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What happens in Chapters 35–42 of Pride and Prejudice?
In Chapter 35, Darcy gives Elizabeth a letter in which he explains his reason for breaking up Bingley and Jane. Elizabeth is stunned to learn that Wickham wasted his inheritance and then tried to elope with Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, in the hopes of obtaining her fortune. In Chapter 36, Elizabeth reflects on the letter, feeling ashamed. In Chapter 37, Darcy departs Rosings. In Chapter 38, Elizabeth travels to London to get Jane. In Chapter 39, both sisters return to Longbourn, where Lydia and Kitty talk excitedly about the soldiers, who will be sent to Brighton for the summer. In Chapter 40, Elizabeth tells Jane the truth about Wickham. In Chapter 41, Lydia is invited to go to Brighton, which concerns Elizabeth. In Chapter 42, Elizabeth accompanies the Gardiners on a tour of Derbyshire. She agrees to visit Darcy’s manor, Pemberley, after she learns that he is not home.
Read our Summary & Analysis of Chapters 35–42. (3-minute read)
Why does Darcy break up Bingley and Jane, as revealed in Chapter 35?
In Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth, he explains that he convinced Bingley to abandon his suit of Jane because he did not believe Jane returned his friend’s affections. He perceived her to be indifferent, and suggested Bingley would be burdened by the Bennet family’s lack of both wealth and propriety.
Why does Elizabeth attempt to convince her father not to allow Lydia to go to Brighton in Chapter 41?
In Chapter 41, Elizabeth pleads with her father to forbid Lydia’s visit to Brighton, where they know the soldiers will be stationed. She knows that a largely unsupervised Lydia is likely to get into trouble there, and that her behavior will reflect poorly on the entire family.
Is Mr. Bennet portrayed as a good father to his daughters?
Though intelligent and self-possessed, Mr. Bennet is a rather detached figure. He may value his daughters’ happiness, refusing to force Elizabeth to marry Mr. Collins in spite of his wife’s wishes, but he proves to be an ineffective parent when he indulges Lydia’s desire to go to Brighton.
Read more about the flaws in Mr. Bennet's character. (2-minute read)
What is the significance of letter-writing in Pride and Prejudice?
Letters in the novel serve as one of the primary ways characters communicate their intentions and wishes to one another. Many of the novel’s most important plot developments are conveyed through letters, including Darcy’s written explanation for many of the accusations Elizabeth levels at him in Chapter 34 when she rejects his proposal.
Read more about letter-writing in Pride and Prejudice. (1-minute read)
What key themes does the text explore in Chapters 35–42?
The Impact of First Impressions as a theme—and the impact of Elizabeth’s first impression of Darcy specifically—comes to a head in Chapter 35, when Darcy’s letter forces her to realize her initial judgment of Darcy has colored her interpretation of his character. In Chapter 41, Elizabeth’s reservations about Lydia’s visit to Brighton speak to the theme of the Importance of Reputation.
Read about the key Themes of Pride and Prejudice. (3-minute read)
What important quote from Pride and Prejudice appears in Chapter 36?
Elizabeth reflects that her assessments of Darcy and Wickham have been flawed, and that she isn’t necessarily a good judge of character after all, in the following line:
Till this moment, I never knew myself.
Read the complete quote from Chapter 36 and a full explanation of it. (1-minute read)
