Pride and Prejudice · Chapter
Chapter XXXIX explained
Elizabeth, Jane, and Maria return from London, meeting Kitty and Lydia at an inn.
What happens
Elizabeth, Jane, and Maria return from London, meeting Kitty and Lydia at an inn. Lydia dominates the journey home with gossip about the militia's impending departure for Brighton and her delight that Wickham will not marry Mary King. Elizabeth, wary of Wickham, opposes a walk to Meryton and reflects on the family's Brighton scheme.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Duty
Elizabeth's opposition to the Meryton walk and her concern for the family's reputation contrast with Lydia's heedless pursuit of pleasure.
Reputation and Appearance
Elizabeth resolves that the Miss Bennets should not appear to be chasing officers, highlighting the importance of social propriety.
Self-Knowledge and Growth
Elizabeth is shocked to recognize that her former sentiments about Wickham were as coarse as Lydia's, indicating her growing self-awareness.
Characters to notice
- Elizabeth Bennet
Steadily opposes walking to Meryton to avoid Wickham; dreads seeing him and is relieved at the regiment's removal.
- Lydia Bennet
Boisterously recounts her fun at the inn and Colonel Forster's; urges the Brighton scheme; announces Wickham is free from Mary King.
- Jane Bennet
Listens to Lydia's news with concern; hopes there is no strong attachment between Wickham and Mary King.
- Kitty Bennet
Assists Lydia with hints and additions during the journey; participates in the fun at the inn.
- Mary Bennet
Gravely replies to Lydia's tales, preferring a book to such pleasures, but is not heard.
- Mr. Wickham
Frequently mentioned by Lydia; Elizabeth dreads seeing him; Lydia reports he is safe from marrying Mary King.
Key passages
“It should not be said, that the Miss Bennets could not be at home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers.”
Elizabeth insists they must not appear to be chasing after the officers so soon after returning home.
Reflects Elizabeth's concern for family reputation.
“I was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband before you came back. Jane will be quite an old maid soon, I declare. She is almost three and twenty!”
Lydia expresses disappointment that none of her sisters secured a husband, and teases Jane about being nearly twenty-three and unmarried.
Highlights societal pressure on women to marry young.
“Elizabeth was shocked to think that, however incapable of such coarseness of expression herself, the coarseness of the sentiment was little other than her own breast had formerly harboured and fancied liberal!”
Elizabeth is startled to realize that her own past feelings about Wickham were just as crude as Lydia's words, though she would never have spoken them.
Marks Elizabeth's self-reflection and growth.