Examine the Attitudes to Love and Marriage that Emerge in Chapters 1-23 of 'Pride and Predjudice' and Discuss how we are Made Aware of Jane Austen's Attitude Towards them.

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Examine the Attitudes to Love and Marriage that Emerge in Chapters 1-23 of ‘Pride and Predjudice’ and Discuss how we are Made Aware of Jane Austen’s Attitude Towards them

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”

Jane Austen used this quote to open her second book, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, which was first published in 1813. This is a story of the attitudes towards love and marriage in the nineteenth century, through the eyes of a number of people in different family situations and levels of society. It explores what was socially acceptable and disgraceful at the time, as well as the author, Jane Austen’s, personal opinion on the matter. This is shown mainly through the character of Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five daughters of Mr and Mrs Bennet, inhabitants of the Longbourn estate. At this time, it was very important that young girls of around sixteen and above should aim to marry as soon as possible to avoid becoming destitute and unable to support themselves after the inevitable death of their father, whose estate would usually be inherited by the next male heir in the family. In the case of the Bennets, this is a distant cousin with whom they had not been in contact with for some time. His name is Mr. Collins...

Another worry for young women at the beginning of the nineteenth century was how high a reputation they had. It was unorthodox for a female to admit, like Lydia does when in Meryton, that she had come into town to find a man, because she would seem very eager and this may result in people looking down on her. On the other hand, if a lady acted as though she didn’t like a man so that he wouldn’t think she was chasing him, the man might think that she really disliked him and decide to admire another woman instead. Life could be very

complicated around the 1800s, so it was quite a good job that there was not much else for women to do, like going to school or work. This theory, however, is slightly contradicted by Mr Bingley when he is at Netherfield, when the family and Elizabeth are having a discussion about Mr Darcy’s sister and women’s talents,

“It is amazing to me how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished, as they all are”

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As well as keeping to complicated social standards, a lady was expected to have a wide range of useful skills, such as playing the pianoforte and doing embroidery.

One of the reasons for marriage which is explored in great detail in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is for material success or gain. The main example of this which is given to us by Austen is is Charlotte Lucas and Mr Collins’ relationship. Charlotte is in a very different position to Elizabeth Bennet; she is not exceptionally pretty, nor in a position to have almost any man she choses, and at ...

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