when marriage was the only way out for some women. Women were did not have as many rights as men. Property
was usually inherited by male descendants while women received dowries from their fathers when they marry. Also
women are totally taken up by what prospects for marriage they might have, as this means of economic survival
apart from dependence on their fathers and brothers if they do not marry. Marriage played the most important part in
the life of women and men alike and a mother's main aim was to marry off her daughters to rich, eligible men and a
man's was to marry a suitable wife. This was important because if the father died, the married daughters would have
to be able to support the mother and family financially. Women could achieve a higher social status through
marriage
The book was published in the 1813 where people had many different views on marriage rather than today’s views. I
think that Elizabeths views on marriage are that it is about happiness and love rather than social status and wealth. I
get this impression because she did not want to marry Mr.Collins even thought her mother (Mrs.Bennet) was trying
hard to persuade her. Mr.Collins is the soon to be rightful owner of the house they are living in. Her mother wants
her to marry Mr.Collins so it will ensure security for the future and the family will not lose their social rank or class.
Mrs. Bennett (the mother of 5 daughters) is quite an interesting character in the novel. She and her fiends (Mrs.
Long , Mrs. Philips and lady Lucas) spend most of their time looking for newcomers to the neighborhood.
Mrs.Bennet is eager to find a wealthy partner for her daughter’s so that the family will be financially supported and
will not become poor. This shows in the novel when she quotes “it is very likely that he ( Bingley) may fall in love
with one of them”. Mr.Bingley is a wealthy character with a high social rank which suits the expectations for
Mrs.Bennet. There is a fine irony in the fact that this most improbable expectation is realized.
I think that the relationships between Mr. and Mrs Bennet, Mr Collins and Charlotte Lucas, Lydia and Wickham and
Mr and Mrs Hurst are unsatisfactory. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and
Prejudice are contrasted between a father who cares about what’s inside of people and a mother who only worries
about vanity and appearance. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s parental guidance is unique to their personalities. Because of
their two opposing personas, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s ideas of marriage are conflicting for their daughters; Mr. Bennet
believes in a loving respectful marriage whereas Mrs. Bennet values a marriage which concerns wealth and social
status. Their aspirations for Lydia, Jane, Mary, Kitty and Elizabeth mirror their conflicting ideologies. Mr. Bennet
seems to have a quiet deep love for his daughters while, on the contrary, Mrs. Bennet’s love is over-acted and
conditional. Both parents help to shape their daughters’ characteristics and beliefs: Lydia reflecting Mrs. Bennet’s
flighty and excessive behavior while Elizabeth inherits Mr.Bennet’s thoughtful and reflective personality. This
relationship between Mr. and Mrs.Bennet is unsatisfactory because Mr.Bennet is not as wealthy and can not offer a
secure high social class rank that can support a family that Mrs.Bennet wants.
The relationship between Mr. Collins And Charlotte is pretty much financial. Charlotte is dealing with her life in a
way that makes sense to her. Mr. Collins was not a wicked man, and I therefore doubt if “contemptible” is the word
Charlotte would use for him, nor would she feel it wrong to marry a man because he was merely foolish. I believe
that charlotte is not marrying Mr. Collins for love but for a safe and secure future. I think that this is unsatisfactory
because she might not be happy with Mr. Collins even though he has got a lot to offer her.
