bennet is Elizabeth’s eldest sister. Jane is attractive and has a calmer nature than Elizabeth. Jane and Bingley’s instant attraction and interactions contrast with the initially awkward relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Charles Bingley –Charles Bingley is a close friend to Darcy who owns Netherfield. He is a nice natured gentleman who is unaffected by the social class of others. He provides a contrast to Darcy’s difficult nature.

Mr. Bennet – Mr Bennet is father to five daughters. He is a gentleman and does not earn much money. Mr. Bennet uses sarcasm and cynicism in a humorous way purposefully to fluster his wife. He loves all of his daughters, especially Elizabeth,and tries not to get involved with their marriage plans.

Mrs. Bennet – Mrs. Bennet is Mr Bennet’s wife. She is a silly woman who wishes to marry off her daughters to wealthy husbands. However, Mrs Bennet’s uncouth behavior serves to scare off prospective suitors.

George Wickham – George Wickham is a good-looking military officer. His charming nature captivates Elizabeth before Darcy’s tells her more about his true character and background. This in turn unites Elizabeth and Darcy.

Lydia Bennet – Lydia Bennet is the youngest of the Bennet sisters. She is headstrong and niaeve which leads her to run away with Wickham and tarnishes her family’s name.

Mr. Collins – Mr Collins is a Pasteur. He is next in line to inherit Mr. Bennet’s property. He is a pompous snob and makes the fact that Lady Catherine de Bourgh is his patroness no secret.

Miss Bingley – Bingley’s snobbish sister. Miss Bingley bears inordinate disdain for Elizabeth’s middle-class background. Her vain attempts to garner Darcy’s attention cause Darcy to admire Elizabeth’s self-possessed character even more.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh – A rich, bossy noblewoman; Mr. Collins’s patron and Darcy’s aunt. Lady Catherine epitomizes class snobbery, especially in her attempts to order the middle-class Elizabeth away
from her well-bred nephew.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner – Mrs. Bennet’s brother and his wife. The Gardiners, are caring, nurturing and full of common sense, often proving to be better parents to the Bennet daughters than Mr. Bennet and his wife.

Charlotte Lucas – Elizabeth’s dear friend. Pragmatic where Elizabeth is romantic, and also six years older than Elizabeth, Charlotte does not view love as the most vital component of a marriage. She is more
interested in having a comfortable home. Thus, when Mr. Collins proposes, she accepts.

Georgiana Darcy – Darcy’s sister. She is immensely pretty and just as shy. She has great skill at playing the pianoforte.

Mary Bennet – The middle Bennet sister, bookish and pedantic.
Catherine Bennet – The fourth Bennet sister. Like Lydia, she is girlishly enthralled with the soldiers.

Be sure check out our Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin, GCSE English Literature learning song

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