Pride and Prejudice · Chapter
Chapter VI explained
Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas discuss Jane's growing attachment to Mr.
What happens
Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas discuss Jane's growing attachment to Mr. Bingley, with Charlotte advocating for more overt displays of affection to secure him. Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy begins to notice Elizabeth's intelligence and charm, though she remains unaware. At a party at Sir William Lucas's, Elizabeth teases Darcy about his critical nature, and later Miss Bingley jealously probes Darcy about his admiration for Elizabeth.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
Charlotte Lucas argues that happiness in marriage is a matter of chance, contrasting with Elizabeth's belief in the importance of knowing a partner's character.
Pride and Prejudice
Darcy's initial critical view of Elizabeth gives way to admiration, while Elizabeth remains prejudiced against him for his earlier slight.
Social Class and Status
Miss Bingley's disdain for Elizabeth's family and her jealousy over Darcy's interest highlight class tensions.
Characters to notice
- Elizabeth Bennet
Discusses Jane's relationship with Bingley, teases Mr. Darcy, and plays piano at Sir William Lucas's party.
- Charlotte Lucas
Advises Elizabeth that Jane should show more affection to secure Bingley, and argues that happiness in marriage is a matter of chance.
- Jane Bennet
Receives attention from Mr. Bingley; Elizabeth notes her guarded but growing affection.
- Mr. Darcy
Begins to admire Elizabeth's intelligence and fine eyes, admits to Miss Bingley that Elizabeth is the lady who inspired his reflections.
- Miss Bingley
Jealously questions Darcy about his admiration for Elizabeth, mocking the prospect of a match.
- Mary Bennet
Plays piano after Elizabeth, displaying a pedantic and conceited manner.
Key passages
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least.”
Charlotte believes marital happiness is random, and knowing a partner's character beforehand doesn't improve it.
Charlotte expresses a pragmatic, cynical view of marriage, contrasting with Elizabeth's idealism.
“But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.”
Darcy, after deciding Elizabeth wasn't pretty, starts noticing her intelligent expression and dark eyes.
Darcy's growing attraction to Elizabeth begins, despite his earlier dismissal of her looks.
“A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”
Darcy teases Miss Bingley that women quickly leap from admiration to thoughts of marriage.
Darcy deflects Miss Bingley's jealous probing with a witty remark about female imagination.