Choice Vs. Chance in "Pride and Prejudice"

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Recommended: Pride and prejudice critical analysis

Joel Weinsheimer's article "Chance and the hierarchy of marriages in Pride and Prejudice" defines chance as "ignorance of causes and consequences" and supposes it to be the driving force behind the action and ending of the novel (405). Events such as Elizabeth and the Gardiner's change of plans to Derbyshire and Darcy's business that brings him to Pemberley are given great importance as chance happenings. I suppose too, that the relationships of Charlotte-Collins, Lydia-Wickham, Jane-Bingley, and even the nonexistent ones of Miss Bingley-Darcy, and Elizabeth-Wickham serve an important role in bringing together Darcy and Elizabeth by chance. But to believe that the action of the novel is dictated by chance seems foolhardy; it is a theory that is too neat and tidy to be entirely plausible to me. Weinsheimer's article lists "Jane Austen's method of establishing chance as a credible and effective plot device" (405). I would argue that it is careful choice in marriage, not chance, which dictates the happiness of the characters. Discretion of choice is, simply put, the balance between love and love of money, and takes into consideration wealth, rank, acceptable character traits, a reasonable show of emotion, and general attraction. It is not by chance that there are only four truly happy individuals at the end of the novel, but rather because the others made such poor choices.

Austen makes it clear throughout her writings that marriage for mercenary reasons such as for money, attraction, a home or rank is a bad idea and the ending of Pride and Prejudice is witness to this: Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins end up avoiding each other, Mr. Bennet continuously takes amusement at his wife's expense, and Lydia soon loses Wickham`s affec...

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...ng force behind his unsatisfying yet entertaining marriage.

Weinsheimer's article defines an ideal choice as one that "is made in full awareness of motives and consequences." I argue that it is seldom in real life or fiction that individuals are able to make a choice in full awareness of its consequences, and likewise, most individuals would shy away from making an uninformed choice. Most of Austen's characters seem to be making educated choices where they are somewhat aware of or can at least guess the consequences of their actions. As a reader I resent the idea of chance being given such importance where it is undeserved.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Robert P. Irvine. Ontario: Broadview Press Ltd., 2002.

Weinsheimer, Joel. "Chance and the Hierarchy of marriage in Pride and Prejudice." ELH Vol. 39, NO. 3 (Sep., 1972): 404-419.

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