However he is prevented from doing this by her guardian this leads him in search of a woman with a large amount of riches. Lydia tries to become more important than her sisters, because she is the youngest and feels she’s doesn’t get as much attention as she thinks she deserves.
Lydia’s and Wickham’s marriage does not turn out well, they end up poor and unhappy, they try to take advantage of Bingley and Jane’s good nature, in her letter she says ‘I do not think we shall have quite enough money to live upon without some help.’
‘His affection for her sunk into indifference.’ Their relationship began when they ran away together when they met in Bryton; they eloped together because Wickham was running away form increasing gambling debts.
Lydia went with him in the hopes of marrying him so she could do what none of her sisters had done…get married. However he had no intention of marrying her. To prevent the shame that this would bring on the Bennet family Darcy bribes Wickham with a large sum of money into marrying Lydia.
There was a tendency to marry for money in the 19th century, the aim of a young person either man or woman was to snag a rich partner to secure the rest of there life’s as quickly and as young as possible, love was left out, money was the only consideration, in some cases this meant money was prioritised.
An example of wanting to get married for wealth is Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was the second son of an earl and therefore would not inherit. He hoped to get married to a young rich woman in order to keep his rich lifestyle. Although it seems apparent that he shows some affection for Lizzy he says to her that he has no intention of marrying her because of her financial situation.
Mr and Mrs.Hurst also marry for wealth, Mrs.Hurst is Bingley’s sister…but all Mr.Hurst wants to do is drinking, gambling, hunting and generally having a good time.
Charlotte marries Mr.Collins for independence, Charlotte wants her own house and settles for a tolerable husband in order to get what she wants, and she enjoys her marriage the most when her husband is not around and she gets some leisure time to herself.
‘Charlotte talks of the healthfulness of the exercise, and owned she encouraged it as much as possible ‘, this shows she encourages him to be away as much as possible.
Lady Catherine De Bourgh wanted her sickly looking daughter to marry Fitzwilliam Darcy for wealth, to unite the two great states of Pemberly estate and Rosings Park.
An example of marrying on the basis of sexual attraction is shown in the Bennet’s marriage. Jane Austen portrays this as an insufficient reason for marriage as it results in indifference. When Mr and Mrs.Bennet were younger they married each other for two different reasons. Mr.Bennet married Mrs.Bennet on a basis of sexual attraction. Mrs.Bennet on the other hand, married her husband simply for marriage status.
He enjoys teasing her and making sarcastic remarks that she doesn’t understand.
‘You must visit him as soon as he comes’ says Mrs.Bennet.
‘Depend on it, my dear that when there are twenty I will visit them all’
There will never be 20 young financially well off men in Longbourne, this shows he doesn’t take her intelligence for much and enjoys making a mockery of her.
He has no compassion on her nerves.
Miss.Bennet states ‘You take delight in vexing me’ this shows she is aware of Mr.Bennet teasing her but scarcely.
An example of couples marrying for love and companionship are Jane and Bingley, they are so compatible because they are kind, gentle and both have a sweet temper.
Jane expresses her affections by saying ‘He is just what a young man ought to be,’
‘Sensible, good humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! So much ease with such perfect breeding!’
The outcome of Jane and Bingleys marriage is excellent because they have wealth, status, sexual attraction, love and companionship, which is the basis of a good marriage in Jane Austen’s view.
The uncle and aunt of the Bennet girl’s Mr and Mrs.Gardner also form a good marriage as they seem to enjoy each others company and like each other.
They take trips together; couples that dislike each other down endure trips with each other free willingly.
Lizzie and Darcy make a perfect marriage in Jane Austen’s view.
They go through times where they despise each other, but Mr.Darcy’s behaviour changes as he realises he loves Elizabeth Bennet. Their relationship becomes unfriendly when Elizabeth over hears Darcy talking about her to suggest that she is mediocre in her appearance. This gives Elizabeth the prejudice perception of him in the following months to come.
Lizzie shows her hatred by refusing him when he proposes to her.
‘In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings be repressed, you must not allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you’
Lizzie replies ‘I would now thank you, but I cannot. I have never desired your good opinion’
After Lizzie’s rejection to Darcy’s proposal his attitude changes, he becomes more humble and still shows affection for her. She then becomes infatuated with Darcy especially in the kind act he did by bribing Wickham into marriage, to prevent the Bennet family’s shame.
Her affections are shown when she says, "I do, I do like him, with tears in her eyes, I love him."
She accepts him by saying ‘you are too generous too trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once and. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you and you will silence me on the subject forever.’
Jane Austen considers the marriage between Elizabeth and Darcy to be the perfect marriage. It includes all the reasons for marriage and has a strong element of love.
She shows us the key factors of a perfect marriage, money is a main factor to many people but this is not they key to eternal happiness.
It is strongly suggested that love is the most important reason marriage however a successful marriage is composed of not only love but all the reasons for marriage.
