Perhaps the most peculiar, surprising marriage is between Charlotte Lucas and Mr Collins. We see nothing of a previous relationship before engagement, and the text suggests that there was none. We know that Mr Collins, having come to Longbourne with the intension of marrying one of the Miss Bennets, is rejected much to his ire. He then almost immediately proposes to Charlotte, who being eager to marry readily accepts his proposal. Both, therefore, entered the marriage on the grounds of falsehood. (Charlotte, who is passing her marital ‘sell by’ date, is eager to marry to escape the social coercion that came with spinsterhood. Mr Collins is desperate to gain his dignity after being quite obdurately refused under such circumstances.) This is a match of convenience. As previously mentioned, if Charlotte is avoiding her husband months after their marriage, what will the situation be in ten in so years? However, although their marriage was cannot have been a happy one, it was very socially acceptable at the time. A clergyman was a very respectable position and to be married to one with such connections to high society would certainly not have been frowned upon. To be socially acceptable a couple did not have to be in love; very few were. Marriage was vital for women under any circumstances. Marriage was not to achieve happiness but to achieve a principal means of life and status. Both Charlotte and Mr Collins married for the sake of marrying somebody; neither had preference. Mr Collins, on the other hand was marrying mainly through a recommendation from his ‘noble patroness, Lady Catherine De Bourgh’, which suggests that he not only has no preference but has not much inclination either. Austen wishes us to see that this cannot be a good base for marriage and they therefore do not have the conditions to allow for the right type of marriage.
The relationship between Wickam and Lydia is based on passion and excitement. Neither seems to take the relationship seriously. Lydia loves the idea of eloping with an officer, not to mention one with a ‘hansom and charming’ reputation. For Mr Wickam, who previously tried to elope with a teenage Georgina Darcy, gets to have a little fun with a silly young teenager who is commonly known to be a ‘flirt to the meanest degree of flirtation.’ (Lydia seems to think it is joke. Wickam made it clear to Colonel Forster that he had no intention of marrying her at all.) Whilst romantic passion needs to be celebrated, it offers an incomplete picture of human relationships. Jane Austen makes it clear that the passion of the moment is no foundation for lasting happiness. By the end of the novel Lydia and Wickam’s reckless relationship has already descended into an existence, which is ‘unsettled and extreme.’ Their marriage will not even be supported by the relative, financial and social status that Mr and Mrs Bennet are able to enjoy. Jane Austen portrays Lydia to be quite proud of herself having done ‘what none of her sisters has’. She also seems to think that her sisters envy her. This shows her immaturity. Only time can tell what will happen when she eventually grows up and sees the misfortune of her situation. It is possible that this admiration for Wickam will be sustained, but more likely that as Lydia grows up she will resent Wickam for his actions. The likelihood that this marriage will be happy is extremely low. Neither partner knows the true personality of the other. Their personalities are similar. Both are frivolous, unprincipled, with ‘high animal spirits.’ Such roguish behaviour from both parties can only be detrimental to their marriage.
The Marriage of Jane and Bingley is one of two marriages in the novel that was a result of a productive chase. Jane and Bingley formed an attachment early in the novel but were drawn apart. If the marriages between the Charlotte and Mr Collins and the marriage of Mr and Mrs Bennet signify discord then the ideal marriage should signify harmony. This is why Austen shows approval in the way she portrays their relationship. Both are pleasant and agreeable with ‘pleasant countenance’ and ‘easy unaffected manners.’ During the novel, the easy, trusting personalities of Jane and Bingley are led to believe that their feelings are unrequited. This makes their love even stronger when they come together at the end of the novel. In this case, the personalities of Jane and Bingley are also similar. But unlike Lydia and Wickam, their shared qualities can only be beneficial. They both carry an ease that will make them appear an amiable couple to anyone. They complement each other. Austen obviously values that their relationship as it is not purely based on physical attraction but it ‘rationally founded’ as the couple share a likeness of feeling and taste. It could be argued, but is not emphasized by Austen, that the easiness of their natures could make them vulnerable as a unit, it could make them easy to take advantage of. This could be seriously detrimental due to their situation of earned wealth rather than an inheritance that could be there in times of difficulty. On the other hand however, we can see that as long as they have each other they will always be happy and they relationship has developed in conditions that have given them a firm base for a long, joyful relationship.
Austen ‘grades’ her characters as it were. Elizabeth is the most complex and we view her close up. Although she is witty and independent in her thoughts, it would be wrong to suggest that she is entirely the ‘new woman’; the desire of belonging to the gentry cannot be overlooked. Despite her misgivings, she is a dutiful daughter and whilst she was prepared to reject one of the wealthiest men in England, ultimately she is anxious to assume her role as mistress of Pemberley: ‘she looked forward with delight to the time when they should be removed from society, so little pleasing to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at Pemberley.’ However we know from intimate conversations that Elizabeth cares not for wealth, as we see when she first refuses Darcy, but wishes to marry for love, whatever the consequences: We see this when she falls for Wickam whom she knows is not financially ample; she cares not for his money but for his good looks and charming character. As wealth is not an issue for Elizabeth we know that despite the fact that she appreciates the wealth that she is marrying into, she is marrying for love, not money. This is a good base for happiness. In Darcy, although his approach is rude, is honest when he expresses his own feelings against marrying her due to the differences in their situations. He knows that if he marries Elizabeth he will not be going by the will of his relatives who wish him to marry Anne De Bourgh. The alliance would be seen as ‘a disgrace’ to the likes of Lady Catherine, but still knowing the problems it would cause, he proposes to Elizabeth. This shows how ‘ardently’ he ‘admires and loves’ her. He also must be credited in ’ loving her well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony in her manner of rejecting him’ and yet proposing again. Therefore in this case we know that both parties are deeply in love; they have a good foundation. The question is whether they complement each other enough in the marriage to sustain happiness. Elizabeth in all company is vivacious, strong-willed, thoughtful and engaging. At the beginning of the novel Mr Darcy speaks very little at all although we are later informed that this is because he speaks little to strangers. In a few cases it is only Elizabeth that invites Mr Darcy to the conversation through teasing and verbal taunting. For example, in chapter eight at the Netherfield estate: Elizabeth engages in a heated discussion with Mr Darcy about the accomplishments of women. These are qualities that can benefit Darcy when they are a couple. He has difficulty communicating with strangers whereas Elizabeth is all ease and friendliness. Towards the end of the novel, after his proposal is rejected, we find Darcy becomes quite charming. When they meet on Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley Darcy conducts himself with impeccable civility and even enquires warmly about her family. This radical change of manners will help him to secure a position that he has not yet acquired in Elizabeth’s society of a charming gentleman. This is important, as we know Elizabeth cares for the opinions of others. We see this in her deeply strong adversity to the idea of Lydia exposing herself publicly in any way.
Elizabeth and Darcy achieve their mutual admiration and respect only though the painful process of stripping away misunderstanding and self-deception, as they reveal to each other in chapter 58. Their marriage is rational because they have learned to know why they love each other and it is secure because it is hard-won. Austen portrays theirs to be the happiest match. She shows the ease and compatibility of their characters through the long journey that their relationship takes. She shows her opinion of marriage between classes through the two most explored couples, Jane and Bingley and Darcy and Elizabeth. We know that she, therefore, believes that is if is a match that is meant to be, then financial status will be unimportant. It is important that we analyse her views, as they appear to be different to common opinion at the time. She shows that women with ‘sweet countenance and good nature’ are equally ‘marriageable’ to the ‘vivacious and witty’. She even shows the latter is more likely to be successful. Therefore, I believe that Austen sees the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy to be the happiest and most promising.
