How does Jane Austin convey nineteenth century attitudes towards love and marriage in Pride and Prejudice?

Attitudes to love and marriage in the nineteenth century was very different from the comparatively liberal approach of today, and strict codes of etiquette were applied to Courtship for all but the lower classes

of society.

At the time of Pride and Prejudice, women’s role was firmly in the home and the young ladies portrayed in this middle and upper class, occupied themselves with singing, playing the piano, sewing and other such accomplishments that would enhance their prospects of suitable marriage.

Courtship was almost a formal procedure, and often engineered by parents, wishing a suitable match. Jane Austin demonstrates this when Bingley, a rich bachelor, is quickly drawn into the Bennett family on his arrival at Netherfield Park. The book also shows the intricacies of meeting and socialising the Bennett sisters with prospective suitors and the restraints of withholding any affection’s until after an engagement.

If a couple were to exchange gift, escort one another in carriages or touch intimately they were assumed, engaged.

However, in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin also wishes to illustrate the desire of young woman to choice lifelong partners for love and compatibility, rather than arranged marriages which are set up for considerations of wealth and social standing.

A lot of woman in these days were classed in gentry and were almost entirely dependant on men. However if a woman did not marry she relied financially on her male relatives. They were allowed, employment as a governess but this was viewed as an unsatisfactory way of life.

If a woman was proposed to and rejected marriage she would keep the man’s failure to herself. She might tell her sisters but would never tell another man. We see this when Elizabeth rejects Darcy’s offer of marriage and after only tells her sisters.

In this book we see many sorts of marriages. This included marriage of love, marriage of duty and marriage of propriety. We see marriage of love between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth and Mr Bingley and Jane on the other hand it is also a little of marriage of duty because Mr and Mrs Bennet know that there daughters will be sorted financially. Also had Elizabeth got married to Mr Collins we would have seen marriage of duty as they would have got to keep their house. Finally we see marriage of propriety between Charlotte Locus and Mr Collins.

Jane Austen uses humour to present her views by satirising many of her characters especially Mrs Bennet. In Chapter 1 we are introduced to her business, which is the basis of the novel: ‘The business of her life was getting her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news’.

We laugh at Mrs Bennet because her stupidity is shown during every crisis in the book. When Jane receives an invitation to dine at Netherfield, Mrs Bennet works out a way to enable Jane to spend the night there and saw her off “with many a cheerful ...

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Similarly, when Jane and Elizabeth wished to return earlier than expected from Netherfield, Mrs Bennet is so obsessed with the daughters courtship that she “could not bring herself to receive then with pleasure before”, the week was over despite the fact that Elizabeth had written begging ‘that the carriage be sent for them in the course of the day’

(Ch. 12. p.48)

When Elizabeth is invited to the ball at Netherfield she is delighted to go, as she has planned to dance with Wickham. Much to her disappointment whilst at the ball, she discovers that Wickham is not coming. To end the day her mother embarrasses her by talking loudly about her hopes of Jane’s marriage to Bingley. “Jane will soon be married to Mr Bingley”(Ch.18 p.82). Ironically, she causes the disruption in the relationship because Darcy alarmed by the schemes he hears persuades his friend to leave London quickly.

Pride and Prejudice illustrates that through Charlotte Lucas, which most women married for reasons of money and future security and not love. Charlotte says ‘Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance’.

Later she defends her decision to marry Mr Collins with her criteria as, “ I ask only for a comfortable home’. (Ch 22 p105)

Elizabeth and Darcy have to overcome his pride and prejudice, and her initial dislike of him in order to realise their love.

Jane Austin shows the views of society with her initial character of Darcy, who though ‘bewitched’ by Elizabeth was held back by her the

‘ Inferiority of her connections’ (Ch 10. p.42).

Later, in the novel Elizabeth confronts Darcy with his prejudice, ‘And your defect is a propensity to hate every body’ and she suggests that this is founded in his background by saying ‘, which not even the best education can overcome,’ (Ch.11 p.38)

While attempting to write a letter to his sister, Miss Bingley continues to interrupt Mr Darcy with flattery “ You write uncommonly fast ” (Ch.10 p.38). However he is annoyed and cuts her off “ you are mistaken. I write rather slowly ” (Ch.10 p.38). This shows he is not in love with Caroline Bingley and finds her irritating.

Elizabeth’s aunt Mrs Gardiner comes to vist them. She warns her about becoming attracted to Wickham, as he is good company but thinks she should do better financially. “He is the most interesting young man”(Ch.3 p.120)

After struggling to hide his feelings for Elizabeth he proposes to her and expresses his feeling towards her “I admire and love you” but Elizabeth has no feelings towards him and is angry with him for breaking up Jane and Mr Bingley. She also blames him for what he did to Mr Wickham.

There were strict codes of behaviour at this time. It would have seemed discourteous for a woman to vist a new neighbour without previous formal introduction by the head of the household. Mr Bennet had to vist Mr Bingley and introduce himself before any social contact between the two families can take place “Mr Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr Bingley (Ch.2 p.3)

As a rule the older children are meant to get married first. This is why Mrs Bennet says, “Though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr Bingley will dance with you”(Ch.2 p.5). Lydia replies stoutly “I am not afraid…I am the youngest, I’m the tallest”(Ch.2 p.5). Lydia thinks her height will make up for her lack of maturity showing her lack of sense.

Bingley’s description of accomplished woman gives an insight into the kinds of activities upper-class woman undertook at the time.

“They paint tables, cover screens and net purses”(Ch.8 p.31). Theirs was a gentle, delicate existence, and Elizabeth’s behaviour, walking (through mud) to Netherfield would not have been considered ladylike. We can sense though, Jane Austen’s humour at the kind of accomplishments the Bingleys describe. The author admires Elizabeth’s physical and mental energy.

Lady De Bough pesters Lizzy about her home life and education and is very shocked when she finds out that Lizzy did not have a governess when she was younger. “No governess. How was that possible?” (Ch.6 p.137). This shows that many people had governess and Lady Catherine De Bough though it was difficult to survive without one.

Later on when they are talking she finds out that “The younger ones are out before the elders are married” (Ch.6 p.138) Again this is quite a shock to her as this is a ritual of courtship.

The first thoughts of Darcy after the ball were “he was the most proudest, most disagreeable man in the world and everybody hoped that he would never come there again” (Ch.3 p.6). This was decided on the strength of his unsociable behaviour.

On receiving a letter from Caroline Bingley Jane is hurt by the news that the Netherfield party has left and Bingley likes someone else. Jane’s good nature say’s Miss Bingley’s motives are worthy but Elizabeth, more

perceptive suspects Miss Bingley is up to no good. In the letter Caroline says “My brother admires her greatly already”(Ch.21 p.99).

At the end of Volume 1 we see that things are going badly for the Bennet family especially Mrs Bennet, whose marriage plans for her daughters are falling apart. Her distress is summed up in the lists of her muddled and conflicting arguments. “Mrs Bennet was really in the pitable state… The mention concerning match threw her into agony of ill humour”(Ch.23 p.109)

Jane tries to understand a way to explain that the match is eligible.

“Consider Mr Collins respectability and Charlotte’s prudent steady character”. Elizabeth is still amazed at the marriage of Charlotte and Mr Collins and still sees Mr Collins as “a conceited, pompous, narrow minded, silly man”(Ch.1 p.113).

Darcy’s letter is a pivotal point in the novel. The fact that he feels the need to explain and justify his actions shows the esteem in which he hols Elizabeth. Her criticism of him has hurt his pride and, despite its formal tone, the letter shows his complete integrity. He honestly believes he had acted for the best. He makes no apology for detaching Bingley from Jane. He explains that the difference in social society might have been bridged but her family’s “want of propriety”(Ch.35 p.163).

There were various family reactions to Lydia’s letter. Jane is optimistic and is trying to see the best in everyone. Mrs Bennet blames everyone but herself. Mr Bennet has converted his shock into silence and Elizabeth keeps her intelligence and irony. On the other hand Lydia thinks running away is a joke “What a good joke it will be”(Ch.5 p.239)

Showing how irresponsible she is.

When Mr Bennet receives a letter from Mr Collins he finds out his daughter, Elizabeth is getting married to Darcy and thinks it’s a rumour. He thinks Darcy does not even know her or love her. “Who probably never looked at you in his life”(Ch.15 p300). Although we know this untrue because Darcy liked Elizabeth’s eyes. Elizabeth tried to join her father’s pleasantry but could only force one most reluctant smile.

When Mr Bennet finds out that Lizzy will be getting married to Darcy, he and Jane are very surprised as they bought thought that Lizzy hated Mr Darcy. Mrs Bennet forgets she dislikes Mr Darcy and is excited about the wealthy match. Lady Catherine is very angry “so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephews letter”(Ch.18 p.318). Mr Darcy stood up to Lady Catherine because of his love for Elizabeth.

Pride and Prejudice ends happily and all loose ends are tied up. Jane and Bingley move to Derbyshire to get away from Mrs Bennet “bought an estate in a neighbouring country to Derbyshire”(Ch.19 p.319). Mr Bennet visited Lizzy as he missed her “Mr Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly”(Ch.19 p.319). Kitty became more sensible because Lydia was not living with her “she became, by proper attention and management”(Ch.19 p.319). Mary became more sociable “Mary was obliged to mix with the world” (Ch.19 p.319).

Jane Austen has used humour to show us how silly some of the people were in Pride and Prejudice like Mrs Bennets obsession with marriage of her daughters, Mr Collins Pompous character and how Lady Catherine De Bough is so snobbish and nosy. Then she uses Views

Of society and rituals of courtship to show the way people lived and to compare it to our lifestyles today. Finally she used Omniscient narrator to show us what the characters are really like and to express her views through them. Love and marriage was very tangled in those days because of strict rules. In the book however they overcame the obstacles of marriage, which changed all of them making them happy or unhappy, but Lizzy and Darcy were happy, as they loved each other very much.