Pride and Prejudice

Thenovel opens with the famous line, "It is a truth universallyacknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, mustbe in want of a wife". The arrival of such a single man "ofconsiderable fortune" in the neighbourhood greatly excites Mrs.Bennet. Mrs. Bennet's sole interest in life is to see her fiveeligible daughters well settled and happily married to fine men of'considerable fortune'. The man in question in this instance is Mr.Bingley, who has leased the Netherfield estate where he plans tosettle for a while with his two sisters, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst,and his brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst.

Soonafter moving in, Mr. Bingley and his party, which now includes hisclose friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, attend a public ball in the villageof Meryton. At first, Mr. Darcy is admired for his fine figure andincome of £10,000 a year and is far more the subject of attentionthan Mr. Bingley. However, the villagers soon become disgusted withhis pride. This is brought home to Elizabeth Bennet when sheoverhears him decline Mr. Bingley's suggestion that he dance with herbecause, he says, "she is tolerable, but not handsome enough totempt me". Mr. Bingley, on the other hand, proves highlyagreeable, dancing with many of the eligible ladies in attendance andshowing his decided admiration for Jane Bennet.