# Lady Catherine de Bourgh — Pride and Prejudice character guide

> Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Catherine de Bourgh, Lady Catherine, de Bourgh

**First appearance:** 0028-xxix

## Snapshot

A titled autocrat who rules her parish, her sickly daughter, and Mr. Collins's every opinion, she treats rank as a license to instruct the world.

## Who they are

Lady Catherine de Bourgh commands Rosings with the confidence of someone who has never been contradicted, dispensing patronage to Mr. Collins and opinions to everyone else. Her insistence on the distinction of rank—and her plans for Darcy to marry her daughter—make her a walking embodiment of the class barriers the novel probes. Her invitations and interrogations give Elizabeth a stage on which to display her wit and independence.

## Relationships

### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet)

_rivalry_

Lady Catherine attempts to intimidate Elizabeth into rejecting Darcy, but Elizabeth defiantly stands her ground.

### [Mr. Collins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mr_collins)

_professional_

Mr. Collins is Lady Catherine's obsequious, fawning clergyman, constantly praising her patronage.

### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet)

_social_

Lady Catherine looks down on Mrs. Bennet's low social standing and vulgarity, treating her with contempt.

### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet)

_rivalry_

Lady Catherine attempts to intimidate Elizabeth into rejecting Darcy, but Elizabeth defiantly stands her ground.

### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet)

_social_

Lady Catherine looks down on Mrs. Bennet's low social standing and vulgarity, treating her with contempt.

### [Mr. Collins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mr_collins)

_professional_

Mr. Collins is Lady Catherine's obsequious, fawning clergyman, constantly praising her patronage.

### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet)

_rivalry_

Lady Catherine attempts to intimidate Elizabeth into rejecting Darcy, but Elizabeth defiantly stands her ground.

### [Mr. Collins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mr_collins)

_professional_

Mr. Collins is Lady Catherine's obsequious, fawning clergyman, constantly praising her patronage.

### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet)

_social_

Lady Catherine looks down on Mrs. Bennet's low social standing and vulgarity, treating her with contempt.

## In the story

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xvi)

Mentioned as Mr. Collins's patroness and as the aunt of Mr. Darcy; Wickham describes her as arrogant and dictatorial.

### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xix)

Referenced by Mr. Collins as his patroness who advised him to marry and as a future connection for Elizabeth.

### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxix)

Hosts the dinner at Rosings, displaying an authoritative and self-important manner, questioning Elizabeth about her family and offering unsolicited advice.

### [Elizabeth's Visit to Hunsford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxx)

Active magistrate in her parish; frequently visits the Parsonage and scrutinizes the household.

### [Chapter XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxxi)

Dominates the conversation, criticizes Elizabeth's playing, praises her own daughter Anne, and displays ill breeding that embarrasses Darcy.

### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxxvii)

Dominates the final days at Rosings with inquiries and directives, oblivious to Elizabeth's inner turmoil.

### [Chapter LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/lvi)

Confronts Elizabeth about the rumored engagement to Mr. Darcy, insisting on her nephew's prior claim to her daughter.

### [Chapter LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/lvii)

Visited Longbourn to oppose the rumored engagement; Elizabeth worries about her influence on Darcy.

### [Chapter LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/lviii)

Her visit to Longbourn and subsequent report to Darcy inadvertently leads him to hope for Elizabeth's acceptance.

### [LXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/lxi)

Indignant at the marriage but eventually reconciles and visits Pemberley.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/lady_catherine_de_bourgh
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters