Notes On Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Austen remains remarkably easy to enjoy without any assistance, but some details of domestic life may be mysterious to twenty-first century readers. I was unable to identify a worthwhile annotated edition of Pride and Prejudice, and therefore made some notes for myself while reading. Possibly they may be of use to others....

Characters

• Mr. Bennet; father; "a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice"
• Mrs. Bennet; mother; "a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. [...] The business of her life was to get her daughters married"
• Elizabeth Bennet; main character; the cleverest Bennet sister; age 20
• Jane Bennet; the prettiest Bennet sister; age 22
• Mary Bennet; the plain sister
• Lydia; the youngest, but tallest Bennet sister; age 15
• Charles Bingley; new bachelor neighbor; age 22; "lively and unreserved"

Chapter 1

"that he is to take possession before Michaelmas" Michaelmas is the Feast of Ss. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and occurs on September 29th. Michaelmas is associated with autumn, because of its nearness to the equinox.

"a man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year" How much would four or five thousand pounds be in 2008 money? It would be around £190,000 to £239,000 pounds. So, Mr. Bingley is probably making over half a million a year in 2008 U.S. dollars. No wonder he's on Mrs. Bennet's radar.

Chapter 2

"employed in trimming a hat" Decorating a hat. This could be as simple as tying a ribbon around it, or might involve all sorts of feathers and flowers and whatnot. I'm uncertain whether this was something every young lady might do, or if it indicates something about the Lizzy's craftiness and the Bennet's economic circumstances—that Lizzy takes pains to make her things look like they might have been purchased at a dearer price. In a letter of 27 October 1798, Jane Austen mentions that "next week shall begin operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend."

Chapter 4

"Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years" "Of age" probably being the age of majority, when one is able to own or lease land, sign contracts, et cetera. Under English civil law, the age of majority is twenty-one for gentlemen (and 18 for ladies). That would put Bingley at twenty-two years old.

"pretty, but she smiled too much" This amuses me. I'm assuming that it's not Mr. Darcy's actual opinion--one to which he in fact gave voice--but an editorial projection designed to illustrate how nothing could please him. In chapter three, in direct quotation, Darcy advises Bingley: "return to your partner and enjoy her smiles."