Explore how the theme of marriage is presented in Pride and Prejudice. What comments do you think Jane Austen might be making about her own time?

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Explore how the theme of marriage is presented in Pride and Prejudice

What comments do you think Jane Austen might be making about her own time?

Marriage is a key theme in Pride and Prejudice. Throughout the novel we receive many different views on each marriage because several different situations are presented to us. Jane Austen gives us her view point in some sections of the novel which put across even more the minor theme of marriage. We are also, at points, asked of our own views on certain aspects of one, or more, of the marriages.

We are given four main marriages to review. From a glance it is very easy to notice that Charlotte and Collins are marrying for simply economic safety. Lydia and Wickham are forced to marry after their scandalous relationship based on physical attraction. In contrast, her sister Elizabeth is determined a marriage should be based on mutual admiration and respect. Elizabeth and Darcy eventually join together after trial and tribulations and is based purely on love. Jane and Bingley are similar to Elizabeth and Darcy. Jane wants her marriage to be based on love and happiness, which she does eventually gain from the marriage.

The main point put across by Jane Austen is that many people in that time believed that money was needed for happiness. Throughout the novel many different points are presented to show how money should bring happiness but how few people actually believe this. Some people will marry when they are first offered but others will wait until they are truly ready. These situations will all be discussed and compared.

         Elizabeth is the only character who demands to marry not only a suitable man, but one she also loves. As far as her younger sisters go, Lydia and Catherine are immature and simply obsessed with flirting with officers. Elizabeth does not comprehend why someone would marry without any true love for her husband. The most likely cause of her lack of understanding probably results from growing up in a household where her mother and father showed no affection whatsoever for each other. Elizabeth is mindful of her father's mistake in marrying her mother.  In Lydia's case, she is simply obnoxious and rude. Elizabeth thinks her sister lacks both decency and virtue.

        Jane Austen’s beliefs and views on marriage are conveyed in the first sentence of the book alone:

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’

To put it simply, if a man is rich he must want to be married, which, as will be discussed, is not always the truth. Throughout the first chapter we are introduced to Mr and Mrs Bennet. Their marriage is meant to be humoured as both of the characters are played off against one another. Mr Bennet is very dismissive of his wife and is very sarcastic towards her. He speaks his mind and gives his views on all situations:

‘They are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.’

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Mrs Bennet is often made to look a fool by her husband, which makes this society seem even more intense. Mrs Bennet’s constant humiliation adds to the story. She is a character which is meant to be laughed at.

We are given an excellent quotation to provide our first views on the intentions of Mrs Bennet:

‘You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.’ This quotation implies that Mrs Bennet’s central interest is to get each of her daughters married. From the way Mrs Bennet is perceived, this shows Jane Austen’s view that women in ...

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