Part 4/6:
Upon her arrival at Netherfield, however, Elizabeth finds herself captivated by a stark juxtaposition. The house guests of Mr. Bingley—who are all from London—are just about to sit down to breakfast, a meal that typically takes place two hours later than she would expect. This detail, seemingly minor at first glance, serves a deeper purpose in Austen's narrative.
By revealing this discrepancy in breakfast timing, Austen subtly comments on the privileged status of Bingley’s guests compared to the Bennet family. The late breakfast enjoyed by the genteel company at Netherfield hints at their affluence and social standing, reinforcing the disparity between the lives of the higher-class Londoners and the Bennets, who struggle with their modest country status.