The Bennets are the family of the main female character. They are landowners who accumulate money from their property. Belonging to the landed gentry class, they are below the nobility, though. The class gap is the milestone of the central conflict of Pride and Prejudice.
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‘Pride and Prejudice’ reflects the Georgian era of English history. The novel focuses on the high society of that time, ignoring some important historical events. Two main classes depicted in the book are the nobility and the gentry.
The main character, Elizabeth, comes from the landed gentry class. It could be related to Jane Austen being of the same origin. The genteel classes are close in the sense that they are wealthier than the rest. However, there is a huge gap between them, which the novel explores.
The class issue primarily arises when it comes to the Bennet daughters’ love affairs. For instance, Jane is fond of Mr. Bingley, who has a higher income than her family. He belongs not to the nobility but the higher level of the gentry. It allows him to be a close friend of a noble, Mr. Darcy.
In case you wonder about other daughters, there is also Elizabeth. She has a complicated relationship with Mr. Darcy, starting with disdain and ending in love. One of the main obstacles to their union is the staggering social and financial differences. It is brought up clearly when Lady Catherine protests their marriage. In the end, the characters themselves do not mind the class differences. It is their families that cling to the traditions and honor.