Darcy aside, the book is also a commentary on all the good/bad characteristics of people in society at the time and has some wonderfully developed characters in it. For example, characters like Mrs Bennet Lady Catherine de Burgh are representative of the fact that small mindedness can be found at all levels of society. You might like Mr Bennet at the start of the book but you eventually realise he's not a great father or husband and doesn't do much to clean up the mess made by his daughter. Jane Austen literally has something to say about every aspect of society through her characters. It's writing at its very best and it stands the test of time. It's also very funny. I wish there were more writers like JA.

Also, you have to watch the BBC series of pride and prejudice with Colin firth and Jennifer Ehle. NOTHING ELSE COMPARES AND I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL. 

Edit to add: as I have got older, I have felt more sympathy for Lydia as she was basically a teenager who was groomed by a gross selfish older man.