Chapter 53 Summary

Lydia and Wickham leave for Newcastle, where Wickham’s regiment is stationed, which makes Mrs. Bennet sad. Mrs. Phillips gives Mrs. Bennet the news of Bingley’s plan to return to Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet, indifferent to Jane’s feelings, decides to invite him to dinner upon his return. Jane feels hesitant about meeting Bingley, but Elizabeth is optimistic about their love for each other. When Darcy and Bingley arrive in Netherfield, however, Mrs. Bennet is quite curt, which embarrasses Elizabeth. She is especially dismayed by her mother’s treatment of Darcy, since she is aware of his pivotal role in resolving Lydia and Wickham’s situation. Elizabeth is also anxious about her own relationship with Darcy. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennet announces Lydia and Wickham’s marriage too exuberantly, and this further embarrasses Elizabeth.

Chapter 54 Summary

At the dinner, Bingley and Jane are seated next to each other, an arrangement that allows them to converse. Observing their conversation, Elizabeth is assured of Bingley’s love for Jane. However, she and Darcy are seated far apart, and Elizabeth finds herself wanting to speak with him. Darcy announces that he will be leaving for London on a ten-day trip. Mrs. Bennet, after noticing Jane and Bingley, is convinced that they will marry soon.

Chapter 55 Summary

Bingley starts visiting Longbourn often. He also accompanies Mr. Bennet on hunting trips. One evening, when Bingley stays over for dinner, Mrs. Bennet lets Jane and Bingley spend some time alone. When Elizabeth walks in the room, she finds both of them engrossed in conversation. As Bingley leaves to look for Mr. Bennet, Jane announces that Bingley has proposed marriage to her. Bingley returns after seeking Mr. Bennet’s blessings, and the Bennet family is overjoyed for the couple.

Chapter 56 Summary

Rather unexpectedly, Lady Catherine visits Longbourn to meet Elizabeth and discuss some matters with her privately. They go for a walk, and Lady Catherine enquires about the rumors regarding Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage. Elizabeth refuses to give her straight answers. Lady Catherine tries to dissuade Elizabeth from marrying Darcy, but Elizabeth ignores her. Insulted, Lady Catherine leaves rather haughtily.

Chapter 57 Summary

Elizabeth is certain that Lady Catherine’s disapproval will convince Darcy to not propose marriage to her again. Meanwhile, having received a letter from Collins, Mr. Bennet asks to speak privately with Elizabeth. In his letter, Collins has urged everyone involved to reconsider Elizabeth and Darcy’s marriage, since the two do not have Lady Catherine’s approval or blessing. Mr. Bennet is amused by this news; he still thinks Darcy and Elizabeth strongly dislike each other.

Chapter 58 Summary

Bingley and Darcy visit Longbourn after Darcy’s return from London. Bingley, Darcy, Elizabeth, and Kitty take a walk together, but Darcy and Elizabeth soon seek each other out and are finally able to spend some time together. Elizabeth thanks Darcy for his role in Lydia’s wedding. Darcy accepts that he did what he did solely out of love for Elizabeth, who is stunned by Darcy’s honesty. Darcy asks Elizabeth if her opinion of him has changed, and Elizabeth accepts that her affection for him has only increased. Darcy is overwhelmed at this, and professes his love for Elizabeth more openly.

He tells her that was able to muster the courage to propose once again after learning from Lady Catherine that Elizabeth had not completely ruled out marrying him. In one more act of reconciliation, they apologize to each other.

Chapter 59 Summary

Elizabeth tells Jane about her engagement to Darcy. Jane is not convinced of Elizabeth’s feelings for Darcy and probes Elizabeth till she is certain that her sister really does like Darcy. The next day, Bingley and Darcy visit Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet asks Elizabeth to take Darcy out for a walk in order to give some privacy to Jane and Bingley. Elizabeth happily obliges. During their walk, the couple decides that Darcy will ask Mr. Bennet for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage while Elizabeth will break the news of her engagement to Mrs. Bennet.

Mr. Bennet speaks to Elizabeth to find out if she really does like Darcy. Elizabeth reassures her father and also tells him what Darcy has done for Lydia. Mr. Bennet is happy for his daughter and gives his consent. In the evening, Elizabeth breaks the news to Mrs. Bennet, who is stunned at first, but quickly changes her mind when she is reminded of Darcy’s wealth. She becomes polite to Darcy and Bingley the next day.

Chapter 60 Summary

Elizabeth and Darcy recapture their zest for playful conversation with each other. He tells her how he fell in love with her and why he had to consider seriously before proposing marriage to her the second time.

He writes Lady Catherine a letter to inform her of his marriage to Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Ms. Bingley can only pretend to be happy for Mr. Bingley and Jane. Georgiana, on the other hand, is genuinely happy for Darcy and Elizabeth. Collins and Charlotte decide to stay back to pacify Lady Catherine, who is infuriated by Darcy’s decision.

Eventually, the two couples get married and are extremely happy.

Chapter 61 Summary

This chapter focuses on the marital lives of the two couples.

Unable to bear Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Phillips’ overbearing nature, Bingley and Jane leave Netherfield. Mr. Bennet misses Elizabeth, and visits her often. Mary stays home and keeps her mother company. Kitty, who is less frivolous and more agreeable now, spends her time mostly with her elder sisters. Lydia congratulates Elizabeth, but also rather brazenly asks Elizabeth if Darcy would provide her and Wickham some financial assistance. Elizabeth does not bring this up with Darcy. She and Jane send Lydia money from their allowances, nonetheless. Lady Catherine and Caroline eventually let go of their resentment. Elizabeth grows fond of Georgiana, and the two become very close. As the novel draws to its end, readers learn that the Darcys maintain their deep relationship with the Gardiners.

Chapters 53–61 Analysis

The final section of the novel confirms Darcy and Elizabeth’s love for each other. They resolve their misunderstandings, reconcile, and get married. On the thematic level, this section arguably also suggests that class and propriety are not straightforward categories. Also notable is the fact that Darcy acknowledges his class snobbery, whereas Elizabeth comes to terms with her prejudice.