#lizzybennet

Lizzy and Charlotte are the best of friends

It's painful to read (later) about the friends drifting apart. There is a "restraint" and Lizzy is sure there can never be "real confidence" between them once Charlotte accepts Mr Collin's proposal. They maintain contact after the marriage:

"..their correspondence was as regular and frequent as it ever had been: that it should be equally unreserved was impossible. Elizabeth could never address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over; and, though determined not to slacken as a correspondent, it was for the sake of what had been rather than what was."

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, C26

Lizzy never really acknowledges her position of privilege, not only does she have more money than Charlotte, she's younger and more attractive too. She begrudgingly accepts the marriage, though she never tells Charlotte, later (in a startling disclosure to someone she isn't close with) she says to Darcy:

"I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however; and, in a prudential light, it is certainly a very good match for her.”

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, C32

At Hunsford Lizzy gives "Charlotte all the credit" for the interior of the house and admires her way of managing Mr Collins, not only does she send him often into the garden to get him out of the house (allowing him to be forgotten) but:

"When Mr. Collins said anything of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed...Charlotte wisely did not hear."

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, C28

Charlotte has made a good choice for herself, she knew she didn't have options and could manage Mr Collins which we see her doing. In this adaptation once Lizzy visits Hunsford it's as though all is forgiven. But in the book it seems Lizzy never really forgives her for marrying Mr Collins rather than remaining a spinster in case someone better came along. It would be interested to see what choice Lizzy would have made in Charlotte's circumstances.

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Audio from You're On Your Own Kid by Taylor Swift

Lizzy had a marvellous time ruining Lady Catherine's plans

Lady Catherine (and Lady Anne Darcy potentially*) intended Mr Darcy to marry Miss de Bourgh. Lizzy bursts onto the scene unknowingly stealing Mr Darcy's heart and ruining the tacit engagement.

Unfortunately for Lady Catherine, Lizzy is not like her brown nosing cousin (Mr Collins) and refuses to do anything demanded of her. Even if she hadn't changed her feelings about Darcy it's entirely possible she'd still lead Lady C on a merry chase just to spite her. If she hadn't show up, perhaps Darcy would have married his cousin as intended.

"Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, for she loves to be of use"

-Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, C60

Lizzy's above comment is tongue in cheek but accurate too. Darcy may have eventually got around to proposing again but his aunts relation of the argument with Lizzy gives him hope, so he dashes back to Netherfield. Lady C thinks Darcy has the same views as her, and perhaps at one time he did, but Lizzy teased them out of him.

*She's dead, she can't talk for herself. I don't put it past Lady Catherine to use her dead sister's name in vain.

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Audio and Video from BBC 1995 Pride and Prejudice