"They were in fact very fine ladies, not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of being agreeable where they chose it; but proud and conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank; and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade." (Austen 11)
The Bingley sisters are a great example of Pride and conceit in this upper class society.
Austen’s intent was both to create antagonists for the Bennets but also to blatantly illustrate the ills of excess in this society. By doing so, it furthers her social satire of society.
The Bingley sisters are foils to the Bennet sisters because although the Bennets have lived in comfort for most of their lives, which will come to an end, when their father dies. As for the Bingley sisters, they have always known comfort and security and will know it for the rest of their lives; they have room to err.
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