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Chapter 47
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Pride and Prejudice, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Pride
Prejudice
Family
Marriage
Class
Summary
Analysis
Longbourn buzzes with the news. It comes out that Wickham accrued serious debts in Meryton as well as gambling debts at Brighton.
Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner search hotels in London to no avail. Mr. Gardiner suggests that Elizabeth ask for help from anyone related to Wickham.
Mr. Gardiner implies that Elizabeth should ask Darcy for help, but she is too embarrassed.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
A letter arrives from Mr. Collins. He offers condolences, but spends most of the letter underlining how Lydia's heinous offense will ruin the other Bennet girls' chances at marriage. Mr. Collins adds that Lady Catherine agrees with him.
Lydia's actions are an extreme breach of rank and polite behavior, both of which are extremely important to Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
More time passes, but all attempts to find Wickham and Lydia fail, and Mr. Bennet returns home. He asks Elizabeth not to talk with him about Lydia, saying that he brought this on and only he should suffer.
Mr. Bennet realizes his fault in the matter, but tries to remain isolated from his family. He doesn't realize that everyone will suffer, not just him.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
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