# Chapter III explained — Pride and Prejudice

> Chapter companion for Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

## What happens

At the Meryton assembly, Mr. Darcy's pride and refusal to dance with Elizabeth Bennet earn him widespread dislike, while Mr. Bingley's amiability and admiration for Jane Bennet delight Mrs. Bennet. The Bennet family returns home to discuss the ball, and Mrs. Bennet's hopes for Jane's marriage to Bingley grow.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pride and Prejudice

Darcy's pride is immediately evident in his refusal to dance with those he deems beneath him, and the general prejudice against him forms quickly.

### Social Class and Status

Darcy's wealth and estate are noted, but his haughty manners override his status, leading to universal dislike.

### Love and Marriage

Mrs. Bennet's hopes for Jane's marriage to Bingley are kindled by his attention at the ball, reflecting the era's view of marriage as a social and economic arrangement.

## Character check-ins

### Elizabeth Bennet

Sits out two dances due to scarcity of gentlemen; overhears Darcy's slighting remark about her being 'tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him'; tells the story with spirit among her friends.

### Mr. Darcy

Displays proud and disagreeable manners at the ball; refuses to dance with Elizabeth, calling her 'not handsome enough'; is universally disliked by the end of the evening.

### Jane Bennet

Admired by Mr. Bingley, who dances with her twice; is gratified by the attention in her quiet way.

### Mr. Bingley

Lively and unreserved; dances every dance, admires Jane Bennet, and talks of giving a ball at Netherfield; contrasts sharply with his friend Darcy.

### Mrs. Bennet

Delighted with Bingley and his admiration for Jane; violently dislikes Darcy for slighting Elizabeth; recounts the ball with enthusiasm to Mr. Bennet.

### Mr. Bennet

Stays up late reading; listens impatiently to Mrs. Bennet's account of the ball; protests against descriptions of finery and wishes Bingley had sprained his ankle.

## Key lines

> She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.

Darcy dismisses Elizabeth as merely passable in appearance and refuses to dance with her, implying she is not worth his attention.

_This remark deeply offends Elizabeth and sets the stage for her initial prejudice against Darcy._

> He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again.

Darcy's behavior at the ball leads everyone to view him as unbearably arrogant and unpleasant, and they wish for his absence in future.

_This sentence encapsulates the immediate social judgment against Darcy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/iii
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters