Original Text(~250 words)
XXVII. [Illustration] With no greater events than these in the Longbourn family, and otherwise diversified by little beyond the walks to Meryton, sometimes dirty and sometimes cold, did January and February pass away. March was to take Elizabeth to Hunsford. She had not at first thought very seriously of going thither; but Charlotte, she soon found, was depending on the plan, and she gradually learned to consider it herself with greater pleasure as well as greater certainty. Absence had increased her desire of seeing Charlotte again, and weakened her disgust of Mr. Collins. There was novelty in the scheme; and as, with such a mother and such uncompanionable sisters, home could not be faultless, a little change was not unwelcome for its own sake. The journey would, moreover, give her a peep at Jane; and, in short, as the time drew near, she would have been very sorry for any delay. Everything, however, went on smoothly, and was finally settled according to Charlotte’s first sketch. She was to accompany Sir William and his second daughter. The improvement of spending a night in London was added in time, and the plan became as perfect as plan could be. The only pain was in leaving her father, who would certainly miss her, and who, when it came to the point, so little liked her going, that he told her to write to him, and almost promised to answer her letter. The farewell between herself and Mr. Wickham was perfectly friendly; on his...
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Summary
Elizabeth receives devastating news that changes everything she thought she knew about Wickham and Darcy. In a long, detailed letter, Darcy explains two crucial truths: first, that Wickham is a fortune-hunting liar who tried to elope with Darcy's fifteen-year-old sister Georgiana for her inheritance, and second, that he did separate Bingley from Jane—but only because he genuinely believed Jane didn't care for Bingley based on her reserved behavior. Darcy provides proof of Wickham's character through specific details about debts, lies, and the attempted seduction of a vulnerable teenage girl. As Elizabeth reads and re-reads the letter, her entire worldview shifts. She realizes she's been completely wrong about both men—Wickham is the villain she thought Darcy was, while Darcy, though proud, has been protecting his family and friends from real harm. This moment represents Elizabeth's most important growth in the novel: she faces the uncomfortable truth that her judgment has been clouded by prejudice and first impressions. She's forced to confront how her wounded pride after Darcy's initial rejection made her eager to believe the worst about him and the best about the charming Wickham. The chapter shows how dangerous it can be when we let our emotions override our critical thinking, and how people we dismiss as arrogant might actually be acting from genuine care and responsibility. Elizabeth's willingness to admit she was wrong—to herself, honestly and completely—marks her transformation from a girl who thinks she's always right into a woman capable of real wisdom and growth.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Entailment
A legal arrangement where property must be inherited by the nearest male relative, not daughters. This is why the Bennet family will lose their home when Mr. Bennet dies. Understanding this helps explain why marriage was so crucial for women's survival.
Fortune hunter
Someone who pursues romantic relationships primarily for money rather than love. Wickham is revealed as a classic fortune hunter who targets wealthy women. This was a real danger in a society where women controlled significant inheritances.
Elopement
Running away to get married secretly, usually without parental consent. In Austen's time, this was scandalous and could ruin a woman's reputation forever. Wickham's attempt to elope with fifteen-year-old Georgiana shows his predatory nature.
Living
A position as a clergyman that comes with a house and income, usually given by wealthy landowners. Darcy's father had promised Wickham such a position, but Wickham chose money instead and then demanded the position anyway.
First impressions
The immediate judgments we make about people when we first meet them. This was Austen's original title for the novel. Elizabeth's entire journey is about learning that first impressions can be dangerously wrong.
Prejudice
Pre-judging someone based on incomplete information or bias. Elizabeth realizes she prejudged Darcy because his pride wounded her ego, making her eager to believe Wickham's lies about him.
Characters in This Chapter
Elizabeth Bennet
Protagonist
Receives Darcy's letter and undergoes a complete transformation of understanding. She's forced to confront how wrong she's been about both Darcy and Wickham, marking her growth from someone who thinks she's always right to someone capable of admitting mistakes.
Mr. Darcy
Love interest/truth-teller
Writes the letter that reveals the truth about his actions and Wickham's character. Shows himself to be protective and honorable rather than merely proud, defending his sister and friend from real harm.
George Wickham
Antagonist/deceiver
Revealed through Darcy's letter as a manipulative fortune hunter who tried to seduce Darcy's fifteen-year-old sister for money. His true character shows how charming people can be the most dangerous.
Georgiana Darcy
Victim
Darcy's teenage sister who was nearly seduced by Wickham for her inheritance. Her vulnerability demonstrates the real dangers young women faced from predatory men, and why Darcy was right to protect her.
Jane Bennet
Innocent party
The subject of Darcy's interference with Bingley. Darcy explains he separated them because Jane seemed indifferent, showing how her reserved nature was misinterpreted as lack of feeling.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when wounded feelings are filtering information to protect ego rather than reveal truth.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"How despicably have I acted! I, who have prided myself on my discernment!"
Context: Elizabeth's reaction after reading Darcy's letter and realizing how wrong she's been
This moment captures Elizabeth's painful but necessary self-recognition. She's built her identity on being a good judge of character, but now must face that her pride made her blind to the truth.
"Till this moment, I never knew myself."
Context: Elizabeth's realization about her own prejudices after reading the letter
This is the turning point of Elizabeth's character development. True wisdom begins with honest self-knowledge, and she's finally seeing her own flaws clearly for the first time.
"I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle."
Context: From his letter, explaining how he was raised to think only of his own family's interests
Darcy shows remarkable self-awareness and humility. He admits his faults while explaining that his actions, though appearing selfish, came from a sense of duty to protect those he cares about.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
Thematic Threads
Prejudice
In This Chapter
Elizabeth realizes her judgment of both men was completely wrong, based on first impressions and wounded pride rather than evidence
Development
Reaches critical turning point - Elizabeth finally sees how her prejudices blinded her to truth
In Your Life:
When have you realized that your initial judgment of someone was completely wrong because you let a bad first impression cloud your ability to see who they really were?
Pride
In This Chapter
Elizabeth's wounded pride from Darcy's rejection made her eager to believe the worst about him and dismiss his good qualities
Development
Evolves from defensive pride to painful self-recognition - the hardest kind of growth
In Your Life:
Can you think of a time when feeling hurt or rejected made you stubbornly refuse to see anything good about the person who wounded you?
Deception
In This Chapter
Wickham's lies are fully exposed - he's a fortune hunter who tried to seduce a fifteen-year-old for money
Development
Culmination of Wickham's manipulative behavior - the charming mask finally comes off completely
In Your Life:
Have you ever been completely fooled by someone who seemed charming and trustworthy but turned out to be manipulating you for their own gain?
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Elizabeth faces the uncomfortable truth about her own flawed judgment and admits she was completely wrong
Development
Major breakthrough - Elizabeth moves from thinking she's always right to genuine self-awareness
In Your Life:
What's the most difficult truth you've had to accept about yourself when you realized you were wrong about something you felt certain about?
Protection
In This Chapter
Darcy's actions were about protecting his sister and friends from real harm, not arrogance
Development
Reframes Darcy's earlier behavior - what looked like snobbery was actually responsibility
In Your Life:
Have you ever misinterpreted someone's protective actions as controlling or judgmental because you didn't understand their true motivations?
Modern Adaptation
When the Email Changes Everything
Following Elizabeth's story...
Elizabeth has been telling everyone at the hospital that Marcus, the new department head, is a power-hungry jerk who got Jenny fired out of spite. She's been especially vocal after he rejected her proposal to restructure patient intake—his dismissive tone made her feel stupid and small. Then she receives a detailed email from HR that changes everything. Jenny wasn't fired for standing up to Marcus; she was terminated for repeatedly falsifying patient records and stealing medications. Marcus had been quietly documenting the theft for months, trying to help Jenny get treatment instead of pressing charges. The email includes security footage timestamps, pharmacy logs, and witness statements Elizabeth can verify. As for her proposal, Marcus explains he rejected it because the state licensing board had already flagged their current system—implementing her changes would have triggered an investigation that could shut down the unit. He'd been working behind the scenes to fix the compliance issues before proposing any changes. Elizabeth realizes she's been completely wrong about Marcus while painting Jenny as a victim. Her wounded pride from his initial rejection made her eager to believe he was the villain, while Jenny's friendship made her ignore obvious red flags about missing supplies and altered charts.
The Road
The road Elizabeth Bennet walked in 1813, Elizabeth walks today. The pattern is identical: wounded pride hijacks judgment, making us eager to believe the worst about those who hurt our feelings while ignoring evidence that contradicts our preferred narrative.
The Map
This chapter provides the navigation tool of evidence-based reassessment. When someone triggers strong negative feelings, Elizabeth can separate verifiable facts from her emotional reactions and actively seek information that challenges her initial judgment.
Amplification
Before reading this, Elizabeth might have continued spreading rumors about Marcus while enabling Jenny's destructive behavior. Now she can NAME the pattern of pride-hijacked judgment, PREDICT how it leads to harmful decisions, and NAVIGATE it by checking facts against feelings.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What two major revelations does Darcy share in his letter, and how does each one contradict what Elizabeth previously believed?
- 2
Why was Elizabeth so quick to believe Wickham's story about Darcy, and so slow to question it even when details didn't add up?
- 3
Think about your workplace, family, or community - where do you see people choosing to believe information that confirms what they already want to think?
- 4
When someone you dislike gives you information that challenges your assumptions, what steps could you take to evaluate it fairly instead of dismissing it?
- 5
What does Elizabeth's reaction to the letter reveal about the difference between being smart and being wise?
Critical Thinking Exercise
Track Your Bias Blind Spots
Think of someone you currently have negative feelings toward - maybe a coworker, family member, or public figure. Write down three specific things you believe about this person's character or motivations. Now, for each belief, identify what evidence you have and what evidence you might be ignoring or explaining away. Finally, consider what you might be invested in believing about this person.
Consider:
- •Notice if your 'evidence' is mostly other people's opinions or your own interpretations of their actions
- •Pay attention to whether you feel resistant to considering positive information about this person
- •Ask yourself what it would cost you emotionally to admit you might be wrong about them
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 28
What lies ahead teaches us key events and character development in this chapter, and shows us thematic elements and literary techniques. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.