Pride and Prejudice · Chapter
Chapter LVII explained
Elizabeth is discomposed by Lady Catherine's visit and fears its consequences on Darcy.
What happens
Elizabeth is discomposed by Lady Catherine's visit and fears its consequences on Darcy. Mr. Bennet shows her a letter from Mr. Collins, who reports a rumor of Elizabeth's engagement to Darcy and warns against it, citing Lady Catherine's disapproval. Elizabeth struggles to hide her true feelings as her father jokes about Darcy's indifference.
Themes in this chapter
Pride and Prejudice
Mr. Bennet's prejudice against Darcy blinds him to Elizabeth's true feelings, while Elizabeth's pride prevents her from correcting him.
Reputation and Appearance
The rumor of Elizabeth's engagement spreads through gossip, and Lady Catherine's intervention highlights the social stakes of the match.
Family and Duty
Mr. Collins's letter invokes family duty to warn against the match, while Mr. Bennet's teasing shows his lack of insight into his daughter's heart.
Characters to notice
- Elizabeth Bennet
Anxious after Lady Catherine's visit, then mortified by her father's teasing about Darcy's supposed indifference.
- Mr. Bennet
Amused by Mr. Collins's letter and the absurd rumor of Elizabeth's engagement to Darcy, unaware of her true feelings.
- Mr. Collins
Writes a letter to Mr. Bennet, congratulating on Jane's wedding and warning against Elizabeth's rumored engagement to Darcy.
- Mr. Darcy
Mentioned as the subject of the rumor; Elizabeth fears his aunt's influence may deter him.
- Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Visited Longbourn to oppose the rumored engagement; Elizabeth worries about her influence on Darcy.
Key passages
“The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth into could not be easily overcome; nor could she for many hours learn to think of it less than incessantly.”
Elizabeth was so unsettled by Lady Catherine's unexpected visit that she could not stop thinking about it for hours.
Elizabeth's anxiety after Lady Catherine's confrontation.
“If he had been wavering before as to what he should do, which had often seemed likely, the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might settle every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy, as dignity unblemished could make him.”
Elizabeth fears that if Darcy was uncertain, his aunt's arguments might convince him to abandon her for the sake of his dignity.
Elizabeth's worry about Lady Catherine's influence on Darcy.
“Had they fixed on any other man it would have been nothing; but his perfect indifference, and your pointed dislike, make it so delightfully absurd!”
Mr. Bennet finds the rumor amusing because he believes Darcy is indifferent to Elizabeth and she dislikes him.
Mr. Bennet's ironic view of the engagement rumor.