"Pride and Prejudice": Exploring the Chasm Between Love and Marriage in Georgian England

1674 Words4 Pages

“Pride and Prejudice”, is a novel which explores the huge chasm between love and marriage in Georgian England. Jane Austen’s presentation of passion and matrimony reiterates the fact that marriage is a “business arrangement”. Austen uses irony to make fun of polite society in this satire and Austen also emphasizes the point that social hierarchy dictates whom you can marry. The pressures of men and women in Georgian England are revealed through her exploration of the aristocracy’s prejudice against the middle class society in which she lived. Finally uses comedy to expose hypocrisy

Early in the Novel, Jane Austen is initially presents Mr. Collins with comic irony and as a figure of absurdity to be mocked as a potential husband; Austen reveals Mr. Collin’s s palpable and selfish reasons for marrying in a simple comic statement “Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth — and it was soon done — done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire” Mr Collins an obsequious, egotistic and contemptible man uses a shallow approach to marriage, this is shown by the word “stirring”. Jane Austen uses a comic comparison to reveal how little time Mr. Collins has devoted to this change of heart. Mr. Collins is presented as a male whose “business” is to get married due to the pressures of society.

Equally, Mr. Collins’s proposal stresses even further, how he is willing to marry without passionate feelings, Jane Austen presents the ingratiating, self centered side of Mr. Collins in the line “I am convinced it will add greatly to my happiness” Firstly this quote is evidently suggesting that Mr Collins is a sycophant and he is trying to marry purely for selfish reasons and for his social status. Secondly, Mr Collins is also trying to...

... middle of paper ...

...views should be accepted. Finally an allegory is used as she mentions Pemberley which could be reflecting Darcy’s true character and Rosings where much of the embellishment is purposely flamboyant just like Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Jane Austen is exemplifying that Elizabeth’s gentility enhances Darcy’s ability to accept love and marriage. Equally Jane Austen accentuates the fact that love and marriage concerning Elizabeth and Darcy may be uncertain but there are possibilities of mutual respect and affection.The fairy-tale factor of the ending, with Darcy flouting family honour underlines the point “love” can redeem a man. While Darcy represents pride, and Elizabeth prejudice, the majority of the characters in “Pride and Prejudice” are impacted by both pride and prejudice, and their disdain towards the two pivotal characters in the novel becomes only hypocritical.

Show More
Related

  • Jane Austen's Use Of Satire In The Regency Era

    412 Words  | 1 Pages

    Through the satirization of love, Austen portrays how society’s views on customs of courtship and marriage differ from her own. During the Regency Era, one was not expected to marry for the sole purpose of love. In this passage, Mr. Collins refuses to accept the fact that Elizabeth has turned down his proposal, all due to his previous notion surrounding marriage. He believes that if Elizabeth were to marry him then she would be better off financially, which generates the assumption that she will automatically accept his hand.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Use of Satire in Pride and Prejudice

    1131 Words  | 3 Pages

    Austen disapproves of Mr. Collins and that is why she attacks and satirizes him. Mr. Collins is a "suck-up." His living with Lady Catherine has caused him to demoralize himself. He thinks and talks highly of people higher than himself, such as, Lady Catherine DeBourgh. An example of this is when they were invited to dine with Lady Catherine DeBourgh and Mr. Collins then tells Elizabeth,

    Read More

  • Elizabeth Bennett Pride And Prejudice Analysis

    934 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pride and Prejudice Essay Throughout Jane Austen’s, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett faces many challenges to realize that she was in the wrong and her prejudice against Mr. Darcy was misguided. Austen emphasizes the importance of wisdom through Elizabeth, who faces the challenge of overcoming her prejudiced judgement to reach maturity and recognize the man she loves. At the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth Bennett’s first meeting with Mr. Darcy was marred by Mr. Darcy’s pride to which, “Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him.” At the end of the novel, after Elizabeth learns the truth and unravels her prejudice against Darcy, she begins to realize that she does have feelings for him.

    Read More

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

    1327 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jane Austen, also criticizes marriage based on convenience and money. She criticizes through the experiences of Charlotte and Collins. The characters Charlotte and Collins are “perfect” for each other, they are both fake, selfish and scheming. In the nineteenth century, “most” not all women had this mindset where they wanted to marry successful and rich men to secure their futures. Love meant nothing to these types of women. Materialistic things meant everything. Charlotte Lucas is a character that only got married to secure her future. “Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window...and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane” After Charlotte finds out collins had been

    Read More

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

    1861 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ews of these ideologies. While Elizabeth does accept many of the norms of the period she also challenges the purpose for marriage and has an outspoken mind. Her confident personality doesn’t allow the fact that she has less wealth than many others and is constantly being scorned at to interfere with her happiness. She doesn’t permit the social expectations of her times to hinder her strong beliefs and fate in life. Pride and Prejudice is so vastly different to most other novels during the early 19th century that Jane Austen must have held some very alternative views. The heroine Elizabeth challenges the most social expectations of that time and she ends up the happiest of all the characters. This theme must have opened Romantic readers minds, perhaps to the way society should be and this I believe is why this novel is one of the great classics of English literature.

    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

  • Essay On Mr Darcy Character Development

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    Each of Jane Austen’s characters in her novel, Pride and Prejudice, experiences a significant character development. Whether the change occurs by self-realization or through the assistance of another character varies from each individual character. For Austen’s leading man, Mr. Darcy, his character improvement is documented through his two marriage proposals to Elizabeth Bennet and her subsequent first rejection of his proposal. His first proposal demonstrates his extreme arrogance, elitism, and blindness to his many flaws. While his latter proposal shows not only the recognition of his deficiencies, but the overall improvement in his mentality. Mr. Darcy’s two proposals, though having the same intended end result, are completely different

    Read More

  • Social Norms in Jane Austen´s Pride and Prejudice

    1189 Words  | 3 Pages

    Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is well noted for its ability to question social norms. Most importantly, Austen explores the institution of marriage, as it was in her time, a time where many married for security rather than love. Her characters Elizabeth and Charlotte are renowned even more for their outspoken nature and different views on marriage. Though both Elizabeth and Charlotte yearn for a happy marriage, Charlotte has a more pragmatic and mundane approach while Elizabeth is more romantic and daring with her actions. Through the romantic involvements of both Elizabeth and Charlotte, Austen shows that happiness in marriage is not entirely a matter of chance, but is instead contingent on an accurate evaluation of self and others

    Read More

  • Compromise and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

    1934 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is not unusual for an individual to disagree with social customs or expectations. Some people are only happy when they can rebel against society. Most mature adults eventually realize that compromise is necessary to achieve happiness. This is the case in the early nineteenth century England setting of Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. In the novel, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a lively, independent woman, whose family's financial situation and whose strong mindedness suggest that she may never marry. Mr. Darcy, is a rigid and proper man, who falls in love with Elizabeth, despite their differences. By the end of the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy learn to compromise, and, in doing so, become truly happy. In marrying, they not only fulfill themselves as individuals, but also affirm the principle values of society. The marriage at the end of the novel shows Jane Austen's ideal view of marriage as a social institution.

    Read More

  • Letters and Letter Writing as Seen in Pride and Prejudice

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    Austen's strategy of presenting the qualities of a person by way of indirection is clearly seen here. The odious letter from Mr. Collins prepares the reader to dislike him even before he arrives. Without even meeting this man, his personality is learned by the excessive verbiage, pompous flattery, and self-pride evident in his letter. It is Elizabeth who is extremely perceptive about Mr. Collins' letter because (after hearing it ) she immediately wonders if he can be a sensible man. And as the story unfolds, it is Mr. Collins' every action that will prove her belief to be true.

    Read More

  • Pride And Prejudice Rhetoric Analysis

    1514 Words  | 4 Pages

    Elizabeth Bennet’s Proposal: What is the Proposal Paraphrase scene Elizabeth is undoubtedly a progressive character. Her values put happiness in marriage over connections and political ascension, and she tells Mr. Collins as much when she declines his proposal: “[He] could not make [her] happy” (Austen 105). Elizabeth’s emphasis on the possessive pronoun “her” shows the reader implicitly how she puts herself above all other factors when it comes to marriage. In that way, she could be called selfish.

    Read More

  • Marriage in Pride and Prejudice and in Jane Eyre

    630 Words  | 2 Pages

    Furthermore, Charlotte Lucas who has no fortune settles for marriage with Mr. Collins, the arrogant, self important, materialistic and boring man. She thinks that it is better to be married than not, even if she doesn’t like him and he is not likely to make her happy. Elizabeth is so upset about charlotte marrying Collins because she is afraid if being forced into a similar marriage or ending up as having no money, no marriage .Concerning the civil status and economic right of woman , Austen is hitting at the patriarchal society.

    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

  • Pride And Prejudice Dialogue Analysis

    1698 Words  | 4 Pages

    Collins is interested in Elizabeth as well, and wants to marry her for several reasons which he deems proper and just. Mr. Collins is certain that he is worthy of Elizabeth’s acceptance because of his connection to the family of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and his position as a clergyman, but also because he will inherit her family’s estate when her father dies. He has no notion of love or lifelong happiness, which Elizabeth finds ideal in a marriage. He tries to understand her refusal, crediting it to her “wish of increasing [his] love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females.” Elizabeth, for the sake of his understanding fully, says, “Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart” (108). Austen demonstrates how Mr. Collins considers marriage to him a perfect solution to the problem of the entailed estate, while Elizabeth knows marriage to him would make her miserable. He later finds an acceptable match with the practical Charlotte

    Read More

  • Pride And Prejudice: Synonyms For Marriage

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    Collins is the next one developed in Pride and Prejudice. The reasons for this ‘courtship’ are staged and written in an almost comical nature which emphasizes just how absurd Austen feels about an alliance of this sort. In this couple Austen offers up Mr. Collins as an example that men also feel great pressure to marry. In fact, Mr. Collins felt the pressure so strongly that he proposed to two women in the span of three days. His proposal to Elizabeth in chapter 19 is a hilarious speech that states laughable reasons for marriage, ``My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly -- which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness”. Charlotte’s reasoning for the alliance was similarly bland. In chapter 22 she states, “Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her husband. Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small

    Read More

More about "Pride and Prejudice": Exploring the Chasm Between Love and Marriage in Georgian England

Open Document