Mr. Bennet of the Longbourn estate has five daughters, but his property is entailed, meaning that none of the girls can inherit it. His wife has no fortune, so it is imperative that at least one of the girls marry well in order to support the others on his death. The story charts the emotional development of Elizabeth Bennet who learns the error of making hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between the superficial and the essential.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) was an English author known for her novels which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. Her best known works include Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma. Austen's works are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism, and her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.