PRE-INTERMEDIATE R A I N B O W S Pre-Intermediate B1+ (Threshold)

B1+ (Threshold) R A I N B O W S
Approx. number of headwords: 1000

Pride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen
In rural England of the late 1700s, a young aristocrat, Charles Bingley, who is
not lacking in riches, rents a large mansion house near the property of the Jane Austen
Bennets, who, on the other hand, are not lacking in daughters to give in marriage.
Accompanied by the charming but haughty Mr Darcy, Bingley falls in love with
Jane, the beautiful eldest daughter of the Bennets. Love at first-sight would also be
true for Darcy and Lizzie, the second daughter, if it weren’t for their characters:

Pride and Prejudice

she’s too proud, he’s too prejudiced.
The inserts are about Jane Austen’s time (the life of a young woman and good
manners), the Novel of Manners and the writer’s fortune.

beginner • A1 (Breakthrough) Levels of accredited examination boards:

elementary • A2 (Waystage) Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET)

Trinity: Grade 5, 6 / ISE I
✓ pre-intermediate • B1 (Threshold)
City & Guilds (Pitman): Intermediate
intermediate • B2 (Vantage) ESB: Intermediate 1, 2
Edexcel: Elementary
post-intermediate • C1 (Effectiveness)

Teacher’s Resources available on line:

Answer Key, Transcripts, Summing-up Activities.
 R A I N B O W S

Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice

Adaptation, dossiers and activities by
Manuela Barbero
Pride and Prejudice
Project editor: Raffaele Polichetti
Revisor: Annabel Pope
Cover: Mauro Borgarello
Design: Manuela Piacenti
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Printing: La Grafica, Boves (Cn), Italy

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Jane Austen ..................................................................................................................................... 4

Chapter 1 – New acquaintances ......................................................................... 7

• Extension: Jane A usten’s times .......................................................................................... 20

Chapter 2 – Nice and bad surprises ......................................................... 23

• Extension: Good manners in the Victorian Age .......................................................... 36

Chapter 3 – Tough choices ..................................................................................... 39

• Extension: The life of a young woman in Jane Austen’s time .............................. 52

Chapter 4 – Explanations and changes ................................................. 55

• Extension: The Novel of Manners .................................................................................... 67

Chapter 5 – Love always wins ............................................................................ 70

• Extension: Jane Austen’s success ....................................................................................... 84

SUMMING-UP ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................... 86

GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................... 90

The Bennet family

 TheJaneAuthor
Austen
Jane Austen was born in 1775, in Hampshire,
England, to an Anglican priest and his wife. She
and her six siblings1 grew up in a well-respected
and loving family, who encouraged learning and
creative thinking. Jane and her elder sister,
Cassandra, even had the chance to study at a
boarding school2, from where, however, they
had to leave a few years later because of some
financial and health problems.
Jane had always been fascinated by and
encouraged to write works of her imagination and,
together with her brothers and sisters, she often put on
plays. The three volumes of Juvenilia now include all the
works of her youth, and already show her love for irony, parody and the
observation of society in several works of different lengths and genres
– letters, short stories, plays, history essays3 and verses.
Jane spent much of her early adulthood at home, helping in its
management, going to church, playing the piano and socialising with
neighbours. Meanwhile, she continued to write, and by the end of
the 18th century she had already completed three of her major future
works, though with different titles: Elinor and Marianne (which would
then become Sense and Sensibility), Impressions (the future Pride and
Prejudice) and Susan (Northanger Abbey).
In 1805, her father died and she and her sisters were forced to move
from house to house, staying with relatives, until finally they were able
to settle at one of her brother’s cottages in Hampshire.
At about that time, she started publishing her works under a
pseudonym: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park
and Emma. The first novel tells the life and love stories of two sisters and
deals with the difficult task of balancing sense and sensibility in one’s
life. Pride and Prejudice examines the behaviour of men and women
of different social classes who meet up. Mansfield Park’s protagonist

1. siblings: brothers and sisters. 3. essay: short piece of writing on a

2. boarding school: a school where particular subject.
children can live during the school
year.

4
 The Author
helps Jane Austen depict her society ironically and yet with a critical
eye, and Emma gives its author the chance to examine the rules that
govern social relationships.
In 1816, Jane fell ill with Addison’s disease, and, notwithstanding4
all the efforts she put into trying to live a normal life where she could
work on her creations, she had to stop writing and finally died a year
later.
Her other two masterpieces, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion,
came out posthumously, the first being a parody of the then-so-popular
Gothic fiction, and the second being a complicated love story, put to
the test by time and, of course, the forces of persuasion.
Jane Austen’s style is characterised by a subtle analysis of a
microcosm of three or four families in the English country-side,
which, she believed, could well represent the whole of society. She was
interested in people and their character and conduct5 and her main
themes are reputation, love, marriage, morality, the conflict between
feelings and reason, and the difficulties brought about6 by the social
codes7 of behaviour of the time.
She received little money and attention for her works while she was
alive, and it was only after her death, when one of her brothers published
her works, that she was recognised as an author. Her popularity has
greatly increased since the beginning of the 20th century and she is now
considered to be one of the greatest writers in English history.

4. notwithstanding: despite, in spite of. caused, created.

5. conduct: a person’s behaviour in a 7. code: a set of moral principles or
particular situation. rules of behaviour that are generally
6. brought (bring-brought-brought) about: accepted by society.

5
New acquaintances

BEFORE READING
1 Chapter

1 Make predictions about the text you are going to read from its title.
a. This book is an essay about the virtues and defects of man.
b. This book tells the story of some arrogant protagonists.
c. This book is a novel that celebrates love which wins over pride and
prejudice.
d. This book has two protagonists: one who is very proud and one
who has a lot of prejudice.
e. This book is a philosophical discussion on racism.

2 Put the following qualities and faults of man in the appropriate

column. Use the monolingual dictionary to look up any words you
don’t know.

pride • kindness • reliability • shyness • honesty • arrogance •

generosity • selfishness • rudeness • servility

Qualitie s Faults
pride

3 Look at the Bennet’s family tree and write their relationship to each
other.
Mr Bennet + Mrs Bennet

Jane Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mary Lydia Catherine

a. Mrs Bennet is Mr Bennet’s wife.

b. Jane is Mr and Mrs Bennet’s .................................................................................... .
c. Elizabeth is Jane’s ............................................................................................................ .
d. Mr Bennet is Mrs Bennet’s ....................................................................................... .
e. Mr Bennet is Mary’s ...................................................................................................... .
f. Mrs Bennet is Lydia’s .................................................................................................... .
g. Jane, Lizzie, Mary, Lydia and Catherine are Mr and Mrs Bennet’s .........
................................................................................................................................................... .

6
 PrideNewand Prejudice
acquaintances
BEFORE READING Chapter 1

As you obviously know, any single – and rich – man is always

looking for a wife, and that is why every mother considers it her
duty to help him find a good one among her daughters. Mrs
Bennet, with her five daughters, was no exception.
“Did you know,” she said to her husband one day, “that
Netherfield Park has finally found a tenant1?”
Mr Bennet didn’t answer.
“Don’t you want to know who has taken it?” said his wife
impatiently.
“Since you want to tell me, I don’t think I have any choice”,
replied her husband.
“Well, Mr Bennet, Mrs Long has told me that it is a young man
from the north of England with five or six thousand pounds a
year!”
“Is he married or single?”
“What a stupid question! Of course he’s single! Can you imagine
what an opportunity this is for our daughters?”
“What does this have to do with our daughters, my dear?” asked
Mr Bennet.
“How tiring you are, my dear Mr Bennet... Of course this has to
do with our daughters! You must know that he will certainly fall in
love with and marry one of them.”
“Is this the reason why he has rented Netherfield? He is looking
for a wife?”
“Nonsense, Mr Bennet... How can you talk like that? But it is
very probable that he will fall in love with one of them, so you must
go and visit him as soon as he arrives.”
“Why don’t you go there and visit him on your own with the
girls? I’m sure he will certainly appreciate that.”

1. tenant: a person who pays rent for the use of land or a building.

7
 Pride and Prejudice

“But, my dear, you must go! You know it will be impossible for
us to visit him if you don’t!” exclaimed a worried Mrs Bennet.
“Oh! Then I’ll write and give him my consent to the marriage
to the daughter he prefers – though I hope he’ll choose Lizzie...
she’s so much better than her sisters who are so silly like all the
other girls...”
“Mr Bennet, I will not allow you to insult our children this way!
Lizzie is not better than the others and you are really going too far
now... You have no compassion on my poor nerves!”
“You’re wrong, my dear, your nerves are very important to me,
they’ve been my best friends these last twenty years”, replied Mr
Bennet.
“Arghhhh!” answered Mrs Bennet, frustrated.
A couple of days later, Mr Bennet surprised his desperate wife
and daughters by telling them that he had already paid a visit to
the much-desired Mr Bingley, and that it was therefore possible
for them to meet and dance with him at the next ball2. The most
imaginative comments and gossip about his person followed for
several days.
At last, their long and curious waiting was put to an end the
night of the ball, when he finally made his appearance with his
sister and a friend.
Mr Bingley’s elegant figure, happy character and polite
manners conquered everybody, and he was soon engaged in a
dance with the eldest Miss Bennet. However, it was his friend Mr
Darcy who immediately attracted both the looks of all the young
ladies in the room for his height and his beauty, and the attention
of their mothers for his income of ten thousand a year. What a
disappointment3 for them to find out that he was not as civil nor
as pleasant as he looked!
Lizzie herself had the chance to witness4 his rudeness when she
overheard5 a conversation between the two gentlemen.

2. ball: event where a lot of people 4. witness: to see something in person.

meet to dance together. 5. overheard (overhear – overheard – over-
3. disappointment: sadness because heard): heard a conversation between
something is not as you have other people by accident.
imagined.

8
A stage performance of the novel. Theatre at UBC, Vancouver (CDN), 2013
(photo by T. Matheson)
 Pride and Prejudice

“Come on, Darcy, I hate to see you standing there that way.
Dance!” suggested an excited Mr Bingley.
“No way! You know I hate dancing, especially if I don’t know
my partner well. And there is no woman here tonight I would like
to know… You’re dancing with the only pretty girl in the room,”
answered an overtly6 bored and irritated Mr Darcy.
“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, don’t
you think? Well, I could ask her to introduce you to her sister.
She’s quite nice too, look!”
At Bingley’s nod7, Darcy shot8 a quick look at Lizzie and then
replied,
“She is tolerable, but not beautiful enough to tempt me. Don’t
waste your time on me, go and enjoy your partner’s smiles.”
When they got back home, Mr Bennet was still up and waiting to
hear about the evening which had created so many expectations,
and he wasn’t disappointed. On the contrary, he had to stop his
wife from relating9 all that had happened at the ball.
“Mr Bingley was such a gentleman, my dear, and he’s so
handsome and kind... and he danced twice with our Jane. Twice,
did you hear? And he asked about her and she was the only girl
he danced twice with. And his sister was so good-looking, and
charming, and her dress was so elegant...”
“Please, my dear, spare10 me the details about her dress, at
least”, interrupted Mr Bennet.
“But that Mr Darcy! Oh, he was so rude, he is a horrid man; he
thought himself so great... Oh, how I detest him!”
Upstairs, Jane and Lizzie were equally commenting the evening
and Mr Bingley in particular…
“He has such gentle manners, and he’s good-humoured too. I did
not expect him to ask me to dance twice, it was such a compliment!
And his sister was so kind and pleasant, too!” Jane said.
“Why shouldn’t he ask you twice? You were by far11 the prettiest
girl in the room – but you don’t realise it, do you? You’re too

6. overtly: excessively. 10. spare: to save somebody from an

7. nod: small, quick movement of the unpleasant experience.
head. 11. by far: definitely, absolutely, without
8. shot (shoot – shot – shot): directed. a doubt.
9. relating: reporting, telling.

10
 New acquaintances

modest”, answered Lizzie before going on, thinking, ‘But I’m not
so sure his sister shares his candid nature...’
As you all know too, it is necessary to discuss such an event with
one’s neighbours, and that is precisely what the Miss Bennets did
the morning after with Lizzie’s friend, Miss Charlotte Lucas.
“Mr Bingley did certainly like Jane, didn’t he? And he was so
pleasant to listen to… but his friend wasn’t, was he? Poor Eliza, to
be just tolerable...”, provoked Charlotte.
“Well, don’t worry, he won’t have any chance of dancing with
me!”, replied Lizzie, not angry at all.
“Well, I think I can excuse his pride, after all if you’re used to
fortune, family and all the rest, the only thing you can do is to
think highly of yourself.”
“Yes, Charlotte, I could easily forgive his pride too, only… he
has humiliated mine, you know.”
It was again Charlotte who, talking to Lizzie a few days later, made
her realise that Jane should perhaps make herself clearer as to her
interest in Mr Bingley, because, according to her, “love should be
encouraged”. Lizzie said that it was easy for her to see that her sister
was falling in love with him, but also agreed that she was so reserved
that it might be difficult for others to understand it.
11
 Pride and Prejudice

However, it was not so easy for Lizzie to notice that she had
become the object of some attention, too. After convincing himself
and his friends that she was absolutely plain12, in fact, Mr Darcy
had begun to notice that her eyes were bright and intelligent and
that her personality was easy and playful. And his interest in her
grew when, at the next ball, she gracefully refused to dance with
him and left him meditating on her fine eyes.
A few days later, Mr and Mrs Bennet were disagreeing on the
foolishness of their youngest daughters who, according to their
father, always talked only about the military regiment that had just
arrived in the nearby village, Meryton. At that moment, a servant
arrived with a note for Jane from Miss Bingley,

Will you please be so kind as to dine with me tonight? The gentlemen

will be with the officers, and I would gladly appreciate your company.
Yours ever,
Caroline Bingley

Strategic plans were soon made by an excited Mrs Bennet.

“Jane, you will not go by carriage, but by horse. Since it’s going
to rain soon, you’ll certainly get a cold and they’ll therefore ask
you to stay there a little longer. That way you’ll be able to see Mr
Bingley when he comes back from his dinner. Isn’t that a good
idea?”
When it indeed started to rain hard and Jane was not seen
coming back, Mrs Bennet started rejoicing13. When a small note
by Jane arrived for Lizzie saying that she had, actually, caught a
cold and that they had, indeed, invited her to stay at Netherfield
until she felt better, her joy was complete.
However, Lizzie was a little worried and decided to go and visit
her. In a few minutes she left, without considering how dirty she
would get as she had to walk three miles across the fields.
Someone, instead, did consider it. On her arrival at Netherfield,
Mr Bingley was very kind and Mr Darcy was more surprised at the

12. plain: not attractive. 13. rejoicing: expressing great happiness.

12
 New acquaintances

brilliant colour of her

complexion14 due to the
exercise than worried about
her wild state. Instead, Miss
Bingley was unpleasantly
aware of the dirty clothes
which touched the floor
of her breakfast room and
Lizzie’s lack15 of decency.
She found her rather
inappropriate, but she
took her to her sister and
was very kind to Jane the
whole day. Moreover, she
even asked her to stay
there for the night as Jane
was still not feeling well. Greer Garson and Maureen O’Sullivan
When her sister fell in Pride and Prejudice, 1940
asleep finally, Lizzie was
able to meet her hosts in the drawing room. It was not very easy
for Elizabeth to fit into16 the conversation: while Miss Bingley kept
trying to obtain Darcy’s attention, and Mr Darcy was fighting17 his
interest in Lizzie, Mr Bingley was the only one who showed any
real kindness or interest towards her and her sister.
The morning after, called by a note from Lizzie, Mrs Bennet
and her youngest daughters arrived at Netherfield to visit Jane.
“I am so grateful to you for asking Jane to recover18 here and for
all your help. It’s such a pity she is still not well and that she must
disturb you a little longer. But my sweet daughter is like this, she
always suffers patiently; she is the most patient and the sweetest
girl in the neighbourhood, there is no one to be compared to
her. Oh, what a nice view you have Mr Bingley! I hope you’re not
thinking of leaving very soon.”

14. complexion: natural colour of the 17. fighting: trying hard to stop.
skin on a person’s face. 18. recover: to get well again after an
15. lack: state of not having something. illness.
16. fit into: to enter appropriately.

13
 Pride and Prejudice

“Indeed madam, I am not, though when I choose to do

something, all my decisions are generally immediate,” replied Mr
Bingley kindly.
“Well, you must certainly appreciate that we are in the
countryside… London does not have so many advantages besides
the shops and public places, don’t you think?”
“In the country you meet a very limited kind of society, I dare
say ”, added Mr Darcy, not realising how much he had offended
19

Mrs Bennet with his remark20.

“I assure you that many different characters are to be met in
the country, too. You cannot think the country is nothing at all,”
replied Mrs Bennet angrily.
“Mama, you must have got it wrong. Mr Darcy was just saying
that in the country there is not quite the same variety of people as
you can meet in town”, said Elizabeth, blushing21 for her mother.
“Certainly, my dear, of course. I didn’t say that was not true, but
we certainly meet many people in this neighbourhood, too – we
dine with twenty-four families, you know.”
Only Mr Bingley’s good manners prevented22 him from not
commenting, but his sister was less delicate and smiled expressively
towards Mr Darcy.
“Mama,” said Lizzie trying to divert23 her mother’s attention
from the conversation, “did Charlotte pay a visit yesterday?”
“She did, my dear, but she had to go back home early, she was
needed to help prepare dinner. Oh, I choose my servants better,
and my daughters are brought up24 differently, you know. But all
things considered, she is a good girl, plain, but good. Not half as
beautiful as my daughters and just a little plain, but with a sweet
character.”
“She seems a very pleasant young woman,” said Mr Bingley
kindly.
Luckily for Elizabeth, her mother realised it was time to go
and after many thanks was finally ready to leave. However, there

19. dare say: to believe. doing something.

20. remark: comment. 23. divert: to distract.
21. blushing: becoming red in the face 24. brought (bring-brought-brought) up:
because of embarrassment. raised.
22. prevented: stopped somebody from

14
 New acquaintances

“… Mrs Bennet and her youngest daughters arrived at Netherfield…”

was still time for Lydia, Lizzie’s vivacious sister of fifteen, to be

impertinent25 enough to obtain from Mr Bingley the promise to
organise a ball at Netherfield as soon as Jane recovered.
The next day passed as the previous one, with Jane slowly
recovering in bed; Mr Bingley constantly cheerful but worried
about her; Mr Darcy attracted, against his desire, to Lizzie; Miss
Bingley jealous of Darcy’s attention to what she considered an
unworthy26 and uncivil young lady; and Elizabeth, amused at
Bingley’s, Darcy’s and Miss Bingley’s friendly remarks and unsure
about what to think of Darcy’s frequent looks in her direction.
Darcy was indeed starting to feel in danger of falling in love
with her. His only hope was the jealous Miss Bingley, who never
lost the opportunity to remind him about the inferiority of Lizzie’s
connections.
“I hope you will remember to ask her mother to keep silent on
your wedding day, and also remind the younger girls to stop running
after the officers for a couple of hours… and as for Elizabeth’s
portrait, what painter could do justice to her fine eyes?”
However, Miss Bingley’s sarcastic remarks could do nothing
to stop the growing interest of Darcy in Elizabeth, and their

25. impertinent: rude, not showing respect 26. unworthy: not having the necessary
for someone who is older and more qualities to obtain respect.
important.

15
 Pride and Prejudice

stimulating conversations, in which they kept teasing27 each other,

greatly contributed to it.
When at last Lizzie and Jane decided to return home, nearly
everyone was happy with the decision. Jane felt she did not want
to disturb any longer and Miss Bingley’s dislike of Lizzie surpassed
her appreciation for her sister. Darcy had decided he would not
show his interest in Elizabeth any longer for fear of creating false
hopes in her and had therefore resolved not to speak to her unless
necessary. Lizzie felt happy to escape the snobbish and jealous
remarks of Miss Bingley and the shifting28 humours of Mr Darcy.
Mr Bennet too was glad that conversation at home could now
have some sense again, since he had lost that pleasure with the
departure of Jane and Elizabeth.
It was only Mr Bingley – who was sad about Jane’s departure
– and Mrs Bennet – who was angry at their too hasty29 return –
who were not happy with the decision, but the carriage left and
brought the Miss Bennets back to Longbourn.

27. teasing: laughing at and making 28. shifting: moving, changing.

jokes about someone in a friendly 29. hasty: done very quickly, with
way. possible bad results.

16
AFTER READING • New acquaintances

WORKING ON THE TEXT

1 Chapter

1 Complete the following table about the main characters that have
appeared in the novel so far. Use the following adjectives to help you
fill in the column about “description”.

sweet • ironic • proud • witty • boring • foolish • self-important •

caring • intelligent • arrogant • snobbish • honourable • anxious •
kind • naïve • superficial • reserved

Nam e Social Class De scrip tion Re side nce

Mr Be nne t middle class Longbourn

Mrs Be nne t

Jane Be nne t

Lizzie Be nne t
Mary,
Cathe rine and
Lydia Be nne t
Charle s Bingle y upper class Netherfield

Miss Bingle y

2 Order the main sequences of the chapter chronologically. The first

one has already been done for you.
a. Jane rides to Netherfield but falls ill.
b. Bingley, his sisters and Darcy arrive at Netherfield.
c. Mr Bennet visits Bingley and Bingley returns his visit.
d. Darcy starts to feel something for Lizzie.
e. The Bennets meet Bingley and Darcy at a ball.
f. Lizzie joins Jane at Netherfield and keeps her company.
g. A regiment arrives in the nearby village.
h. Jane and Lizzie go back home.
i. Mrs Bennet hopes Bingley will marry one of her daughters. 1
j. Jane and Lizzie comment on the ball with Charlotte Lucas.
k. Darcy defines Lizzie as “tolerable”.

17
 AFTER READING • New acquaintances

3 Match the following “feelings” and “situations” to some of the

1 Chapter

sequences in Activity 2.
Ex. Bingley and Jane start liking each other. e
a. Mr Bennet is patient and amused.
b. Lizzie feels unwelcome and finds her hosts snobbish.
c. The younger Miss Bennets are very excited.
d. Miss Bingley is very jealous.
e. Mrs Bennet is very satisfied with her plan.
f. Lizzie feels angry and humiliated.

WORKING ON VOCABULARY
4 Match the following definitions to some of the adjectives in Activity 1.
Ex. Feeling pleased about something that you are or have: proud
a. innocent and credulous: ...............................................................................................
b. having a high opinion of oneself: .............................................................................
c. having intelligent humour: ...........................................................................................
d. showing care and compassion: .................................................................................
e. constantly worrying about something: .................................................................
f. silly: ............................................................................................................................................
g. feeling superior: .................................................................................................................

WORKING ON GRAMMAR
5 Linkers. Use the following linkers to fill in the sentences.
nonetheless • whereas • when • therefore • since • while

Ex. Whereas Bingley was very kind to Lizzie, his sister wasn’t.
a. Mr Bennet loves his younger daughters, ............................................................
he believes them to be too foolish.
b. Miss Bingley is jealous of Lizzie, .......................................................... she keeps
showing her faults to Darcy.
c. .................................................................. it starts raining, Mrs Bennet is happy
to send Jane to Miss Bingley without a carriage to protect her.
d. ........................................................... Jane doesn’t feel well, they ask her to stay
at Netherfield.
e. .................................................................. Darcy was talking to Bingley at the
ball, Lizzie overheard them.
18
 AFTER READING • New acquaintances

WORKING ON SKILLS
1 Chapter

Listening
6Listen to Lizzie and Jane talking about the ball at which they met Mr
Bingley. Say if the sentences are true (T), false (F) or not mentioned
(NM).
T F NM
a. Jane thinks Bingley is a real gentleman.
b. Jane suggests that he is also very good looking.
c. Lizzie knew that Bingley would ask Jane to dance twice.
d. There were many other girls at the ball who liked Bingley.
e. Lizzie thinks that Jane is too modest.
f. Lizzie believes her sister speaks too ill of the people
she meets.
g. Lizzie says that Bingley is more polite than his sister.
h. Lizzie didn’t talk to Miss Bingley at the ball.
i. Jane is not so sure that Miss Bingley will be a good friend.

Writing
7 Imagine you are Mr Bennet. Write a short letter to Mr Bingley
welcoming him and offering him one of his daughters in marriage.
Start like this.
Dear Mr Bingley,
I have heard that you have just rented Netherfield and I am pleased to
welcome you to this neighbourhood. You may not know, but I have five…

Speaking
8 PAIR WORK. Work with a partner. Imagine you are Mr Bingley and
his sister. Talk together about the Bennets. If necessary, use some of
these ideas.
impertinent • low connections • looked pleasant • ill •
sisters • dirty • kind and sweet • tolerable • country

The Bennet family,

Pride and Prejudice, 1995

19
 E X T E N S I O N

JANE AUSTEN’S TIMES

Jane Austen lived her adult life in England during a period which is
known as the ‘Regency’ era. Such a name was given to the time when
George IV reigned in the place of his mad father, King George III, from
1811 to 1820, before he himself became king. However, the name is
more generally used to indicate the first three decades of the 19th
century, before Queen Victoria came to the throne.
It was a period rich in changes and developments. George IV
favoured1 the arts and the sciences and during Jane Austen’s life there
was a significant expansion of literacy2 and print culture: at the beginning
of the century almost everyone in the middle classes and above could
read, and books became smaller, less expensive, easier to get thanks to
circulating libraries, and more enjoyable. Novels became the main form
of literature, though mainly among women.
Jane Austen also saw the beginning of industrialisation, with its economic
advantages but also its devastating effects on the poorest part of the
population, one third of which lived close to the limit of starvation3.
Moreover, her society was characterised by a constant fear of war
with France or an invasion by Napoleon, and that’s why in Austen’s
works troops of soldiers and regiments are always present, though in
the background.
This period also saw the development of the new social class called
the ‘gentry’, a large group of society that included both those who

1. favoured: supported and helped the 3. starvation: state of suffering and death
development of. caused by having no food.
2. literacy: ability to read and write.

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owned land, and members of the professional classes such as lawyers,
doctors and the clergy4. Those who possessed land were considered
superior and the objective of most families was that of keeping
the family property (both capital and estates5) inside the family or
enlarging it. That’s why, on the one hand, property was inherited only
by the nearest male relative: that way it would not be distributed and
segmented among too many members.
On the other hand, marriages were the only other opportunity to
increase one’s fortune: it allowed families to link their property to a
larger one thanks to an advantageous alliance6.
With such an objective, females started to acquire7 a certain role
inside the family: they were one of the means by which the family could
improve their wealth8 and social status.
Accordingly9, courtship10 became one of the main focal points of a
young woman’s life: her financial survival and her family’s consequent
well-being depended on it. However, thanks to Mary Wollenstonecraft’s
Vindication of the Rights of Women – which came out in 1792 – women
began to realise that they might aspire to be treated as equals of men,
just like Jane Austen’s heroine Lizzie does by defending her moral and
intellectual independence.

4. clergy: the priests or ministers of a that they want.

religion. 7. acquire: to gain something.
5. estate: large area of land, usually in 8. wealth: large amount of money and
the country, that is owned by one property that a person owns.
person or family. 9. accordingly: therefore.
6. alliance: an agreement between 10. courtship: the process of attracting a
people in order to achieve something possible partner.

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