# Lydia Bennet — Pride and Prejudice character guide > Lydia Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Lydia, Miss Lydia, Miss Lydia Bennet, Poor Lydia, Lydia Wickham **First appearance:** 0005-vi ## Snapshot The youngest Bennet, all noise and nerve, who chases officers and excitement with a heedlessness that her family cannot restrain and that will cost them dearly. ## Who they are Lydia lives for balls, redcoats, and being the first to know everything, her mother's indulgent favorite and her father's despair. She flirts indiscriminately with the militia, especially Wickham, without the slightest awareness of consequence. Her untamed assurance—she returns from her wedding 'Lydia still'—exposes the family's failure of discipline and drives the novel's most dangerous turn. ## Relationships ### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet) _family_ Elizabeth is often exasperated by Lydia's reckless, flirtatious behavior but remains her sister. ### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet) _family_ Mrs. Bennet indulges Lydia's wild behavior, and Lydia is her favorite, sharing a love of gossip and flirting. ### [Jane Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/jane_bennet) _family_ Jane is kind and forgiving toward Lydia's reckless elopement, while Lydia is thoughtless and self-centered. ### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet) _family_ Elizabeth is often exasperated by Lydia's reckless, flirtatious behavior but remains her sister. ### [Elizabeth Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/elizabeth_bennet) _family_ Elizabeth is often exasperated by Lydia's reckless, flirtatious behavior but remains her sister. ### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet) _family_ Mrs. Bennet indulges Lydia's wild behavior, and Lydia is her favorite, sharing a love of gossip and flirting. ### [Jane Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/jane_bennet) _family_ Jane is kind and forgiving toward Lydia's reckless elopement, while Lydia is thoughtless and self-centered. ### [Mrs. Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/mrs_bennet) _family_ Mrs. Bennet indulges Lydia's wild behavior, and Lydia is her favorite, sharing a love of gossip and flirting. ### [Jane Bennet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/jane_bennet) _family_ Jane is kind and forgiving toward Lydia's reckless elopement, while Lydia is thoughtless and self-centered. ## In the story ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/i) Mentioned by Mrs. Bennet as good-humored, though not directly involved in the scene. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/ii) Boldly declares she expects Mr. Bingley to dance with her at the ball. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/vii) Shows frivolous interest in officers, walking to Meryton with Kitty to see Captain Carter. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/ix) Boldly reminds Bingley of his promise to give a ball, showing her forward and self-assured nature. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xiii) Uninterested in Mr. Collins because he does not wear a scarlet coat. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xiv) Interrupts Mr. Collins's reading with a remark about her uncle Philips and Colonel Forster, causing offense. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xv) Eager to walk to Meryton to see the officers; presses Mr. Wickham to come inside. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xvi) Talks incessantly about lottery tickets and her winnings during the carriage ride home, overshadowing Elizabeth's thoughts. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxiii) Boisterously exclaims that Mr. Collins wanted to marry Lizzy; views the match only as news to spread at Meryton. ### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxxvii) Mentioned as self-willed and careless, contributing to Elizabeth's chagrin about her family. ### [Chapter XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xxxix) Boisterously recounts her fun at the inn and Colonel Forster's; urges the Brighton scheme; announces Wickham is free from Mary King. ### [Chapter XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xli) Exuberant over her invitation to Brighton with Mrs. Forster; shows no concern for her family's reputation. ### [Chapter XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xlii) Writes short, frivolous letters from Brighton; her absence brings some peace to Longbourn. ### [Chapter XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xlvi) Has eloped with Mr. Wickham, causing family distress. ### [Chapter XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xlvii) The subject of the chapter; her elopement with Wickham is revealed through her frivolous letter. ### [Chapter XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/xlix) Mentioned as the subject of the letter; she is to be married from Mr. Gardiner's house, though Elizabeth and Jane recognize the precariousness of her future. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/l) Her marriage to Wickham is arranged; she wishes to visit Longbourn before moving north with his regiment. ### [Chapter LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/li) Returns as Mrs. Wickham, unabashed and boastful, eagerly showing off her ring and recounting her wedding. ### [Chapter LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/lii) Her elopement and marriage to Wickham are the subject of the letter; her behavior remains frivolous and unrepentant. ### [LXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/chapters/lxi) Married to Wickham; continues extravagant and heedless; writes to Elizabeth hoping for a place at court. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters/lydia_bennet - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pride_and_prejudice_se/characters