Analyse Jane Austen’s presentation of love and marriage in her novel Pride and Prejudice. From your evidence suggest what Austen regards as a ‘good’ marriage

Mr Collins is someone whom Austen takes great pleasure in satirising. When he first enters the Bennet house, he quickly decides that Jane would make him a fine wife. Later he learns that she is "soon to be engaged" so, he just as quickly changes his affections to direct them at Elizabeth. He makes sure that she is not going to be otherwise engaged and then, after conferring with Mrs Bennet, makes his proposal. His reason for marrying was, in short, that his "patroness" had told him that it would be a good idea for him to get married. After she has turned him down, he doesn't take no for an answer, he says "The more you say 'no,' the more I know you love me." She again says no and he continues to argue. He eventually gives up. Mrs Bennet is outraged. She is engrossed in getting Elizabeth married off and having the house safe after Mr Bennet dies. However, Elizabeth will not say yes, and so Mr Collins transfers his amorous intentions on to Charlotte Lucas. We hear later that she accepts his marriage proposal immediately because she considers herself to be "plain," all she wants is "financial security" from a marriage; her view is that "Happiness in marriage is purely a matter of chance." Their marriage doesn't possess "understanding of one another's characters," "good dispositions" or "similarity in feeling and taste." The affection/attraction in the marriage perhaps comes from Mr Collins, although as she and everyone else say that she is "plain," he must not think so. The only thing this marriage really possesses is "financial security." Austen gently mocks their partnership.

Wickham and Lydia's marriage is also one of little "understanding of one another's characters," no "good dispositions," no "similarity in feeling and taste" and as we later find out, there is no "financial security" either. The initial attraction was based on good looks and affection for one another. But after the initial attraction, Mr Wickham becomes disinterested in Lydia and this is even more of a problem. Lydia doesn't understand the shame she has brought upon her family and boasts that all her sisters should "look up" to her because she is a "married woman."

We see many incidents through Elizabeth's eyes; even when we first meet Wickham, we see that he is never really shown to the reader as a potential partner for her. Her first potential partner is in fact Mr Darcy, who at the first ball "drew the attention of the room" and Elizabeth, with his "fine tall person and handsome features." Unfortunately, for his reputation and Elizabeth's, he refuses to dance with her. She overhears him speaking to Mr Bingley, saying that she is "tolerable" but then he also says that she "is not handsome enough even to tempt me." Because of this, throughout the novel, Elizabeth misreads his forthcoming conduct. After hearing so, most of the people at the ball decide that although rich and handsome, Darcy is also haughty, ill mannered and proud. This is unlike Mrs Bennet's first impression, which was that he would be as agreeable if not more so than Mr Bingley, this was because he was handsome and rich - all Mrs Bennet wants for "her girls." At a subsequent ball, Mr Darcy asks Elizabeth if she would like to dance. This is when they have their first informal conversation about "vanity and pride," which leads them to have greater understanding of one another's character.

Austen reveals Darcy's true character through his conversations with Elizabeth. She finds him to be more agreeable than was first assumed. After receiving his letter of proposal and explanation of Wickham's true character, Elizabeth is even more surprised and shocked. Elizabeth and Darcy, after spending a lot of time together, eventually get married. Even Mr Bennet is surprised at Elizabeth asking to be allowed to marry Mr Darcy but he doesn't mind, as long as she "loves him." Their marriage possesses: "understanding of one another's characters" because they spent much time analysing each other, "good dispositions" because they find it easy to get on with one another, "similarity in feeling and taste" and they know this after spending lots of time with one another, "financial security" because Mr Darcy has a lot of wealth ("ten thousand a year") and property. Mr Darcy's initial attraction to her was based on her physical attributes such as her "pretty eyes" but she wasn't attracted to him until after his proposal, having been blinded by his flat refusal to dance with her at the first ball. They also possess responsible attitudes, sense, reason and judgement. One thing that is potentially wrong with the marriage from society's point of view is that Mr Darcy and Elizabeth are of totally different social standings. When we think about Mr Darcy in comparison with Mr Wickham as a potential marriage partner for Elizabeth, we see that Darcy has "all the good will" and Wickham "all the appearance of it."

Miss Bennet and Mr Bingley are in fact the first couple presented to us in the novel. This is perhaps the best marriage because both characters were physically attracted to one another at their first meeting; they find each other very agreeable; they don't get married until they have a good "understanding of one another's characters," they both enjoy doing the same things and Bingley has enough money ("four or five thousand a year") to keep them very happy. Jane and Elizabeth talk much about Bingley's "expectations of felicity" were "rationally founded." Rationality is one of the things Austen considers as part of a good marriage.

Marriage is a contract; Austen believes that a good marriage is a contract of love; a developed understanding of one another's characters; good disposition; similarity in feeling and taste; affection and attraction; and finally, financial security - enough money to live comfortably. She also believes that bad or unsuccessful marriages are based on irresponsible attitudes, ignorance and lack of reason and judgement; the couple must have self-understanding as well as that of their partner. They must also possess self-respect and have respect for their partner. Austen condemns the marriages that are based on rank and wealth or just physical attraction. Throughout the novel we see characters taking part in many different courtship and marriage situations. We are shown Austen's varying view of these marriages and her attitude is revealed in her style.

Proposed other paragraph to go in above conclusion:

The marriage of the Gardiners is also presented as a "good marriage" because they possess everything necessary for the marriage to be successful. They are a very friendly couple and take Elizabeth on a holiday to the Lake District. This trip plays an important part of Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship because they meet in the grounds of Pemberly and he is very forthcoming and polite. He enquires, "How is your mother?"

Andrew Dawson Page 1 5/2/2007