Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes Jane Austen's point of view and critique of the marriage market in her book, "Pride and Prejudice". Is it financial and social status that makes a good marriage, or is it the "real love" of the couple? The paper gives various examples from various characters within the book in this matter and answers the "question of the times" in a well-discussed manner.

From the Paper:

"While the majority of characters in Pride and Prejudice are upper-class aristocrats, the Bennets are a typical middle class family. Austen portrays the marriage market by having these two highly distinctive class characters interacting with one another. However, Austen also concentrates our attention on a number of important courtships, which in turn provide a background to the central romance between Elizabeth and Darcy: Mr. Collins' wooing of Elizabeth, and subsequently of Charlotte Lucas; Lydia's scandalous elopement with Wickham; and, finally Jane and Bingley's tentative relationship lets the readers understand why the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy could be a better one than any of these. In various parts of the novel, we are also allowed to see the ultimate consequences of an "unwise" marriage, in the union between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet."

More papers on Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice":

• Analytical Essay # 117502 : "Representations of Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"
• Book Review # 106165 : "Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"
• Book Review # 115476 : "Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"

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