A Perfect Marriage in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

508 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." This first sentence of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice brings together the lives of the characters who are in pursuit of marriage. Austen uses many examples throughout the novel to illustrate the good and bad reasons behind marriage to reveal her idea of the perfect marriage.

The reader is most familiar with the unhappy marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Bennet married his wife because of her youthful beauty and her ability to have children. The following quote describes how Mrs. Bennet's beauty faded and so did their enjoyment of each other, "[Mr. Bennet] captivated by youth and beauty...had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection...Respect, esteem, and confidence had vanished forever." As the lust faded, Mrs. Bennet diverted her attention to finding husbands for her five daughters that would ensure each of them financial and social security. She was often viewed as more of a nuisance than of any help. Her daughter Elizabeth describes her manner as "so far from right herself...[and] entirely insensible of evil." Excluding himself from his wife's pity affairs, Mr. Bennet took refuge in his study reading books. He did, however find amusement in his wife's ignorance and folly. Therefore marriage only for physical appearance is wrong for beauty fades with time.

Unlike Mr. Bennet, Charlotte Lucas did not marry for physical attraction, she married for money. Although Charlotte desired a happy, loving marriage, she was getting old and in turn settled for financial stability and establishment. Mr. Collins had been directed by his mentor, Lady Catherine DeBourg, to find a wife in order to remain in the social status she has placed him. When Elizabeth Bennet did not accept his proposal, he proposed to Charlotte who accepted. Upon hearing of her engagement to Mr. Collins, Charlotte's family was relieved from their apprehension of her dying an old maid. Charlotte explains to Elizabeth her reasons for accepting Mr. Collins' proposal: "I ask only for a comfortable home; and a situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with his is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.

Show More
Related

  • The Necessity of Marrying Well in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility

    524 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, the necessity of marrying well is one of the central themes. In Austen’s era a woman’s survival depended on her potential to acquire an affluent partner. This meant a choice of marrying for love and quite possibly starve, or marry a securing wealthy person, there was a risk of marrying someone who you might despise.

    Read More

  • The Attitudes Toward Marriage in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

    840 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Attitudes Toward Marriage in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Jane Austin wrote the novel Pride and Prejudice in 1813. The novel provides a great deal of information and gives us a detailed insight to the different attitudes towards marriages at the time. Pride and Prejudice is focused and written about the lifestyles among "gentry". The "gentry" was the middle to upper class citizens in England. In the novel Jane Austin shows us that social status is a very important factor and that is was essential to have connections with people higher up in the gentry.

    Read More

  • Love And Love In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jane Austen is a world known English author who lived centuries ago. Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in a small town in south-central England. In 1813, “Pride and Prejudice” was published and is still a well known novel today. The novel provides insight on overcoming prejudices, achieving happiness and someone to share it with. However the women in the novel thought they had to be married to experience happiness. Austen stated in the first line of the novel, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (1). Basically this statement is saying that a wealthy single man is looking for a woman to marry. This novel shows that love can change thoughts and feelings of pride

    Read More

  • Explore Jane Austen’s attitude to marriage in Pride and Prejudice

    1657 Words  | 4 Pages

    little, if nothing at all based on a good love match. This can be seen

    Read More

  • Society's Constraints in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    431 Words  | 1 Pages

    Without a suitable marriage, the Bennett girls will not be able to count reputation or wealth as their blessings. Charlotte's choice to marry Mr. Collins also reveals how little education young women of this time receive; girls are educated in proper, "cultured" behavior, and perhaps some literature…nothing more. This lack of a real education leaves women few options as far as a profession, other than a governess. If a woman cannot earn a living, the only other option is marriage.

    Read More

  • Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

    495 Words  | 1 Pages

    Marriage in Pride and Prejudice It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife." Jane Austen provides subsequent argument with the first line of her novel, Pride and. Prejudice. The.

    Read More

  • Compromise and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

    1934 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is not unusual for an individual to disagree with social customs or expectations. Some people are only happy when they can rebel against society. Most mature adults eventually realize that compromise is necessary to achieve happiness. This is the case in the early nineteenth century England setting of Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. In the novel, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a lively, independent woman, whose family's financial situation and whose strong mindedness suggest that she may never marry. Mr. Darcy, is a rigid and proper man, who falls in love with Elizabeth, despite their differences. By the end of the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy learn to compromise, and, in doing so, become truly happy. In marrying, they not only fulfill themselves as individuals, but also affirm the principle values of society. The marriage at the end of the novel shows Jane Austen's ideal view of marriage as a social institution.

    Read More

  • Social Norms in Jane Austen´s Pride and Prejudice

    1189 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...er. Even as wise and intelligent as Charlotte is, she still identifies with the ideas of her time about marriage. Charlotte, serving as a basis of time’s views allows the reader a glimpse into the institution of marriage in the Regency Era. Charlotte more than emphasizes just how radical Elizabeth was for her time, since she was willing to wait for the perfect man rather than settle. As a contrast, she helps Austen create a unique relationship in Darcy and Elizabeth. Austen disproves Charlotte’s and the general society’s pragmatic belief in a likely unhappy marriage. Through Charlotte’s marriage Austen gains a more cynical and realist voice she shows that the heart does not always have to be consulted with for a comfortable union. However, she also proves that a happy marriage is possible in spite of personal imperfections as is the case with Darcy and Elizabeth.

    Read More

  • Contrast of Love in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

    1541 Words  | 4 Pages

    To begin, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have a love of simple infatuation. This type of love is one without intimacy or commitment, and lies with pure passion. After the passion runs out, no love is left. Mr. Bennet married his wife because she had ample beauty, however, she exposed herself as unintelligent. He often warned his children not to do the same, just as he says to Elizabeth: "My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about" (Austen). The lack of love between her parents was quite obvious to Elizabeth as well. She saw that "her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in...

    Read More

  • Marriage in Pride and Prejudice and in Jane Eyre

    630 Words  | 2 Pages

    Furthermore, Charlotte Lucas who has no fortune settles for marriage with Mr. Collins, the arrogant, self important, materialistic and boring man. She thinks that it is better to be married than not, even if she doesn’t like him and he is not likely to make her happy.

    Read More

  • Persuasion Written by Jane Austen

    1271 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...an only find true happiness in marriage with someone who shares similar manners and treasure people’s qualities over their look and status. This is when Anne’s sensibility allows her to disregard her family’s persuasion and become determined to fulfill her love with Wentworth.

    Read More

  • Portrayal of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    2064 Words  | 5 Pages

    She does not need even a pleasing manner from her husband, as is evident from her choice in Mr. Collins. She does not believe that love is necessary for marriage and thinks that a woman should take the first opportunity offered to her in marriage, and, possibly it could lead to love. This is evident from her comments to Lizzie in reference to Jane and Mr. Bingley.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Anna On The Mercy And The Delicacy Of Marriage

    1429 Words  | 3 Pages

    Marriage is a powerful union between two people who vow under oath to love each other for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. This sacred bond is a complicated union; one that can culminate in absolute joy or in utter disarray. One factor that can differentiate between a journey of harmony or calamity is one’s motives. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners, where Elizabeth Bennet and her aristocratic suitor Mr. Darcy’s love unfolds as her prejudice and his pride abate. Anton Chekhov’s “Anna on the Neck” explores class distinction, as an impecunious young woman marries a wealthy man. Both Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Anton Chekhov’s “Anna on the Neck” utilize

    Read More

  • Essay on Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's Parenting in Pride and Prejudice

    1483 Words  | 3 Pages

    The roles of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice are contrasted between a father who cares about what’s inside of people and a mother who only worries about vanity and appearance. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s parental guidance is unique to their personalities. Because of their two opposing personas, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s ideas of marriage are contradictory for their daughters; Mr. Bennet believes in a loving respectful marriage whereas Mrs. Bennet values a marriage which concerns wealth and social status. Their aspirations for Lydia, Jane, Mary, Kitty and Elizabeth mirror their conflicting ideologies. Mr. Bennet seems to have a quiet deep love for his daughters while, on the contrary, Mrs. Bennet’s love is over-acted and conditional. Both parents help to shape their daughters’ characteristics and beliefs: Lydia reflecting Mrs. Bennet’s flighty and excessive behavior while Elizabeth inherits Mr. Bennet’s pensive and reflective temperament. Looking past their dissimilar personality traits and contradicting convictions, both parents hold the family together and play an integral role in the household structure.

    Read More

  • Pride and Prejudice: Social Class

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mrs. Bennet attempts to marry off her daughters to the best possible men. This was recognised by everyone and she often appeared to embarrass her daughters whenever she spoke. In her eyes the men she wanted for her daughters were wealthy, socially powerful and polite men. The idea that her daughters should marry for gain in material aspects of life was much more important for Mrs. Bennet than for her daughters to marry someone they were in love with. She believed that the family should organize the arrangement, seeing as the young girls are under the care of the family. Mrs. Bennet believes "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Therefore, she be...

    Read More

More about A Perfect Marriage in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Open Document