Summary
...Mr. Bennet, father of five daughters
Mrs. Bennet, his opinionated wife
Elizabeth, their intelligent middle daughter, and Mr. Bennet's favorite child
Jane, Elizabeth's beautiful older sister
Lydia, the Bennet's impetuous youngest daughter
Mr. Binglcy, Jane's rich and amiable suitor
Mr. Darcy, Bingley's arrogant and wealthy friend
Reverend Collins, a conceited bore
Mr. Wickman,an army officer
Summary
The story was set primarily in the county of Hertfordshire, about 50 miles outside of London. The news that a wealthy young gentleman named Charles Bingley has rented the manor of Netherfield Park caused a great stir in the nearby village of Longbourn, especially in the Bennet household. Mrs. Bennet, whose obsession was to find husbands for her daughters, saw Mr. Bingley as a potential suitor. The Bennets had five unmarried daughters¡ªfrom oldest to youngest, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. Mrs. Bennet begged her husband to go make the acquaintance of their new neighbor, and, after some teasing; Mr. Bennet did pay Bingley a call. Mr. Bingley soon returned the visit but did not manage to meet any of the beautiful young women he had heard so much about. His interest piqued, he soon invited the entire Bennet family to dine.
The Bennets' first acquaintance with Mr. Bingley and his companions were at the Meryton Ball. Everyone at the dinner party was impressed with Bingley's fine appearance and gracious manners. However, his close friend, Mr. Darcy, though handsome and well-to-do, was not viewed so favorably. His pride ruled and ruined his conversation - particularly for Elizabeth. When Bingley suggested that Darcy ask Elizabeth to dance, Elizabeth indignantly overheard Mr. Darcy reply that she was "tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me." However Mr. Bingley took a liking to Jane and spent much of the evening dancing with her.
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