"Examine the decisions, about their futures, made by the women characters in "Pride and Prejudice" and show how far they were influenced by the expectations of the society in which they lived."

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 Ben Taylor                                                                                  10/05/2007

“Examine the decisions, about their futures, made by the women characters in “Pride and Prejudice” and show how far they were influenced by the expectations of the society in which they lived.”

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife’

This opening paragraph of “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austin has become one of the most famous sentences in English literature. It states that the novel will explore the theme of marriage. Jane Austen lived in an opinionated world and this is reflected in her novel. In “Pride and Prejudice” no secret is made of the need to marry for money. Many different types of marriages are explored in this novel.

It often so happens that novels mirror the customs and morals of a particular society. Therefore to understand the real meaning of the book let me first concentrate on how marriages were arranged in Austen's times and the difficult situation of young women. For many of them marriage in any terms was the only escape from a miserable life of spinsterhood. In our times women have many other alternatives in addition to marriage.

In those days it was not so. If a husband was poor or a gambler or a drunkard, she and her children could suffer from plight, as her prospects for employment were miserable. What‘s more women were unable to inherit property after the death of a previous landowner. All these factors contributed to the unfortunate position of women in the 19th century and caused them to marry early not for the reasons associated with marriage of today.

The first chapter gives us an idea of the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Having read the following several lines we can already speculate it is not a successful one; 'Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting news.' 

Such a description suggests their characters do not match perfectly. Mrs. Bennet is not very bright and often causes embarrassment of the two oldest daughters- Jane and Elizabeth, whereas her husband is a witty, intellectual gentleman. Some chapters further on we are given a serious look at the quality of the Bennet's marriage and the relationship of husband and wife. Mr. Bennet does not behave properly toward his wife. As a young woman she had all the charms of 'youth and beauty' to attract him. In time, however, her shallowness and ignorance 'had very early in their marriage put an end to all affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence had vanished forever;'

Despite this fact he did not resort to drinking, gambling or other pleasures like some men do. Instead he indulges himself in ridiculing his wife, who does not seem to realise it, in front of their daughters. As a result some of them unfortunately lost respect for their own mother. It occurs their marriage was arranged purely due to necessity. Though Mr. Bennet was not a wealthy man he did need a wife so that in the event of his death, he had an heir to pass the family fortune to. Mrs. Bennet, on the other hand, seems to have married him simply because women wish to get married. Both of them had their own reason, which certainly was not love. Jane Austen thus denies it being a happy marriage.

The first marriage to be announced in the book is that of Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins, being the closest male relative, will inherit the Bennet’s estate. He writes a letter inviting himself to Longbourn (The Bennet household). When he arrives he admires his cousins and reveals that his patron, Lady Catherine, has urged him to marry. However, before he eventually proposes to Charlotte he asks Mrs. Bennet whether her daughters are available. On hearing that Jane is likely soon to be engaged he starts making advances to Elizabeth. Soon he proposes marriage to her 'having resolved to do it without loss of time'. It is to be noted his proposal is laughable, with all the elaborate explanations and compliments that he considers proper for such an occasion.

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The main reason for Mr Collins' selection of a wife in Elizabeth is purely convenience. Her father’s house is going to be left to him. Marrying Mr Collins will not leave Elizabeth’s family left without a home. Many aspects of Mr Collins's proposal reflect his lack of feeling. The first, being how the proposal comes about. He comes to Hertfordshire, 'with the design of selecting a wife,' and he ironically feels that his choosing one from Longbourn was, 'disinterested on his own part,' due to the estate being entailed to him. Any lady from Longbourn will be adequate. He admits to Elizabeth ...

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