Jane Austen present the reader of Pride and Prejudice with a number of representation of love and marriage, including 2 unsuccessful proposals to Elizabeth Bennett and the relationships of: Mr and Mrs Bennett, Jane and Mr Bingley, Charlotte and Mr Collins

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Jane Austen present the reader of Pride and Prejudice with a number of representation of love and marriage, including 2 unsuccessful proposals to Elizabeth Bennett and the relationships of:

Mr and Mrs Bennett

Jane and Mr Bingley

Charlotte and Mr Collins

Lydia and Wickham

Elizabeth and Mr Darcy

Analyse each of the proposals in turn and then discuss what you think Jane Austen's views on love and marriage were.

        Pride and Prejudice is one of the most classic love stories of all time. Written by Jane Austen in 1796 when she was just 24, the novel has become a favourite with woman in every generation since. Following the paths of 5 sisters as some come of age and other just grow older in a world where marriage is everything. Around the time of Pride and Prejudice, romantic love wasn't important. Parents picked a suitor for their children, usually marrying girls off into better off families if they could, financially securing them until death, or so they hope. It was well and truly a mans world in the 1700s, there was no means of a woman creating an independent existence, and so woman relied on marriage in order to lead a half decent life. Elizabeth receives 3 proposals, one from Mr Collins, her cousin, big fan of Lady Catherine DeBurgh and a clergyman, and 2 from Mr Darcy. I will discuss these in detail later in my essay

        The story follows that of the Bennett family. Mrs Bennett, mother of 5, means well for her daughters, but brings much embarrassment upon them every time she opens her mouth. Mr Bennett, her husband, is the calm that follows the storm that is Mrs Bennett. He is the one his daughters go to when search calm advice, although Mr Bennett does mock the girls' immature ways. Elizabeth (named "Lizzie" by close friends and family) and Jane (often referred to as "Miss Bennett") are the two older sisters (Jane older than Elizabeth). Then, followed by Mary, then Catherine (or "Kitty"), then Lydia.

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        Mr and Mrs Bennett are the perfect example of an arranged marriage working out. We can make a guess that the two did get along when first married, but that the relationship was probably built on lust, which after 5 girls, was bound to ware out. As they have been married for so long, they've learnt to live with and love each other, like couples were expected to. They annoy and irritate each other, but the Bennett parents love each other despite each other's embarrassing flaws.

        The first fresh relationship we come across is that between Jane Bennet and Mr ...

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