Lady Catherine de Bourgh


Character Source Material: Jane Austen, Novels Written by


Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a formidable figure in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," embodies the aristocratic hauteur of Georgian England. Born into privilege as the daughter of an earl, she married Sir Lewis de Bourgh, further solidifying her position in the upper echelons of society. Her upbringing instilled in her an unshakeable belief in the superiority of rank and wealth, which manifests in her imperious demeanor and unyielding opinions. As the mistress of Rosings Park, Lady Catherine revels in her role as a grand patroness, particularly to the obsequious Mr. Collins. Her overbearing personality is matched only by her penchant for unsolicited advice, which she dispenses liberally to all within her orbit. Despite her pretensions to refinement, Lady Catherine often displays a remarkable lack of tact and empathy, interrogating guests with the tenacity of a prosecutor and managing her household with military precision. Her devotion to her sickly daughter Anne reveals a softer side, though it's often overshadowed by her domineering nature. In essence, Lady Catherine de Bourgh stands as Austen's quintessential portrait of aristocratic excess, a character whose inflated sense of self-importance provides both comic relief and social commentary on the rigid class structures of her time.


5 Factor Personality Summary for Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Trait Percentile Trait Disposition
Neuroticism 68.86 Average
Agreeableness 0 Low
Extraversion 74.49 High
Conscientiousness 91.02 High
Openness 0.07 Low
personality chart
Link to full personality profile report.



5 Factor Personality Items and Responses for Lady Catherine de Bourgh

This section displays the detail item responses that were used to generate the above personality summary. The methodology for selecting the item responses for this fictional character involved using research from a generative artificial intelligence tool to summarize a descriptive response to a question related to each item. The research was reviewed and a judgement was made on the most appropriate response on that item. You can view an example script for collecting these responses (see: Script for Automated Five Factor Assessment)

Trait Item Item Response Item Score AI-Generated Research*
Openness Do not have a good imagination. Very accurate 1

Throughout the novel, Lady Catherine demonstrates a lack of imaginative thinking. She is bound by conventional ideas of social hierarchy and propriety, unable to envision alternatives to her rigid worldview. Her shock at Elizabeth's refusal to conform to her wishes and her inability to conceive of Darcy choosing a wife based on love rather than status illustrate her profound lack of imagination.

Openness Am not interested in abstract ideas. Moderately accurate 2

Lady Catherine shows little interest in philosophical or abstract concepts, focusing instead on practical matters of social standing, wealth, and propriety. Her conversations and concerns revolve around concrete issues such as marriage alliances, estate management, and social etiquette. She shows no inclination towards discussions of a more theoretical or abstract nature.

Openness Have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. Moderately accurate 2

Lady Catherine's thinking appears to be quite concrete and rooted in societal conventions. She struggles with concepts that challenge her worldview, such as the idea that merit could outweigh social status. Her difficulty in understanding Elizabeth's refusal to promise not to marry Darcy demonstrates her struggle with ideas that don't align with her rigid understanding of social order.

Openness Have a vivid imagination. Very inaccurate 1

Lady Catherine is portrayed as rigid and conventional in her thinking, showing little evidence of imaginative thought. She adheres strictly to societal norms and expectations, demonstrating a lack of creative or innovative ideas. Her inability to conceive of a marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth as anything but scandalous further illustrates her limited imagination.

Neuroticism Seldom feel blue. Moderately accurate 2

Lady Catherine's strong sense of self-importance and her position in society likely shield her from prolonged periods of sadness or depression. While she may experience frustration or anger, there is no evidence in the novel of her experiencing persistent low moods. Her constant engagement in managing others' affairs suggests an active rather than depressive temperament.

Neuroticism Am relaxed most of the time. Very inaccurate 5

Lady Catherine is consistently portrayed as high-strung and controlling. She maintains a state of alert vigilance over her domain and the behavior of others. Her constant need to advise, direct, and control suggests a personality that is far from relaxed. Her tense reaction to the possibility of Darcy marrying Elizabeth further illustrates her non-relaxed nature.

Neuroticism Get upset easily. Moderately accurate 4

While Lady Catherine doesn't display a wide range of emotions, she is quick to take offense at perceived slights to her status or authority. She becomes notably agitated when her will is opposed, as seen in her reaction to Elizabeth's refusal to promise not to marry Darcy. Her ease of upset is primarily related to challenges to her sense of control and propriety.

Neuroticism Have frequent mood swings. Very inaccurate 1

Lady Catherine maintains a consistently imperious and opinionated demeanor throughout the novel. She does not display volatile emotions or sudden changes in mood. Even when angered, as in her confrontation with Elizabeth, her reaction is in keeping with her established character rather than indicating a mood swing.

Conscientiousness Make a mess of things. Very inaccurate 5

Lady Catherine prides herself on her competence and control. While her actions sometimes have unintended consequences (such as her confrontation with Elizabeth potentially encouraging Darcy), she generally maintains order in her sphere of influence. Her efficient management of Rosings and her social circle indicates she rarely 'makes a mess of things' in a literal or figurative sense.

Conscientiousness Often forget to put things back in their proper place. Very inaccurate 5

Given Lady Catherine's strong sense of order and control, it is highly unlikely that she would be careless with possessions. Although not directly addressed in the novel, her character suggests she would expect everything to be in its proper place, both in her own actions and in the management of her household.

Conscientiousness Like order. Very accurate 5

Lady Catherine has a strong preference for order and control in her environment and social circles. She meticulously manages her estate and the lives of those around her, including her daughter and Mr. Collins. Her insistence on advising the Collinses on mundane matters like ventilating their rooms demonstrates her desire for order even in others' households.

Conscientiousness Get chores done right away. Neither inaccurate nor accurate 3

There is insufficient information in the novel to accurately assess Lady Catherine's approach to personal chores. As a wealthy aristocrat, she likely delegates most tasks to her staff. Her efficiency in addressing matters she deems important (such as her rapid response to rumors of Darcy's engagement) suggests she may approach tasks promptly, but this is speculative.

Agreeableness Am not interested in other people's problems. Moderately accurate 2

Lady Catherine shows little genuine concern for others' difficulties unless they directly affect her plans or status. She dismisses the financial constraints of the Bennet family and shows no sympathy for their situation. However, she does involve herself in what she perceives as problems, such as the potential marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth, but this is motivated by self-interest rather than altruism.

Agreeableness Am not really interested in others. Moderately accurate 2

While Lady Catherine shows curiosity about others, it's primarily to judge or control them rather than out of genuine interest. She interrogates Elizabeth about her family and accomplishments not out of care, but to assess her suitability according to her own standards. Her interest is superficial and self-serving rather than a genuine desire to understand others.

Agreeableness Feel others' emotions. Very inaccurate 1

Lady Catherine demonstrates a marked lack of empathy throughout the novel. She appears oblivious to the discomfort she causes others with her prying questions and imperious manner. For instance, she fails to recognize or acknowledge Elizabeth's distress during their confrontation about Darcy, showing her inability to perceive or respond to others' emotional states.

Agreeableness Sympathize with others' feelings. Very inaccurate 1

Lady Catherine shows little regard for others' emotions, often prioritizing her own opinions and desires. She frequently disregards the feelings of those around her, as seen in her insensitive questioning of Elizabeth about her family and her attempts to control her nephew Darcy's marital choices without considering his feelings.

Extraversion Keep in the background. Very inaccurate 5

Lady Catherine consistently places herself at the forefront of social situations. Her desire for control and attention means she rarely, if ever, remains in the background. This is evident in her behavior at Rosings, where she presides over gatherings and expects to be the center of attention, as well as in her dramatic confrontation with Elizabeth at Longbourn.

Extraversion Don't talk a lot. Very inaccurate 5

Lady Catherine is known for her loquaciousness and tendency to dominate conversations. She frequently offers unsolicited advice and opinions on a wide range of subjects. For example, upon meeting Elizabeth Bennet, she immediately launches into a lengthy interrogation about her family and upbringing, demonstrating her propensity for extensive speech.

Extraversion Talk to a lot of different people at parties. Moderately inaccurate 2

Lady Catherine tends to dominate conversations rather than engage in diverse interactions. She prefers to lecture and give opinions rather than have genuine exchanges with many individuals. During dinner parties at Rosings, she is described as holding forth on various topics, but primarily addressing her chosen audience rather than mingling widely.

Extraversion Am the life of the party. Moderately accurate 4

While not conventionally jovial, Lady Catherine dominates social gatherings with her forceful personality. In 'Pride and Prejudice,' she is often the center of attention at Rosings, holding court and directing conversation. For instance, during Elizabeth's visits to Rosings, Lady Catherine monopolizes discussions, demonstrating her tendency to be the focal point of social interactions.

* AI-Generated Responses are text output captured from entering an item-related question for this character into a generative AI model such as Chat-GPT, Google Gemini, or Anthropic's Claude. For example, a question for the item "Like order" would be "Does <Character Name> like order?".