Summary
Chapter 37
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam leave Rosings, and Elizabeth continues to process the aftermath of the letter. Lady Catherine tries to convince Elizabeth to extend her stay, but Elizabeth is eager to leave and get home where she can think clearly. This chapter captures the strange limbo Elizabeth is in - she knows everything has changed, but she's trapped in the polite social rituals of saying goodbye to Lady Catherine. She spends every free moment re-reading Darcy's letter, and her feelings about him shift wildly. Sometimes she's still angry about his insulting proposal; other times she feels compassion for his disappointment. She respects his character but can't approve of him completely, and she's certain she doesn't want to see him again. Yet she's grateful for his attachment and recognizes that he deserves better than her initial judgment. The chapter matters because it shows Elizabeth stuck between old certainties and new understanding. She's beginning to see Darcy differently, but she's not ready to admit any deeper feelings yet. More painfully, she's become hyper-aware of her family's flaws - her father's indifference to controlling his younger daughters, her mother's vulgarity, Lydia and Kitty's wildness. She realizes that Jane's loss of Bingley was partly caused by their own family's improper behavior, which makes the situation even more tragic. Elizabeth is also grieving the loss of her self-confidence. She always prided herself on being an excellent judge of character, but the letter exposed how completely wrong she was about Wickham. This chapter shows us that personal growth isn't a clean, linear process - it's messy, uncomfortable, and full of contradictions. Elizabeth is learning humility the hard way, by having to face how her wounded vanity and quick judgments led her astray.
Coming Up in Chapter 38
Elizabeth prepares to leave Kent and return home, carrying the weight of Darcy's revelations with her. She'll need to face her family with new eyes and figure out what to do about the Wickham situation.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
I[llustration] The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning; and Mr. Collins having been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence of their appearing in very good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then hastened to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her Ladyship, importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her. Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as her future niece; nor could she think, without a smile, of what her Ladyship’s indignation would have been. “What would she have said? how would she have behaved?” were the questions with which she amused herself. Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings’ party. “I assure you, I feel it exceedingly,” said Lady Catherine; “I believe nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly attached to these young men; and know them to be so much attached to me! They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The dear Colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely--more, I think, than last year. His attachment to Rosings certainly increases.” Mr. Collins had a compliment and an allusion to throw in here, which were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter. Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet seemed out of spirits; and immediately accounting for it herself, by supposing that she did not like to go home again so soon, she added,-- “But if that is the case, you must write to your mother to beg that you may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your company, I am sure.” “I am much obliged to your Ladyship for your kind invitation,” replied Elizabeth; “but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in town next Saturday.” “Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly spare you for another fortnight.” “But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return.” [Illustration: “Dawson” [_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]] “Oh, your father, of course, may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay another _month_ complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how manipulators use our existing grievances and wounded pride to make us their unwitting allies against their enemies.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Entailment
A legal arrangement where property must be inherited by a specific male heir, usually the closest male relative. This is why the Bennet family estate will go to Mr. Collins instead of the daughters, leaving the women financially vulnerable.
Fortune hunter
Someone who pursues romantic relationships primarily to gain access to another person's money or social status. Wickham is revealed to be exactly this type of person, targeting wealthy young women for their inheritance.
Elopement
Running away to get married in secret, usually without parental consent. In Austen's time, this was scandalous and could ruin a woman's reputation and her family's social standing forever.
Propriety
Following the accepted rules of proper behavior in society. Darcy criticizes the Bennet family's lack of propriety - their loud, inappropriate behavior at public events that embarrassed Jane and hurt her marriage prospects.
Self-reflection
The process of honestly examining your own thoughts, feelings, and actions. This chapter is all about Elizabeth finally doing this - looking at herself clearly instead of just judging others.
First impressions
The immediate judgment we make about someone when we first meet them. The entire novel explores how these snap judgments can be completely wrong and how dangerous it is to never question them.
Characters in This Chapter
Elizabeth Bennet
Protagonist
She reads Darcy's letter and experiences a complete shift in perspective. This is her moment of painful self-discovery where she realizes she's been wrong about almost everything and everyone.
Mr. Darcy
Love interest
Through his letter, he reveals the truth about his actions and motivations. He defends his interference with Jane and Bingley and exposes Wickham's true character, forcing Elizabeth to see him in a new light.
George Wickham
Antagonist
Revealed in the letter to be a fortune-hunting liar who tried to seduce Darcy's 15-year-old sister for her money. His true character is finally exposed to Elizabeth.
Georgiana Darcy
Victim
Darcy's teenage sister who was nearly seduced by Wickham for her inheritance. Her story proves Wickham's predatory nature and shows Darcy's protective character.
Jane Bennet
Secondary character
The subject of Darcy's explanation about why he separated her from Bingley. Darcy genuinely believed she didn't care for Bingley because of her reserved nature.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"How despicably I have acted! I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities!"
Context: Elizabeth's internal monologue as she realizes how wrong she's been about everything
This shows Elizabeth's painful moment of self-awareness. She's always thought she was smart and a good judge of character, but now she sees her pride blinded her to the truth.
"Till this moment I never knew myself."
Context: Elizabeth's realization after reading Darcy's letter
This is the turning point of the entire novel. Elizabeth finally sees herself clearly - her prejudices, her pride, her mistakes in judgment. True self-knowledge is painful but necessary for growth.
"I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle."
Context: From his letter explaining his past behavior and upbringing
Darcy shows remarkable self-awareness and humility. He admits his faults honestly, which helps Elizabeth see that he's capable of growth and genuine feeling, not just arrogance.
Thematic Threads
Prejudice
In This Chapter
Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy is fully exposed as unfounded, based on wounded pride rather than facts
Development
Evolved from initial dislike to active prejudice, now being dismantled by truth
In Your Life:
When have you realized that a strong dislike of someone was actually based on your own hurt feelings rather than their actual character?
Pride
In This Chapter
Elizabeth's pride is shattered as she realizes her judgment has been clouded by vanity and ego
Development
Shifted from Darcy's pride being the problem to Elizabeth recognizing her own destructive pride
In Your Life:
Can you think of a time when your confidence in being right about someone or something was completely shattered by new information?
Deception
In This Chapter
Wickham's true nature as a fortune-hunting liar is revealed, showing how charm can mask manipulation
Development
Introduced here as major revelation, exposing the gap between appearance and reality
In Your Life:
Have you ever been completely fooled by someone's charm, only to discover they were manipulating you for their own gain?
Self-awareness
In This Chapter
Elizabeth experiences painful but necessary self-examination, questioning her entire way of judging people
Development
Major breakthrough moment - Elizabeth gains genuine insight into her own flaws
In Your Life:
What's the most uncomfortable truth you've had to face about yourself, and how did it change the way you see your own behavior?
Truth
In This Chapter
Darcy's letter forces Elizabeth to confront uncomfortable truths about herself, her family, and her judgments
Development
Truth becomes a painful but liberating force, requiring courage to accept
In Your Life:
When has someone told you something difficult to hear that you initially rejected but later realized was exactly what you needed to know?
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What new information does Darcy reveal about Wickham, and how does it contradict what Elizabeth believed?
- 2
Why was Elizabeth so ready to believe Wickham's story over Darcy's character? What role did her wounded pride play?
- 3
Think about a time you formed a strong first impression of someone that turned out to be wrong. What evidence did you ignore?
- 4
Elizabeth realizes she's been filtering information to support her initial judgments. How could she have tested her assumptions earlier?
- 5
What does Elizabeth's willingness to admit she was wrong teach us about the difference between being smart and being wise?
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Evidence Audit
Think of someone you strongly dislike or distrust. Write down three specific reasons why. Now, for each reason, identify one piece of contradictory evidence you might have dismissed or overlooked. Finally, write one question you could ask or one observation you could make to test whether your judgment is fair.
Consider:
- •Notice if your reasons are based on actions you witnessed or stories others told you
- •Consider whether your dislike started with one incident that colored everything after
- •Ask yourself what you'd need to see to change your mind - if the answer is 'nothing,' that's a red flag
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 38
What lies ahead teaches us key events and character development in this chapter, and shows us thematic elements and literary techniques. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.