Wealth and money in Pride and Prejudice

Money makes the world go ‘round, so the common dictum says. At the start of the nineteenth century, when the novel pride and prejudice is set, this certainly seems to be the case. It is evident throughout the story that the theme of wealth and money is important in every tier of society and affects everything. From marriage, to social status, and from the differing sexes to the ways of life of different families.

The novel begins with the well-known quote “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” This shows to the reader the unbreakable link between money and marriage right from the beginning. It shows in the novels context, that marriage cannot be purely for love, the wealth and fortunes of each member in the marriage must be put into consideration. Both for the women family as they need to secure their future wealth before their father (and his money) die. And also the men, and his family, who need a male heir to inherit the wealth of his father once her dies. Therefore also securing a hoe for his mother/sisters in the future.

This also begins to show the reader the differences between the wealth of women and men at the time. It shows that women never (or very rarely) possess any wealth of their own; the wealth of a family comes from the husband. This is evident in the novel when we find out that although Mr. Bennet has five daughters, his fortune will be going to their cousin, Mr. Collins, when he dies. The readers find this out when Mr. Bennet says “It is my cousin, Mr. Collins. Who, when I am dead, may turn you out of the house as soon as he pleases”. This is because of an ‘entailment’ which means that the wealth of a family will always go to a male h...

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...arcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best living in his gift”. Meaning that Mr. Darcy’s father was going to let him inherit some money when he died. But then goes on to say “When the living fell, it was given elsewhere”, meaning he did not receive. This shows, whether true or not we don’t know yet, Wickham’s hatred and sometimes prejudice towards Darcy because he was the one to get a god life and money. While Wickham seemingly had his taken away from him, because Darcy wanted everything to himself.

As you can see, it would seem that the common dictum: money makes the world go ‘round, is true in the context of the novel. Here it seems that money affects friendships, marriages and social respect. Therefore dictating the lives of everyone in the novel, particularly the women, whom themselves have no or little money but as a family or couple want lots of it.