Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the marriages, in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", between Charlotte and Mr. Collins and Lydia and Wickham and highlights how love was not a primary reason to wed; women married for status or security and love was a by-product that could be hoped for but not always attained. The paper contrasts the situation in the eighteenth century to today when women can experience freedom, independence and love in the marriages of their choice.

From the Paper:

"Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is all about love. However, while love may be a many splendored thing, it is not always easy. One of the most significant things we learn from the novel is how society placed such urgency on marriage. It is safe to assume that being single is not a viable option for young women. While the urgency to get married is practically non-existent in the twenty-first century, the urgency associated with marriage in the eighteenth century is comparable to a lifeline for young women. Husbands helped define their wives and without a husband, a woman seemed to be less of a person. While Darcy is a character that does not fit the mold of the typical eighteenth-century woman, her character is utilized to emphasize how different she is from those around her. She is better suited for the twentieth century where women are free to make up their own minds."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Bantam Books. 1981.

More papers on Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice":

• Analytical Essay # 55045 : "Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"
• Analytical Essay # 117502 : "Representations of Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"
• Book Review # 106165 : "Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice"

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