Marriage Proposal in Pride and Prejudice

Marriage Proposal in Pride and Prejudice

During "Pride and Prejudice" there are six examples of marriage

proposals to consider. Throughout this essay I am going to be

commenting on the proposals between Mr Darcy and Lizzie the first

time, Mr Collins and Lizzie, Mr Collins and Charlotte as well as Mr

Bingley and Jane, Wickham and Lydia and the second proposal of Mr

Darcy to Lizzie. Whilst looking at these proposals I will also be

analysing the aspects of Love, Money, the relative status and class

and the views of others, which might have influence within these

proposals.

The first proposal I am going to analyse is Mr Darcy to Lizzie. Mr

Darcy proposed to Lizzie in Kent at Mr Collins and Charlotte's house

when Lizzie was visiting them for a few weeks and Mr Darcy was staying

with Lady Catherine De Bourgh, his aunt. Mr Darcy and Lizzie were

first acquainted with one another at Netherfield's, which is the

neighbouring estate to Longbourne, Lizzie's family house. They met at

a ball, which was held by the new lodger Mr Bingley at Netherfield's,

and Mr Darcy was there as a friend of Mr Bingley's who hosting the

ball for his new arrival to the village. Lizzie and Darcy didn't get

on at first as Lizzie thought he was arrogant and unsociable. But Mr

Darcy's dislike for Lizzie gradually grew to love for her. It seems

that the continuation of this dislike was all a cover for his real

feelings as he did not want to love or marry a woman who was beneath

him in every state, money and status and especially the views of

others would of discouraged him to act upon his feelings for Lizzie as

he was thought of as much more superior to Lizzie and her family and

at that time it was thought of as wrong or unheard of to mar...

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...an to get married over that age.

There were also many issues that a woman had to think about before

they got married, whether they were in love which wasn't a major issue

but it was though of as a bonus if they were. Money and status played

a huge role in deciding who to marry, rich men went for women of the

same class or a bit higher which made it difficult for woman of a

lower class or without much wealth to marry a wealthier or higher

classed man. It was thought of as unethical to marry someone beneath

you in any state. The influence of others played a big role in those

days as people were put under a lot of pressure to get married as soon

as possible and to someone higher up the society ladder. As you can

see the attitudes to marriage in the 19th Century in which these

characters lived in is very different to the attitudes in which we

live in today.