Pride and Prejudice Chapters 12-18
Mr. Darcy decides that he must suppress his own feelings towards Elizabeth, and decides to deliberately pay less attention to her.
When Jane is feeling better, five days later, she and Elizabeth borrow a carriage from Mr. Bingley and return home. Mr. Bennet is glad that the girls have returned home, but Mrs. Bennet feels that their stay at Mr. Bingley’s was too short.
The following day, Mr. Bennet announces that his cousin, Mr. Collins, will be arriving in the afternoon. Mr. Collins is the closest male relative to Mr. Bennet, and the estate being entailed, will be the benefactor of the entire estate in the event that Mr. Bennet should pass away. Mr. Bennet reminds his wife and daughters that having that right, Mr. Collins would have the right to evict them all at a moment’s notice, should Mr. Bennet die.
Mr. Collins is an odd man, appearing pompous beyond his status, and politely condescending. He enjoys discussing his own status as a member of the clergy, proudly boasting of the patronage granted him by the Right Honorable Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He makes numerous apologies, which the Bennets find amusing, although the younger daughters are surprised to meet a man who does not read novels. Instead, he attempts to read sermons (geared towards young women) to the girls. He is offended when they are completely uninterested, and begin to talk about other things.
Mr. Collins has decided that he will select one of the Bennet girls to be his wife. He feels obligated, as the heir to the estate. His first choice is Jane, but he learns that she is spoken for. He then sets his sights on Elizabeth.
Later, Mr. Collins and the sisters walk to Meryton, where the youngest sisters enjoy going to meet some of the young military officers stationed there. One new officer in particular, George Wickham, strikes the girls, and especially Elizabeth, as particularly handsome and charming. As the sisters are speaking with him, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley ride up to the group. While Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham do not openly acknowledge each other, Elizabeth correctly senses recognition between the two men. She notes that while Mr. Wickham appears uneasy, Mr. Darcy appears agitated.
The following day, while dining with the girls’ aunt, Mrs. Philips, at Meryton, Mr. Wickham joins them, after the girls plead with Mrs. Philips to invite him. He strikes up a conversation with Elizabeth, in which he explains the history that he shares with Mr. Darcy.
According to Mr. Wickham, he and Mr. Darcy had grown up together. However, when Mr. Darcy’s father passed away, he explains, Mr. Darcy had failed to keep promises made by Mr. Darcy’s father. Mr. Wickham explained that Mr. Darcy is was apparently jealous, and thus felt justified in cheating Mr. Wickham. Mr. Wickham states outright that both Mr. Darcy and his sister are obnoxiously proud and pretentious, not pleasant to know. Elizabeth, still convinced that this is accurate due to her own prejudice, agrees without question.
Later, Elizabeth and Jane discuss the story related by Mr. Wickham. Jane is resistant to the condemnation of Mr. Darcy, reasoning that perhaps the strife was merely based upon misunderstanding. Elizabeth admires her sister’s forgiving nature, but assures Jane that Mr. Wickham is certainly right.
Mr. Bingley invites the family to a ball he is planning in a few days. All are happy to accept. Mr. Collins immediately wrangles a promise from Elizabeth that she will dance first with him. Elizabeth is annoyed by this, but agrees.
To Elizabeth’s dismay, Mr. Wickham is not at the ball. She assumes that this is due to the tensions that Mr. Darcy is surely responsible for. However, Mr. Darcy asks her to dance, and taken somewhat by surprise, agrees to the dance. Then, as they dance, Sir William (Charlotte Lucas' father) interrupts with a mention of the rumored engagement between Jane and Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy appears to be bothered by this news.
Elizabeth then brings up Mr. Wickham in conversation. The conversation is not comfortable, and both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy become agitated by the end of their dance.
The rest of Elizabeth’s evening is no better. She is embarrassed by her mother’s loud and annoying chatter regarding the engagement of Jane and Mr. Bingley. She observes that Mr. Darcy cannot help but overhear the discussion, so she tries to get her mother to change the subject. Her suggestion goes unheeded. Later, her family provides further embarrassment by acting silly and unrefined. On top of all of these unpleasantries, Mr. Collins shows her far more attention than she is interested in. Her respite is only found when Charlotte strikes up a conversation with him.
Analysis:
The reader is introduced to the unfairness of the entail—the rights of property to the nearest male relative—and how it might affect the female Bennets. While not common in society in this modern age, at the time Austen was writing, it was a serious concern. Another sexist behavior common to the era is displayed in Mr. Collins’ decision to “select” a wife from among the five Bennet girls.
We see Mr. Darcy try to accept the rejection displayed by Elizabeth, although his efforts to pay her less attention may prove futile. We also see Elizabeth’s original presumption that Mr. Darcy is an unpleasant man fortified by statements by Mr. Wickham. With Elizabeth’s prejudice, she accepts Mr. Wickham’s claims without question. Again, though, we see Jane seeing only the best in Mr. Darcy, convinced that the strife must be due to some misunderstanding.
Finally, we see the hope of romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy further jeopardized by a conversation during the dance that leaves both of them feeling upset and bothered.
