Charlotte Lucas did not believe that she deserved to be happy in a marriage. When she married Mr. Collins they were strangers and remained so.
Marriage in the early nineteenth century was an economic contract and in the case of the Bennet girls a means of financial security and social acceptability. Therefore Mrs. Bennets life revolved around her daughters security,
‘The business of her life was to get her daughters married’
and,
‘A single man of large fortune what a fine thing for our girls’.
Mrs. Bennets own marriage was not a happy one. Mr Bennet found retreat in his library. When he first married he was ‘captivated by youth and beauty and that appearance of good humour…had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to real affection.. all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown..’
A womans entire social,emotional and economic future depended entirely on how wealthy her husband would be. So time spent in pursuit of a wealthy mate was a matter of survival in the upper class. If you happened to like or love that mate it was a highly beneficial bonus.
‘Happiness in a marriage is entirely a matter of chance’.
It is sad that three of the marriages in the novel ended up as unhappy unions. The Bennets marriage was based on physical attraction. The Collins marriage, a financial union and the marriage of Lydia and Wickham based on passion was doomed to fail even before it had begun,
‘His affection for her soon sunk into indifference; hers lasted a little longer; and in spite of her youth and her manners, she retained all the claims to reputation which her marriage had given her’.
Everyone helped them in their struggle. Jane and Bingley received them to stay for long periods of time.
‘Both of them frequently stayed so long that even Bingleys good humour was overcome, and he proceeded so far as to talk of giving hint to be gone.’
Darcy also assisted them,
‘Though Darcy could never receive them at Pemberly yet, for Elizabeths sake, he assisted him….’
We can see that these unions based on phsical attraction, money and passion were unhappy marriages. In contrast to these marriages were Elizabeth and Darcy, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, and Jane and Bingleys marriages. They were based on love and respect and were happy unions.
Elizabeth and Darcys first impressions of eachother were not positive, but they soon learned that first impressions were not always reliable. When she read his letter she thought she would have had ‘a strong predjudice against everyting he was going to say’.
Despite all the odds they grew to love eachother. It was considerded wrong for Darcy to marry beneath himself and Elizabeth had already turned down two marriage proposals. The first offer came from Mr. Collins who said
‘ it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you’
but Elizabeth was determined to find love. Elizabeth and Darcy had the same interests and were able to joke in a
‘lively, sportive manner’
They were the perfect couple. As a teenager in the twenty-first century I feel that this was the most favourable marriage.
The marriage of Jane and Mr. Bingley was quite like that of Elizabeth and Darcy. Jane had found love in a wealthy husband. They are compatible and Mr. Bennet remarks
‘You are a good girl and I have great pleasure in thinking you will be happily settled.’
Mr. And Mrs. Gardiner’s union was based on true love and shared respect. They chose each other with their heads but also with their hearts. Mrs. Gardiner believed that it takes time for love to grow.
‘The expression of so violently in love is hackneyed, so doubtful it gives me little idea. Its often applied to feelings which arise from only hours of acquaintance.’
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are responsible for making Lydia’s marriage a respectable one and in some ways for bringing Elizabeth and Darcy together at Pemberley. A very caring and responsible couple.
I do believe that the novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is based on money and marriage in the nineteenth century. Marriage brought social status and popularity to a family.
‘The Bennet’s were to be the luckiest family…’
Elizabeth and Jane were lucky as the men they loved were also rich. Financial security was of the utmost importance with social standing running a close second.
It is a sad reflection at that time that these unwritten social rules existed and women treated in such a manner. After a very long struggle attitudes to women have slowly been changing. In some cultures women are still treated as second class citizens but in the western world today women have very nearly abtained equality.