Timeless Love in 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Authors Avatar by msbluebubbles (student)

                Smith

SMITH

8-24-12

AP Literature

Timeless Love

        “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Corinthians 13:4) Love, the essence, the core, the visceral life blood of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is the primal thematic device in novel. Love in Pride and Prejudice is not viewed as a necessary component in a successful match but rather the match is based on economic necessity, in essence what monetary resources are brought to the table by both parties in the marriage or the marriage is purely based on lust that rapidly declines and all that is left is a loveless marriage that neither person really enjoys. The quote from Corinthians 13:4 summarizes what is the embodiment of love, the type or love that is real and blossoms between two people, the type of love that never fades and lasts for the whole of their lives, a love that is full of passion. This type of love, this real love is what makes Pride and Prejudice special and is what makes readers all over the world fall in love with the timeless romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

        The marriage between Mr. Collins and Charlotte is a marriage of economic necessity. Neither Mr. Collins nor Charlotte love each other, essentially they are using each other as a means to end. What Mr. Collins wants is a wife to cook, clean and bare children for him; he looks at a wife as a necessity for his station in life; “My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly -- which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness.” (Chapter 6, Paragraph 9) Love never crossed his mind when he asked Charlotte to marry him. He thought only of his happiness, pleasing his patroness, and adding to his economic stability as a clergyman.

Join now!

Charlotte too does not love Mr. Collins; the main reason she married him is because she was afraid she would never marry and she wants to be able to run her own house to be able to be away from her parents. “In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered the house he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waived for the present, the lady ...

This is a preview of the whole essay