Elizabeth Bennet

Elizabeth Bennet (sometimes referred to as Eliza or Lizzy) is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. The novel is centred on her attempts to find love and happiness within the constraints and proprieties of her society, particularly concerning her relationship with the seemingly proud and cold Mr. Darcy. Jane Austen herself considered Elizabeth Bennet "as delightful a character as ever appeared in print". She is generally considered one of Austen's most popular and endearing heroines, and one of the most popular female characters in British literature.

In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth is the second eldest of the five Bennet sisters of Longbourn.

She is twenty years old at the beginning of the novel.

Elizabeth is portrayed as an intelligent young woman, with "a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in any thing ridiculous". She often presents a playful good natured impertinence, that does not offend. Early in the novel she is depicted as being personally proud of her mental quickness and her acuity in judging the social behaviour and intentions of others.

Of her family, Elizabeth is her father's favourite, described by him by having "something more of quickness than her sisters". In contrast, she is the least dear of her mother's children, especially after Elizabeth refuses a marriage proposal from Mr. Collins. Elizabeth is also often distressed and embarrassed by the behaviour of her mother and of her younger sisters. Her father is a gentleman and a landowner, but his estate, Longbourn, is entailed away from his children because he does not have a son, and upon his death, Longbourn will be inherited by his cousin Mr. Collins, a sycophantic and foolish clergyman. Within her neighbourhood, she is considered a local beauty and charming, with "fine eyes", which is the first feature Mr. Darcy is drawn to. He is later drawn more particularly to her "light and pleasing" figure, the "easy playfulness" of her manners, her mind and personality, and eventually considers her to be "one of the handsomest women" in his acquaintance.