Pride and Prejudice: Chapter 16

The color-coded bars in this section make it easy to track the themes throughout the work. Each color corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart. For instance, indicates that all five themes apply to that part of the summary.

Summary Analysis Themes

At dinner the next evening, Elizabeth is fascinated by Wickham’s pleasant demeanor. The two of them easily fall into conversation and Wickham soon asks about Darcy. Elizabeth says he is widely disliked for his pride. Wickham withholds an opinion out of respect for Darcy’s father, who Wickham reveals was his godfather and dear friend.

On the surface, Wickham is pleasant and well-mannered. Elizabeth will remember later that while Wickham says he withholds an opinion on Darcy, he soon goes ahead and gives one. But Elizabeth is under his spell and does not notice now.

Wickham explains that he was the son of one of Darcy’s father’s employees, and that he and Darcy grew up together. Darcy’s father died and left Wickham money to pursue a career in the ministry, but Darcy, who was jealous of his father’s love for Wickham, found a loophole and refused to give Wickham the money. Elizabeth is shocked and appalled.

With close relations to her own siblings and a keen sense of justice, Elizabeth is predisposed to believe Wickham’s story. The story also fits perfectly with her own existing prejudices about Darcy.

Elizabeth asks about Darcy’s sister, Georgiana. Wickham says that she is an accomplished young woman living in London but that she is, like her brother, distastefully proud.

This is a lie, but Wickham is on a roll. He’s trying to separate himself from his former victim and degrade her, too.

Wickham, hearing Mr. Collins go on about Lady Catherine, informs Elizabeth that Lady Catherine is actually Darcy’s aunt. He adds that Lady Catherine apparently hopes to marry Darcy to her daughter.

Such an arranged marriage would have been no surprise to Elizabeth. Lady Catherine seems to share Darcy’s pride in their extreme high class status.