The Importance of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essay

Jane Austin ensures that marriage remains a central component to the main plotline throughout the novel. Through the use of Elizabeth as a literary tool, Austen is able to use her in order to portray her own feelings on marriage. In the novel, the opinion that comes through is that she is of the opinion that marriage should only take place on the basis of love. This is evident through the failings of those who marry for something other than love, and Darcy and Elizabeth’s success. The central plot of the novel is revealed quite plainly in the opening sentence â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man†¦show more content†¦In the exchange, Mrs Bennet’s overzealous attitude towards gossip and the marrying off of her daughters is first revealed. Her attitude however is not reflected in her husband, as Mr Bennet appears nonchalant throughout the entire exchange. Mr and Mrs Bennet are used by Austen to show the reader the result of marrying in accordance to something other than love. During this first conversation, and throughout the rest of the novel, Mr Bennet frequently appears to take pleasure from subtly teasing and mocking his apparently oblivious wife. The enjoyment Mr Bennet gets from this seems to be an attempt by Austen to show the results of marriage outside of love. The exchange between the two where Mr Bennet’s mocking behaviour is first seen, takes place immediately after the introductory paragraphs. This may not be merely coincidental; as it may be an example of Austen ridiculing what is stated in these introductory paragraphs. Her belief of marriage for love would have went against the norms of the time, but by portraying Mr and Mrs Bennet in this way, she was able to make a fair representation of what she believed marriage outside of love to be. The failings of not marrying for love are again made apparent by Austen through the account of Lydia and Wickham and their shortfalls. Lydia and Wickham’s relationship was built on a mixture of youthful attraction and naivety. In the letter she sends to Harriet,Show MoreRelatedComparative Study: Letters to Alice and Pride and Prejudice1502 Words   |  7 Pagesportrayed in Pride and Prejudice are creatively reshaped in Letters to Alice. The two texts, Letters to Alice and Pride and Prejudice, mirror and contrast the central values shared and explored by evaluating them; presenting them against Jane Austens context and that of Fay Weldon. Mirroring Austens novel, Weldon presents the central values for women such as the social values of moral behaviour, independence, and, literary values of reading and writing, from Pride and Prejudice and adapts themRead MorePride and Prejudice - Analytical Essay1023 Words   |  5 PagesAnalytical Essay: Pride Prejudice The progress between Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s relationship, in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice (1813) illustrates and explores several the key themes in the novel. Their relationship highlights class expectations, pride and prejudice, and marriage, and how they play a major role in determining the course of their association. These are outlined through their first prejudiced dislike of each other when they first meet, the stronger feelings for ElizabethRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice861 Words   |  4 PagesIn the article â€Å"Pride and Prejudice - Inversion and Criticism of the Romantic Novel† written by Koh Tsin Yen, Yen thoroughly explains a deeper meaning of Pride and Prejudice from both hers and Austen’s perspective of the novel. In Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, which takes place in the 19th century, Austen portrays marriage and social class as two themes with an extreme importance. While tying together two similar points of views, Yen also incorporates Austen s themes from her novel asRead MoreEssay about Social Classes in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen1737 Words   |  7 PagesJane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, was originally to be titled First impressions. Austen suggests she chose the original title late in the novel, after Elizabeth has seen the change in Darcys manners at Pemberley and feels it can only be due to her influence. However, in 1801 another novel was published using that title so Austen renamed and published her novel, Pride and Prejudice, in 1813. (Stovel â€Å"A Contrariety†). The former title accurately depicts the attitudes of several charactersRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1693 Words   |  7 Pagesreflections of illicit and explicit similarities and differences in the values and attributes presented. Jane Austen’s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice and Fay Weldon’s 1993 epistolary text Letters to Alice, both chal lenge the worth of their time as contexts change, but values are upheld. Weldon’s reflection on Austen’s nineteenth century environment, conveys to responders how marriage, gender roles and social class continue to be relevant issues in both regency times and the modern world. Through witnessingRead MoreDiscovering a Woman’s Role in Society in Pride and Prejudice Essay1226 Words   |  5 Pagesor the eventual husband. Marriage during this time was often a gamble; one can either be in it for the right reasons such as love or for the wrong reasons such as advancing social status. In 19th century Britain, laws were enacted to further suppress women that eventually bore the idea that women were supposed to do two things: marry and have children. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen demonstrates a women’s struggle within a society that stresses the importance of marriage and strict behavioral customsRead MoreJane Austen s Death On The Nile Essay1267 Words   |  6 Pagesfamily values and perspectives around the case. Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen in 1813, tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet, and her relationships between her family and families beyond her class and the issues that arise between the different class statuses. Agatha Christie and Jane Austen have similar perspectives on the values that the upper class hold dear, such as gender roles, importance of social status and reasons for marriage. Agatha Christie and Jane Austen both reveal theRead MorePride and Prejudice: Themes, Motifs, and Symbols1368 Words   |  6 Pagesuniversal ideas explored in a literary work. Love Pride and Prejudice contains one of the most cherished love stories in English literature: the courtship between Darcy and Elizabeth. As in any good love story, the lovers must elude and overcome numerous stumbling blocks, beginning with the tensions caused by the lovers own personal qualities. Elizabeths pride makes her misjudge Darcy on the basis of a poor first impression, while Darcys prejudice against Elizabeths poor social standing blindsRead MorePride and Prejudice by Jane Austen1271 Words   |  5 PagesIn the 19th century England love and marriage were concepts that weren’t very closely related. The novel â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† by Jane Austen, centers on the importance of marriage as one of life’s most important treasures and life’s greatest source of happiness. As the book title so rightfully depicts, pride and prejudice was demonstrated by the various social classes against each other as per the moral and social expectations of that socie ty. Austen presents the reader with two main factor aboutRead MoreMarriage in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Essay1386 Words   |  6 PagesMarriage In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen introduces the major thematic concept of marriage and financial wealth. Throughout the novel, Austen depicts various relationships that exhibit the two recurring themes. Set during the regency period, the perception of marriage revolves around a universal truth. Austen claims that a single man â€Å"must be in want of a wife.† Hence, the social stature and wealth of men were of principal importance for women. Austen, however, hints that the opposite may prove