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Chapter 52
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
Soon after Wickham and Lydia leave, Mrs. Bennet hears rumors that Bingley is returning to Netherfield. Mr. Bennet refuses to visit him, however.
Mr. Bennet's pride won't let him visit a man who hurt his daughter, even though avoiding Bingley is impolite.
Themes
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Not long after, however, Bingley and Darcy visit the Bennets. Mrs. Bennet gives a warm welcome to Bingley and almost none to Darcy. She then goes on to speak glowingly about Lydia's marriage to Wickham, much to Elizabeth's mortification.
Mrs. Bennet fails to welcome the person to whom she should be most grateful: Darcy. She commits another social blunder by openly discussing Lydia's disgrace.
Themes
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Darcy is not so congenial as he was at Pemberley, and Elizabeth doubts he has returned for her. Bingley, however, warms up to Jane as the initial awkwardness subsides. Mrs. Bennet reminds Bingley about having left the neighborhood so suddenly, and reinvites Bingley and Darcy to dinner.
Outside his Pemberley comfort zone, Darcy is a different person. Elizabeth worries that her mother continues to offend him. As expected, Bingley and Jane rediscover their affection when they're together.
Themes
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Test Yourself
