Maria Lucas is a minor character in Pride and Prejudice.
Character[]
She is the second daughter of Sir William and Lady Lucas, and a younger sister of Charlotte Lucas. She is the sister-in-law of William Collins, a clergyman. She makes her appearance in Pride and Prejudice 1995 film while only mentioned to be a child of the Lucas family in the 2005 film.
Plot[]
Maria is seen at the various congregations, she is first seen at the Assembly room with her older sister, Charlotte. Jane eventually takes Mr. Bingley to them to gain their acquaintance as they are both her friends. Also, at the assembly room, she is seen conversing with Mary. She is later seen helping Mary turn the pages as she plays at Lucas Lodge.
More notably, in one after Charlotte is engaged. She hastily runs up to Charlotte while talking to Elizabeth wondering if Charlotte has asked her to accompany them to Charlotte’s new home. Elizabeth affirms that she is to relieving her because she feels more secure in going with Elizabeth in their company.
Maria inquires of the redhead girl dancing with Mr. WIckham. Elizabeth affirms name and that she had come to stay with her uncle in Merton. Maria remarks, “She isn’t very pretty, is she?” Charlotte teaches her younger sister by saying, “Beauty is not the only virtue, Maria.” She informs them that she has just inherited a great sum of money to their amusement.
Maria accompanies her father and Elizabeth to visit her sister Charlotte at her new home. She is intimidated and frightened by Lady Catherine and the grandeur of Rosings Park. She eventually relaxes in her company, and amazed of how many times they were invited to dine at Lady Catherine’s estate.
She ventures back with Elizabeth and her father and meet with Kitty and Lydia on the way home to dine. They discuss Miss King and Mr. Wickham and he was wasn’t going to marry her after all. Maria wonders if there was a strong attraction between them. Lydia assures her that there wasn’t and he didn’t care for her.
She isn’t seen again in the film. However, towards the end of the film, Kitty asks Elizabeth if it was ok to call upon Maria. It’s implied that she now has Maria as a companion since Lydia has married and moved away.
Notes[]
- She is described in the story as "a good humoured girl, but as empty-headed".
- She doesn’t make an appearance in the 2005 film, but merely implied to be a background member of the Lucas family.
- She is approximately 18 making her between the ages of Kitty and Mary Bennet.
- She is seen to be friendly with all the younger Bennet girls; including Elizabeth. She shares a mild negative comment concerning Miss King’s appearance.
- While a minor character, as the second-eldest daughter of the Lucas family, Maria offers up a distinctive contrast to Elizabeth.
- Since Maria is not often mentioned in the novel previous to her sister's marriage, it is often mistaked that she was not "out" in society prior to the event; however, this is untrue. Maria was already "out", based on the timeline of events in the story. She was first briefly mentioned as early as in chapter 3: "Then, the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and ..."