Who’s who in Pride and Prejudice, the 1813 novel by Jane Austen, with a guide to every character in our retelling for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.
Pride and Prejudice follows the Bennet family of Longbourn: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their five daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Because the house must go to a male cousin, Mrs. Bennet is eager to see her daughters married. Elizabeth, the second sister and the heroine, is clever and quick, while Jane, the eldest, is gentle and patient. Lydia is the youngest and the most reckless.
Around them are the families who change their lives. Mr. Bingley and his proud friend Mr. Darcy arrive at Netherfield, bringing Bingley's sisters and Darcy's family with them, including his aunt Lady Catherine and his sister Georgiana. Mr. Wickham, a charming soldier, and Mr. Collins, a pompous clergyman, add trouble and comedy. Elizabeth's best friend Charlotte Lucas and her aunt Mrs. Gardiner round out the cast.
A clever and spirited young woman who loves books, family, and speaking her mind.
Elizabeth is the second of the five Bennet sisters, a clever girl who loves books, long walks and a good laugh. She speaks her mind and notices everything, though she sometimes makes up her mind about people too fast. Over the story she learns that first impressions can be wrong, and that admitting a mistake takes real courage.
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Proud at first, but brave, kind, and more than he seems.
Mr. Darcy is a wealthy gentleman from a great house called Pemberley and the best friend of Mr. Bingley. He is tall, quiet and serious, and at parties he can seem cold and proud. Underneath, he is loyal and generous toward the people he loves, especially his younger sister, and he does good things without asking for thanks.
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The eldest Bennet sister, who always looks for the best in everybody.
Jane is the eldest Bennet sister and has the gentlest heart in the family. She never says an unkind word and always hopes for the best in everyone, even people who don’t deserve it. When Mr. Bingley arrives in the neighborhood, he and Jane are drawn to each other right away, but their path to happiness takes patience.
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The cheerful new neighbor at Netherfield Park.
Mr. Bingley is a cheerful, friendly young gentleman who rents the big house called Netherfield Park. He dances every dance at the village ball and loves good company. He takes a liking to Jane Bennet almost at once, but he trusts his friends and family so much that he sometimes lets them decide things for him.
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A fluttery mother with big plans for her five daughters.
Mrs. Bennet is the mother of the five Bennet girls, and she has one big wish: to see every daughter married to a fine gentleman. She flutters, fusses and talks very fast, and she often complains about her poor nerves. She can be silly and loud, but all her worrying comes from wanting a safe future for her girls.
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A book-loving father who enjoys a quiet joke.
Mr. Bennet is the father of the Bennet family, a calm man who would rather read in his quiet study than listen to fuss. He loves to tease his wife and daughters with a sly smile. Elizabeth is his favorite, and he trusts her good sense more than anyone’s, so her happiness matters to him a great deal.
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The youngest Bennet sister, who loves ribbons, soldiers, and fun.
Lydia is the youngest Bennet sister, just fifteen, loud and always looking for fun. She loves ribbons, bonnets, gossip and especially the soldiers who come to town. Lydia rushes into things without stopping to think, and one of her choices causes a big worry for her whole family.
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A dashing soldier with charming manners — but is he as nice as he seems?
Mr. Wickham is a handsome young soldier with gentle manners and a friendly smile. Everyone in Meryton likes him, and Elizabeth does too. He tells a sad story about how Mr. Darcy treated him unfairly, but as the story goes on, the Bennets learn that a charming face doesn’t always mean an honest heart.
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Mr. Bingley’s fashionable sister, who looks down on country manners.
Caroline is Mr. Bingley’s fashionable sister. She thinks country folk are beneath her, and she makes fun of Elizabeth behind her back. She is eager to win Mr. Darcy’s attention and tries hard to keep her brother away from Jane. Her unkind remarks about Elizabeth’s muddy skirts never seem to work the way she hopes.
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The Bennets’ awkward cousin, a clergyman who loves long speeches.
Mr. Collins is the Bennets’ cousin, a church minister who will one day inherit their house. He bows very low, makes long speeches and can’t stop talking about his important patron, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He means to marry one of the Bennet girls, and he is so sure of himself that he hardly listens when people answer him.
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Elizabeth’s sensible, calm best friend.
Charlotte is Elizabeth’s best friend, a sensible, practical young woman of twenty-seven. She isn’t dreamy or romantic like Elizabeth; what she wants most is a comfortable home of her own. Charlotte surprises everyone with a big decision, and even though the two friends see things differently, they stay close.
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Mr. Darcy’s bossy aunt, who expects everyone to obey her.
Lady Catherine is Mr. Darcy’s aunt, a rich and bossy lady who lives in a grand mansion called Rosings Park. She sits on her sofa like a queen and tells everyone how to sew, play music and run their homes. She expects people to obey her, and she is astonished when Elizabeth calmly says what she thinks.
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