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How is the theme of marriage portrayed in Pride and Prejudice?

Austen wrote the novel Pride and Prejudice between 1776 and 1777, although it was not published until 1813, to convey her views on the society she lived in using a satirised description. Elizabeth Bennet is the main character in Pride and Prejudice and we see the story through her insightful eyes and her strong minded thoughts that she voices occasionally in the novel. The theme of marriage is portrayed as a way of gaining advantage in the form of social rankings and money which therefore makes Elizabeth and Darcys actions more profound in the book as they chose to go against expectations and marry for love. Jane Austen uses the story to convey her thoughts on the standards expected from men and women in the 1800s and the actions of the upper class people who express their pride in a prejudiced manner hence the name of the book. Despite the known name of the novel, it was originally called First Impressions as the story constantly shows the deceiving thoughts that first impressions can conceive, a main feature explored within. Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy is one of the main characters to whom the proverb dont judge a book by its cover is based. At the beginning of Pride and Prejudice Mr Darcy id portrayed as an arrogant, proud and rich man. In Elizabeth Bennets opinion, he has a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance. This quote conveys the impoliteness and pride that marred the impressions Darcy had enforced upon all who were present at the ball. His first impression was the starkly contrasting to his manners, giving strong influence and importance to the original title of Pride and Prejudice, First Impressions. The quote pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man implies the original influence Darcy had upon the gentlemen at the ball and therefore his appearance gave him an advantage among others along with his supply of money and yearly income. Jane Austen opens the novel with the sentence It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in the possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. Austen uses this sentence to convey that the novel will be about marriage; although, if you turn the sentence around, it states that a single woman must be in want of a husband with a good fortune which is one of the reasons why Mr Darcy is seen as high society and a fine figure of a man. The translation of the former quote

tells us of the truth behind the story and the womens quest to find a fortune with marriage. This quest is the basis of the novel and is explored in many ways from the worst outcomes to the best. Austen uses the novel to show her views on this quest and the way in which society follows the rules of classes and social hierarchy in marriage.

During the time that Pride and Prejudice was written, women were expected to marry into a richer family than they belonged to. Women didnt inherit any money from their family and could only gain money through marriage to a rich man like the Bennet sisters. This was therefore considered the norm and women married more often for advantage in the form of money and a higher social ranking than for love and happiness. We know this as Charlotte Lucas states Happiness is marriage is entirely a matter of chance. Taking this theory into consideration, she goes forward with her marriage to Mr Collins. Charlotte Lucas used the word chance as a way of expressing her doubt of finding any form of happiness. Charlottes views on marriage are that a slight likeness towards the person is enough but you should always show more affection. The quote a woman had better show more affection than she feels proves this. The quote implies that Charlotte would be happy to marry without love or happiness, so long as she gets money and social status. Charlotte would wish to marry to gain a higher social status because with social ranking comes money. In Austens time social status also gave you access to balls, parties and the right to marry who you wish. If Charlotte marries for this, the virtues would be passed onto any children she might have. This also proves that Charlotte Lucas is pragmatic in settling for a marriage that will guarantee security rather than waiting, perhaps in vain, for a rich man to fall in love with her.

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