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Chapter 50
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
Lydia and Wickham arrive at Longbourn. Lydia is giddy over her marriage, mocking her older sisters for failing to get married before she did. Wickham acts as if he did nothing wrong.
Lydia is as shallow and senseless as Mrs. Bennet. Wickham is just as crass, in his own way.
Themes
Literary Devices
Quiz
Test Yourself
Yet during their ten-day visit, Elizabeth observes that Wickham doesn't entirely return Lydia's infatuation. She figures he ran away from creditors in Brighton and, preferring companionship, took Lydia along.
This is a marriage founded not on love, but on opportunity and poor decisions. Since divorces were very uncommon, the relationship will only sour.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
While gloating about the details of her wedding, Lydia reveals to Elizabeth that Darcy attended the ceremony. Lydia quickly apologizes: it was supposed to be a secret. Elizabeth burns with curiosity and writes to Mrs. Gardiner for more details.
Darcy is the absolute last person Elizabeth would expect to be at Wickham's wedding. To be polite, Elizabeth can't directly ask about it, furthering the mystery.
Themes
Literary Devices
Quiz
Test Yourself
