Pride and Prejudice

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Family dynamics within the Bennet family have a significant impact on Elizabeth and Jane. Were any of these dynamics recognizable to you from your own family? Did you think that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were ultimately good parents?

2. When they first meet, Darcy makes a bad impression on Elizabeth. Do you form opinions of people based on your first impressions of them? Why or why not? Has a first impression ever been proven wrong for you? How do you know when you need to reevaluate an impression?

3. Elizabeth is disappointed when Charlotte agrees to marry Mr. Collins, revealing that the two women have very different attitudes toward marriage. Have you ever had to accept that an important person in your life holds different values or perspectives? Were you able to maintain a friendship or relationship with that person?

4. Elizabeth gradually changes her mind about Darcy as she learns more about him and witnesses him behaving in caring and ethical ways (for example, he helps to ensure that Wickham marries Lydia). What actions or choices do you think are most revealing about a person?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel highlights how economic pressure influenced women’s decisions about when and whom to marry in Austen’s era. Do you think that financial considerations still play a significant role in how individuals pursue romantic relationships? To what extent have opportunities for women to pursue education and careers impacted expectations around romantic relationships?

2. Jane and Elizabeth are often juxtaposed: Jane is portrayed as docile and good-natured, while Elizabeth is more assertive and outspoken. Which of the two sisters do you think would fare better in the contemporary world? Why is Elizabeth, and not Jane, the heroine of the novel? Can contemporary women still relate to the social pressures Jane and Elizabeth face?

3. Elizabeth’s marriage to Darcy is controversial because she comes from a different social status; Lady Catherine de Burgh even tries to forbid it. What factors might lead to a romantic relationship being controversial in the contemporary world? What do you think leads to couples facing obstacles and objections to their relationships?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Compare and contrast Elizabeth Bennet with another of Jane Austen’s heroines, such as Emma from Emma or Elinor from Sense and Sensibility. In what ways can Elizabeth be considered a unique or special character?

2. Although Austen gives readers detailed insights into her characters’ interiority, the novel is narrated by a third-person narrator rather than in the first person. If the novel had been narrated by Elizabeth, what would change? 

3. When Elizabeth visits Pemberley (Darcy’s country estate), the setting has a significant impact on her. What does the house symbolize, and why does it play such a strong role in Elizabeth’s evolving perception of Darcy?

4. Discuss the motif of letters. How do letters reflect the struggles of characters to accurately express their emotions and to be understood by others? In contrast to our highly digital era, what are the limitations and benefits of a time when individuals had to rely on letter writing as a form of communication?