First post for Pride and Predjudice

In relevance to Jane Austen's characters, she is very thorough. She reveals on the first few pages the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. To describe her, I will quote the book. "She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news."

For Mr. Bennett, she said, that he was "so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character." Later on, we learn from reading that he enjoys teasing his wife, but could not stand any description of finery.

Also, a universally known 'truth' to the surrounding neighborhood was that "a single man, in possession of a good fortune, must be in search of a wife." This shows a characterization of the people of the neighborhood.

To describe Lizzie, or Elizabeth, I would say, with Austen's help, that she "has more of a quickness than her sisters." Indeed, because her sisters were all "silly and ignorant like other girls".

For Mrs. Long we can guess her as being kind, seeing as how she promised the Bennett girls that she would introduce them to Mr. Bingley.

Sir Lucas is a proud man who is still agreeable, and his wife, Lady Lucas, is said to be,"a very good kind of woman". Their eldest daughter, Charlotte, is called, "a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, and Elizabeth's intimate friend."

As Austen explaines, " Between him[Mr. Bingley] and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character.—Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence."

This explains all the characters introduced up to this point.