Marriage Without Love in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

1649 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Literature writing about love

The very first sentence of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen satirizes womens’ inability to be self sufficient and respected in society without a husband. Elizabeth Bennet resembles Austen as young women, as she chose to be old maid rather than be married inappropriately. Elizabeth cannot stand the frenzies her mother and sisters get in over superficial marriages. Unlike her sisters, Elizabeth is set on finding love, and will not sacrifice love for any absurd amount of money or status. Austen wrote during the uprising of the middle classwhich created an increase of individualistic views. Thus, Austen challenges class hierarchy by juxtaposing Elizabeth with the aristocracy in order to satirize the nobility’s divergence from the natural love of a man and women in holy matrimony, to marriages imposition as an artificial institution of society, used to preserve order and wealth. Austen challenges the ideals of class hierarchy and indicates ones’ status is independent of wealth, or heritage, and is decided by how close ones’ view of marriage matches the natural love between a man and women.

Jane Austen puts Elizabeth in charge of her rebellion against the gentry’s use of marriage as a way to attain social status and economic security. Elizabeth disgusted by their arrogance and rudeness, and unfazed by their wealth and status, surprises both Mr. Collin and Mr. Darcy by denying their marriage proposals. Elizabeth directs her defiance at the aristocracy as a group, for its endorsement of loveless marriage, to uphold their bloodline, as it engulfs society into a superficial lifestyle. Even though Elizabeth rejects these superficial relationships, she cannot escape aristocracy’s grip on her life, as her own mother and sisters are surrou...

... middle of paper ...

...op searching for Lydia, Mr. Gardiner fills his shoes by continuing to search for Lydia in order to clear the family’s name. In these ways, the Gardiners coax Elizabeth to open her heart and relinquish her prejudices, allowing her relationship to grow and finally bloom in the success of Darcy’s proposal. The irony behind the situation is that the lowly Gardiners below even Elizabeth’s class, are the ones that bring the couple together. Austen uses the Gardiners to challenge the paternal hierarchy as they are responsible for Elizabeth’s wedding. Though the ending is happy, it does not overshadow the social problems that Austen challenges up until the last page of her novel. Though the Gardiners experience love, and status, they will never experience the economic status of Darcy’s magnitude and therefore remind the reader of those less fortunate than Elizabeth.

Show More
Related

  • Femininity in Eighteenth-Century England

    1668 Words  | 4 Pages

    Concepts of femininity in eighteenth-century England guided many young women, forging their paths for a supposed happy future. However, these set concepts and resulting ideas of happiness were not universal and did not pertain to every English woman, as seen in Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice. The novel follows the Bennet sisters on their quest for marriage, with much of it focusing on the two oldest sisters, Jane and Elizabeth. By the end, three women – Jane, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s friend, Charlotte Lucas – are married. However, these three women differ greatly in their following of feminine concepts, as well as their attitude towards marriage. Austen foils Jane, Charlotte, and Elizabeth’s personas and their pursuits of love, demonstrating that both submission and deviance from the rigid eighteenth-century concepts of femininity can lead to their own individualized happiness.

    Read More

  • Marriage and Breeding in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, Elizabeth manages to overcome her mother's objections. to the pomposity and deign of her long-time adversary, Mr. Darcy, and. find true love in the world. The book is full of minor characters who mostly marry for the wrong reasons. Charlotte married for status, Lydia married for. physical attraction and Mrs. Hirst married for money.

    Read More

  • Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice: A Famous Work of England's Regency Period

    1644 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Regency Period in England was an extravagant era often associated with prominent social, political, economic, and artistic advancements. It took place in the early 1800’s and was a time of much elegance and aristocracy. Movies and books set in this time period all seem to highlight the elegance and romance that was prevalent at the time. Famous Regency Era literary works, such as Pride and Prejudice, portray young English women getting their happily-ever-after endings with their true loves. Unfortunately, such endings did not actually happen to real women of the era because they lived very austere and vapid lives. They hardly had a choice in many of their lives’ decisions and had little to no career options. These women were raised from birth to be lady-like, obedient, and agreeable in order to attract respectable men to marry, as they were fully dependant on men. Women were essentially treated as property passed on from their fathers to their husbands. They had many restrictions placed on them and often weren’t even allowed to walk outside without proper accompaniment. Because the expectations placed on women were so rigid and absurd, some feminist authors from the time ridiculed these social standards in their writing. Famous novelist Jane Austen was known for satirizing many social customs of the Regency Period in her romantic fiction novels, placing a special emphasis on women’s rights. Pride and Prejudice in particular depicted protagonist Elizabeth Bennet as a smart, headstrong, free thinking individual who didn’t let negative outside forces sway her beliefs. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen challenges the social propriety and creates her own ideals for women through Elizabeth Bennet’s independence, intelligence, and stron...

    Read More

  • Love And Love In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    Darcy and Mr. Bingley’s sisters soon follow him back to London. Caroline continues to plot in hopes of splitting up Jane and Mr. Bingley. She writes a letter stating that her brother will not be returning and that he may be marrying Darcy’s younger sister. Jane was very upset and though that Darcy and Mr. Bingley sisters are plotting against her and her sister. Jane agrees to take a trip with her aunt and uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner take Jane to London with them. They hope Jane will see Bingley while she is there but they also warned Elizabeth not to marry Wickham because of his financial troubles. Wickham continues to try to get one of the Bennet sisters or any one that has come into wealth. Austen was so back and forward with the men and women in this story. Jane is thinking the Bingley no longer wants her since he hasn’t visited or called her while she is in London. Jane had no clue as to what was in store for her

    Read More

  • Infatuation Of Marriage In Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

    1327 Words  | 3 Pages

    She emphasizes that marriages can only be successful if they are founded on mutual love. Elizabeth and Darcy 's relationship is really different from all the others in the novel. Elizabeth does not care about him being super rich and he does not find her the most beautiful. At the beginning, he thinks she is “tolerable”. They do not like each other at the beginning, they argue a lot and are really sassy towards each other. They are the opposite of amiable. Their relationship is far beyond just physical attraction. Darcy secretly helps out with Lydia 's situation. He does not want Elizabeth to be hurt nor does he want her family to ruin their repuation. He helps Elizabeth and does not bring it up, let alone brag about it. Love is not boastful. This shows the reader how contrasting Darcy and Collins ' characters are. “Elizabeth 's heart did whisper, that he had done it for her...” She has a feeling that Darcy is the one who helped out but she is not one hundred percent sure. Elizabethis wistful about saying so many bad things about him and she regrets her little speech when she rejected him. Unlike every other character in this novel, Darcy and Elizabeth took things slowly. Darcy purposes to her after a long time, when he was sure about his feelings for her. Even when she rejects him once he did not ask her over and over again, unlike

    Read More

  • Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Characters and Social Expectations

    1861 Words  | 4 Pages

    England, under James 1st rule was a vastly altered period compared to our now modern society. So many of the values held during this time, have now been discarded and forgotten. Jane Austen grew up in the Romantic period and experienced a world which was divided, whether through education, class, status, fashion, abilities, gender and etiquette. Her novel, Pride and Prejudice is counted as one of the great classics of English Literature. Austen engrosses readers to live in her world for a time and experience a society filled with matchmaking, romance, marriage and gossip. Every one of her characters is so distinctive and has a clearly outlined caricature. Each of their diverse values conveys a different thinking of the time. Pride and Prejudice is preoccupied with the gentry and most of the social aspects which consumed these people’s lives. There were so many expectations of how you would behave in public, but of course not all of these were upheld. Elizabeth Bennet, Mr Darcy, Mrs Bennet and Charlotte Lucas are four characters which keep such strong beliefs about the social norms. These characters are expressed so descriptively and through their personalities readers can learn just how the numerous social standards were received.

    Read More

  • Reputation and Love in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    1583 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Austen’s time, the inability to see past wealth when considering marriage is a cultural tie to the era and its norms. It’s a pitiable and vain cultural upbringing that is frowned upon in this century. One does not simply marry for the sake of wealth and reputation. Without love, marriage cannot last. It ends in a deadlock, or with two people living together but leading separate lives behind closed doors.

    Read More

  • Social Norms in Jane Austen´s Pride and Prejudice

    1189 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...er. Even as wise and intelligent as Charlotte is, she still identifies with the ideas of her time about marriage. Charlotte, serving as a basis of time’s views allows the reader a glimpse into the institution of marriage in the Regency Era. Charlotte more than emphasizes just how radical Elizabeth was for her time, since she was willing to wait for the perfect man rather than settle. As a contrast, she helps Austen create a unique relationship in Darcy and Elizabeth. Austen disproves Charlotte’s and the general society’s pragmatic belief in a likely unhappy marriage. Through Charlotte’s marriage Austen gains a more cynical and realist voice she shows that the heart does not always have to be consulted with for a comfortable union. However, she also proves that a happy marriage is possible in spite of personal imperfections as is the case with Darcy and Elizabeth.

    Read More

  • Compromise and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

    1934 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...s, Jane Austen makes them 'all right'." (Sherry, 92) By having Darcy and Elizabeth end the novel engaged in an ideal marriage is a significant detail. Jane Austen, in doing this is suggesting that society would be better if it followed Elizabeth and Darcy's example. By controlling pride and prejudice, and by learning that compromise is sometimes the best way to happiness, society can hope to improve itself. Marriage in the end, is the perfect ending, since it is both an affirmation of the values of society as well as a personal fulfillment, which it is for both Elizabeth and Darcy since they improve themselves by being together.

    Read More

  • The Character of Lady Catherine de Bourgh In Pride and Prejudice

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... Darcy and Elizabeth. Additionally, Austen sculpts the theme of social expectations and mores using the self-promoting ideology and behaviors of Lady Catherine as fodder for comic relief. Austen does not simply leave the image of the gilded aristocracy upon a pedestal; she effectively uses the unconventional character of Elizabeth to defy aristocratic authority and tradition. In fact, Austen's proposed counter view of the aristocracy by satirizing their social rank. Lady Catherine is effectively used as a satirical representation of the aristocracy through her paradoxical breach of true social decorum and her overblown immodesty. Evidently, Lady Catherine is nothing short of the critical bond that holds the structure of Pride and Prejudice together.

    Read More

  • Portrayal of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

    2064 Words  | 5 Pages

    Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice portrays varying attitudes to marriage. "The intricate social network that pervades the novel is one that revolves around the business of marriage". Through her female characters the reader sees the different attitudes to marriage and the reasons that these women have for marrying. These depend on their social status and their personal values. The reader is shown the most prevalent and common view of marriage held by society in Austen's time, and through the heroine, a differing opinion of marriage is explored. We are shown how marriage is viewed by the very wealthy and the values they emphasise in marriage. Through the characterisation of these women and use of irony, Austen has influenced the reader's opinions on the characters attitude about marriage and that of their contemporaries.

    Read More

  • Social Satire In Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jane Austen’s famous novel Pride and Prejudice promotes change in the way the English society during the 19th century viewed marriage. Through the use of conservative characters that were socially accepted in England during this time, Austen provides the reader with necessary details that show how insane these people were. On the other hand, Austen gives her dissentient characters more credit for their rebellious deeds. Austen’s campaign against social prejudice seems to succeed when Elizabeth marries Mr. Darcy for love rather than money.

    Read More

  • Class Consciousness in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

    1163 Words  | 3 Pages

    Austen follows the development of an outspoken, middle-class British woman, Elizabeth Bennet, as she encounters and overcomes the many social barriers that separate her from her aristocratic neighbors. Throughout the novel, Lizzie must confront society’s class-consciousness, particularly with her family’s growing relationship with the wellborn Bingleys and their friend, Mr. Darcy. It is clear that author, Jane Austen, intended Pride and Prejudice to be a parody of English society’s emphasis on the social class structure, which parallels the social class system of today.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Marriage in Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

    832 Words  | 2 Pages

    single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

    Read More

  • Class Distinction in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jane Austen is very clear in her writing about class distinction and she uses the novel to look beyond the widely stratified community divided by social classes experienced in the 18th century in England. This distinction shows that class snootiness is simply but an illusion rather than a real obstruction to marriage, given that Elizabeth, though socially inferior to Darcy, she is not in any way academically inferior to him. In this sense, Darcy realizes that his class pretentiousness is mislaid toward Elizabeth, since she also finds out that her prejudice towards Darcy’s snobbish and superior manner is misplaced when he rescues Elizabeth’s family from a scandal and disgrace. In this context, the writer uses Darcy and Elizabeth to show that class distinction does not guarantee one’s happiness in life, neither does it allow him or her to own every good thing desired. For instance, Darcy is brought out as a haughty character, who initially fails to think that Elizabeth is worth him for she originates from an unrecognized family; a middle class girl not so beautiful enough to suit him. However, as the...

    Read More

More about Marriage Without Love in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Open Document