The oldest of the Bennet sisters, Jane seems almost too good to be true: beautiful, sweet-tempered, and modest. Her sole fault is that she refuses to think badly of anyone. She always looks on the bright side and is quick to defend someone when Elizabeth suspects them of having shortcomings.
Jane Bennet Quotes in Pride and Prejudice
The Pride and Prejudice quotes below are all either spoken by Jane Bennet or refer to Jane Bennet. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 4
Quotes
Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.
Related Characters:
Elizabeth (Eliza, Lizzy) Bennet (speaker), Jane Bennet
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 33
Quotes
If his own vanity, however, did not mislead him, he was the cause, his pride and caprice were the cause, of all that Jane had suffered, and still continued to suffer. He had ruined for a while every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted.
Related Characters:
Elizabeth (Eliza, Lizzy) Bennet, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Jane Bennet
Related Themes:
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 55
Quotes
in spite of his being a lover, Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding, and super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself.
Related Characters:
Elizabeth (Eliza, Lizzy) Bennet, Jane Bennet, Charles Bingley
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Jane Bennet Character Timeline in Pride and Prejudice
The timeline below shows where the character Jane Bennet appears in Pride and Prejudice. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
...but proud and aloof. Bingley makes friends with everyone, dancing every dance, including several with Jane, which makes the Bennets very happy.
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Elizabeth overhears Bingley tell Darcy that Jane is the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. Bingley demands that Darcy find someone to...
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...home, Mrs. Bennet regales her husband with an abundance of details. She is excited for Jane and convinced of Bingley's interest in her, and detests Darcy for his attitude about Elizabeth.
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Chapter 4
Upstairs, Jane and Elizabeth talk more openly about their admiration for Bingley's looks, humor, and manners. Jane...
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...aloof that he offends people. After the ball, Bingley was delighted with the locals (especially Jane) but Darcy considered them plain and uninteresting.
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Chapter 5
Everyone agrees that Bingley liked Jane. The conversation quickly shifts to Darcy. Apparently he offended everyone who tried to speak with...
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Chapter 6
Bingley's sisters soon start exchanging visits with Jane and Elizabeth. Elizabeth suspects they are only nice to Jane because of Bingley, whose admiration...
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Suspecting that Jane is falling in love, Elizabeth admires her sister's composure. She privately mentions it to Charlotte...
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Chapter 7
A letter arrives to Jane from Caroline Bingley inviting her to visit. Mrs. Bennet schemes to send Jane on horseback,...
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The next morning, Jane sends Elizabeth a letter explaining that she caught a bad cold in the storm. Elizabeth...
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Chapter 8
...Elizabeth accepts, but sees through, the empty concern that Mrs. Hurst and Caroline show for Jane. Still, she is grateful to Bingley for his sincere interest in Jane.
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...and Caroline criticize her looks, manners, and judgment. Mrs. Hurst says she does really like Jane, but that her family situation—having few connections and no money—will block her hopes of making...
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Chapter 9
Elizabeth sends home a note requesting that her mother come and visit Jane. Mrs. Bennet arrives with Lydia and, not wishing Jane to leave Bingley's company, declares that...
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In conversation, Mrs. Bennet, seeking to raise Jane's status, tries to impress Bingley about her family and their situation in the country. Darcy...
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...to give a ball at Netherfield. Bingley says he hasn't forgotten but will wait until Jane recovers.
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Chapter 11
That evening, Jane is well enough to join the group. Bingley dotes on her and talks to no...
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Chapter 12
Elizabeth and Jane write to Mrs. Bennet to send their carriage to take them home. Mrs. Bennet, still...
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Chapter 15
...their inheritance. He privately tells Mrs. Bennet his intentions, and she redirects his target from Jane, whom she hopes will marry Bingley, to Elizabeth. Mr. Collins obligingly agrees to shift his...
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Chapter 17
The next day, Elizabeth tells Jane what she learned. Jane cannot believe that Darcy could be so blameworthy and that there...
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...visit Longbourn with an invitation to a ball at Netherfield. Lydia and Kitty are overjoyed. Jane is excited to see Bingley, while Elizabeth looks forward to dancing with Wickham, though Mr....
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Chapter 18
...the contrary, Wickham treated Darcy terribly and now Darcy has nothing to do with him. Jane, who has been speaking to Bingley, tells Elizabeth the same story: the fault, whatever it...
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...to Darcy and later pontificates to the whole assembly. Darcy overhears Mrs. Bennet talking about Jane and Bingley like they're already married. Mary insists on playing the piano, and does so...
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Chapter 20
Outraged, Mrs. Bennet tries to find support from anyone else: Jane, who keeps out of it, and then Charlotte Lucas, who has just arrived to visit....
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Chapter 21
A letter from Caroline Bingley arrives for Jane, who reads it in distress. Upstairs, Jane shares the contents of the letter with Elizabeth....
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Chapter 23
Meanwhile, Jane and Elizabeth start to worry because Bingley has not written. Jane writes to Caroline. Elizabeth...
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Chapter 24
...Bingley will certainly be gone for awhile and everyone is delighted with Darcy's sister, Georgiana. Jane tries to put on a brave face, telling Elizabeth that Bingley has not wronged her...
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...friend determine his affections. She cites him and Charlotte as examples of human inconsistency. But Jane tells Elizabeth she judges them too harshly.
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Chapter 25
...Mr. Gardiner is a tradesman in London. Mrs. Gardiner is intelligent and extremely well-liked by Jane and Elizabeth.
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After listening sympathetically to Mrs. Bennet's outpouring of complaints, Mrs. Gardiner speaks with Elizabeth about Jane's situation. Elizabeth confirms that Jane was very much in love and swears that Bingley's departure...
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Mrs. Gardiner proposes that Jane come stay with them in London to help her recovery. While Mrs. Gardiner promises that...
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Chapter 26
Jane travels with the Gardiners to London and writes a letter to Elizabeth. She says that...
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Chapter 27
...Elizabeth go to visit Charlotte, stopping along the way in London to check up on Jane. Speaking privately with Elizabeth, Mrs. Gardiner confirms that Jane feels dejected, but she thinks that...
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Chapter 30
...usual reserve. Conversation is sparse. Darcy seems uncomfortable when Elizabeth asks if he ever sees Jane in London, but the moment passes.
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Chapter 33
...an "imprudent marriage." Elizabeth realizes that Fitzwilliam is unknowingly referencing a story about Bingley and Jane, and is appalled to realize that Darcy ruined Jane's chances with Bingley. Darcy, she thinks,...
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Chapter 34
Darcy is astonished and demands an explanation. Elizabeth blasts him for insulting her, for ruining Jane's happiness forever, and for robbing Wickham of his chances in life.
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Darcy stands by his decision to break up Bingley and Jane. He is sarcastic about Wickham's misfortunes. And he tells Elizabeth that he was only being...
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Chapter 35
...her a letter of explanation. In the letter, Darcy answers Elizabeth's charges of misconduct toward Jane and Wickham. He knew that Bingley was in love with Jane, but he detected no...
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Chapter 36
Elizabeth also rereads the part of the letter about Jane, and realizes that she can't blame Darcy for intervening: Jane was reserved, as Charlotte had...
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Chapter 38
Elizabeth arrives in London to visit with the Gardiners before returning to Longbourn with Jane. Though desperate to share her news about Darcy, she is apprehensive that the news about...
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Chapter 39
On their way to Longbourn, Elizabeth and Jane are met by Kitty and Lydia, who talk constantly about the soldiers. Lydia tells them...
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When they arrive home, Mr. Bennet is glad to see Elizabeth and Jane, Mrs. Bennet wants to hear about the latest fashions, and Kitty and Lydia want to...
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Chapter 40
Later, Elizabeth tells Jane how Darcy proposed to her and also shares the part of Darcy's letter about Wickham....
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Elizabeth asks for Jane's advice: should they publicize Wickham's faults? They agree not to, for the sake of Darcy...
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Chapter 44
...to see Elizabeth, and asks questions that lead Elizabeth to suspect he might still love Jane. Darcy and Georgiana invite Elizabeth and the Gardiners to Pemberley for dinner the next evening.
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Chapter 46
At her inn, Elizabeth receives two awful letters from Jane. The first contains the shocking news that Lydia had run off with Wickham to get...
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Chapter 47
In the carriage, Mr. Gardiner wonders if Jane might be right in hoping for the best: Wickham knows Lydia has no money and...
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Elizabeth and Jane dissect the situation. They are relieved that apparently Lydia did think she was getting married,...
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Chapter 49
...for Lydia, he says. The Bennets all agree that Lydia and Wickham must marry, but Jane and Elizabeth wonder how they can ever repay Mr. Gardiner.
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Jane and Elizabeth share the news with Mrs. Bennet, who is overjoyed, instantly forgetting Lydia's disgrace....
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Chapter 50
...Northern England and that Lydia hopes they can visit Longbourn on their way. Elizabeth and Jane convince Mr. Bennet, who wants nothing to do with Lydia or Wickham, to let the...
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Chapter 53
...at Pemberley, and Elizabeth doubts he has returned for her. Bingley, however, warms up to Jane as the initial awkwardness subsides. Mrs. Bennet reminds Bingley about having left the neighborhood so...
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Chapter 54
At the dinner party, Bingley decides to take the seat next to Jane—just as he used to. Watching them, Elizabeth is sure that Bingley will soon propose.
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Chapter 55
Bingley visits again, this time alone. Mrs. Bennet, expecting a proposal, awkwardly clears everyone but Jane from the room. Nothing happens. The next morning, Bingley returns to shoot with Mr. Bennet....
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Overjoyed, Jane goes upstairs to tell her mother. Bingley and Elizabeth greet each other as brother and...
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Bingley tells Jane that he didn't know she was in London, but—to Elizabeth's relief—he leaves Darcy out of...
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Chapter 56
Lady Catherine gets to the point: she knows of Jane's engagement; she also knows that Elizabeth has tricked her nephew, Darcy, into proposing as well....
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Chapter 58
Darcy explains that he told Bingley the truth about Jane and advised him to return to Netherfield. Bingley was angry about being deceived while Jane...
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Chapter 59
That night, Elizabeth tells Jane everything. Jane thinks Elizabeth is joking. After all, doesn't Elizabeth hate Darcy? Elizabeth explains how...
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...of shock, Mrs. Bennet joyfully stutters that Elizabeth will be genteel and rich—even richer than Jane! Elizabeth fears that her mother will continue to embarrass Darcy, but Mrs. Bennet, because she's...
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Chapter 61
A year later, Jane and Bingley move into an estate near Elizabeth and Darcy at Pemberley. Mrs. Bennet, extremely...
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