Three connected characters arriving in Hertfordshire independently - coincidence?
Pride and Prejudice is my favourite book and I’ve read it loads of times. I’ve noticed recently something about the plot that I wondered if others had seen.
The arrival of Mr Darcy, Mr Collins and Mr Wickham in Hertfordshire in a short space of time are completely unrelated. Darcy has come with Bingley, Mr Collins wants to visit the Bennets and Wickham‘s regiment is stationed there. Yet these characters all have pre-existing connections (Mr Collins through Lady Catherine) without which the story wouldn’t progress in the way that it does.
Is it just complete coincidence that these characters all happen to come into Elizabeth‘s life at the same time - or am I missing something?
I do want to clarify that I’m not criticising - I think this is as close to a perfect book as you can get, no book is 100% realistic and Jane Austen can do whatever she wants to make a good story!! Just wondered if anyone else had noticed this.