When looking at the relationship or Mr and Mrs Bennet you see how thier relationship is far from perfect. Mrs Bennet is insensitive and Mr Bennet is sarcastic towards Mrs Bennet. Mrs Bennets faults of character can often show through her children Lydia runs fairly wild and chases a lot of men. This shows her mother lacks responsibility towards Lydia. She also shows bad manners at netherfield ball. A parents behaviour can often reflect onto a childs behaviour.
Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship could be seen as the ideal state between two extremes because they are marrying for love and financial security whereas Lydia and Wickham’s marriage is one of physical attraction and emotions. On the other hand Charlotte and Mr Collins are marrying for financial security alone, which is in direct contrast to Lydia and Wickham’s relationship.
Lydia and Wickham emotions dominate their reason.
Their marriage is one of ‘little understanding of one another’s characters,’ no ‘good dispositions’ no ‘similarity in feeling and taste’ and we later find out no ‘financial security.’ This is outside opinion of what is going on.
Lydia does not listen to Elizabeth’s as Elizabeth expresses her distaste of Wickhams character, and a tone of irony is usedduring the final conversation between Elizabeth and Wickham as Elizabeth is subtly aware of the truth about Wickham but does not say it overtly. Lydia’s indiscreet and impulsive attachment receives heavy condemnation from the people around her. Wickham becomes disinterested in Lydia after there initial attraction, which was based on good looks and affection for one another. Lydia does not understand the shame she has bought unto her family and boasts that the sisters should ‘look up to her’ because she is a ‘married woman.’
If Darcy had not intervened persuading wickham to do the honourable thing it would have left the whole family in shame because Lydia would have eloped with a man that no longer loved her and then she would have been cast aside it was clear that Lydia was unaware of Wickhams real intentions in gaining money from her and not loving her and that she was run by her emotions rather than her sense. Her behaviour could have cost the whole family’s reputation. However Lydia may have been saved from total degradation by Darcy’s financial intervention, her and wickhams marriage is now one void of love and respect. Making it an imperfect marriage.
Charlotte’s marriage also receives considerable disproval (although it is nothing compared to the disproval that Lydia and wickham receive!) The marriage is a practical one, mutually advantageous for both charlotte and Mr Collins. Charlotte is twenty-seven and in Jane Austen’s day would have been considered quite old for marriage. Charlotte has given up hope of falling in love and now only dreams of financial security and not dying alone and poor.
I think that Charlottes marriage can be summed up quite well through this quote from the book in chapter 22: ‘Without thinking highly of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want’
It shows charlottes lack of faith in marriage for love and how she has given up on this thought only wishing upon financial security. By marrying the rather pompous Mr Collins Charlotte loses the respect from her close friend Elizabeth.
Elizabeth and Darcy’s Relationship can be seen as a good relationship in between two extremes because the marriage is based not only on physical emotions and attraction, but the couple have carefully considered there future particularly there financial security. Elizabeth and Darcy’s love is gradual, hard won and therefore very much worth the effort.
Elizabeth’s original distaste towards Darcy is later replaced with respect and compassion as she sees what he does to help her family, (particularly his involvement in Lydia and Wickhams affairs.)
At the start of the novel he refers to Elizabeth as ‘tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me’ Elizabeths character shines through here as she jokes about hurtful things because she has a 'lively, playful disposition' but he later realises the beauty of her wit and her strength and notices her beautiful eyes.
Elizabeth hearing his comment about her looks dislikes Darcy from the beginning seeing him as arrogant and mean. Mrs Bennet feels the same way saying ‘he fancied himself so great’ commenting on his arrogance.
This makes Darcy a dislikeable unpopular character from the start of the novel in most of the Bennet’s opinions.
However When Elizabeth and Darcy begin to talk Darcy confesses his love for Elizabeth in a rather unflattering manner. She is not happy and rejects his proposal. I think this is when Darcy’s character begins to change and he becomes less arrogant and dislikeable. Elizabeth sees him in a different light and the pair begin to fall in love.
Later on in the book as the pair become better acquainted Darcy re-proposes Elizabeth this time agrees seeing the error of her quick judgement, (though I do think her rejection of Darcy, and his earlier rejection of her contributed to the changing of his character which encouraged her to say yes.)
The couple’s hard work and perseverance led to this marriage being so successful.
I think that Elizabeth and Darcy’s marriage is the ideal state between two extremes because the love of money and fear of loneliness, and the love of love only led to the couples being forced into unhappy marriages.
A good middle ground like Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship (or Jane and Bingley’s) leads to a happier marriage for the couples.
Rachel Lawrence 10 Beta
