Description of Mrs. Annesley

Mrs. Annesley

Physical Appearance

Character Description and Analysis: Mrs. Annesley is a minor character in Pride and Prejudice. She lives primarily at Pemberley as a companion to Georgiana Darcy, Mr. Darcy's much younger sister. Mrs. Annesley was presented to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner when Mr. Darcy invited them to Pemberley. She is described as a genteel, agreeable-looking woman, who showed a better sense of decorum and grace than either Caroline Bingley or Louisa Hurst.

She is specifically mentioned in Chapter 45 of the novel. In this chapter, she breaks an awkward silence by initiating a conversation, proving her to be more truly well-bred than either of the others. The conversation is carried on between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from Elizabeth. Her character contributes to the portrayal of the refined society at Pemberley and provides a contrast to the less gracious behavior of characters like Caroline Bingley.

Character Mentions: Chapter 45 and Chapter 54

Chapter 45

By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley they were noticed only by a courtesy; and on their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a genteel, agreeable-looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce some kind of discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the others; and between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from Elizabeth, the conversation was carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she wished for courage enough to join in it; and sometimes did venture a short sentence, when there was least danger of its being heard.

Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by Miss Bingley, and that she could not speak a word, especially to Miss Darcy, without calling her attention.{329} This observation would not have prevented her from trying to talk to the latter, had they not been seated at an inconvenient distance; but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much: her own thoughts were employing her. She expected every moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room: she wished, she feared, that the master of the house might be amongst them; and whether she wished or feared it most, she could scarcely determine. After sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour, without hearing Miss Bingley’s voice, Elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold inquiry after the health of her family. She answered with equal indifference and brevity, and the other said no more.

The next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the entrance of servants with cold meat, cake, and a variety of all the finest fruits in season; but this did not take place till after many a significant look and smile from Mrs. Annesley to Miss Darcy had been given, to remind her of her post. There was now employment for the whole party; for though they could not all talk, they could all eat; and the beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches, soon collected them round the table.

Chapter 54

She was a little revived, however, by his bringing back his coffee-cup himself; and she seized the opportunity of saying,{419}—

“Is your sister at Pemberley still?”

“Yes; she will remain there till Christmas.”

“And quite alone? Have all her friends left her?”

“Mrs. Annesley is with her. The others have been gone on to Scarborough these three weeks.”

She could think of nothing more to say; but if he wished to converse with her, he might have better success. He stood by her, however, for some minutes, in silence; and, at last, on the young lady’s whispering to Elizabeth again, he walked away.

Quotations Mrs Annesley has no quoations in the novel.