attitudes towards marriage in pride and prejudice
Although pride and prejudice is written in the third person, Austen only shows scenes in which Elizabeth is present. This may not be relevant but it means that all attitudes that are present will have a connection to Elizabeth. Austen confronts us with a number of marriages each of which can be perceived by comparison. The model relationship is that of Darcy and Elizabeth. But each has its own positive qualities but the relationship of Darcy and Elizabeth avoids the failings that afflict the other marriages we see in the novel.
Darcy's capture of Elizabeth represents the triumph of reason over perversity. But Darcy does not win Elizabeth merely by persistence, though this helps greatly. He not only “tolerates”, but delights in, Elizabeth's spirited readiness for disputation. By speaking her mind freely and intelligently she impresses Darcy with her independence. To win the love of such a woman is not easy but Darcy believes it to be well worthwhile she will love him, if ever she does, for himself, as she is not desperate to achieve great wealth or social status through marriage.
Another interesting marriage is that of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte is usually so sensible that Elizabeth is both baffled and hurt by the match. She has no reason to be. At twenty-seven, the rather plain Charlotte has little prospect of marriage this in a society in which the option of work is not open to women. Charlotte inhabits a world in which men judge a woman's looks before examining her character. Charlotte is sensible and intelligent - more worthy of a good husband, say, than Mrs. Bennet, but this also makes Charlotte a realist. In an odd way Mr. Collins is what she wants. The kind of suitor Jane Bennet can attract is, as experience has shown, beyond Charlotte's scope. Given his rather odious character, Mr. Collins, because of his evident lack of passion, is more eligible to Charlotte than if he were full of amorous desire.
Mrs. Bennet typifies the life
Darcy's capture of Elizabeth represents the triumph of reason over perversity. But Darcy does not win Elizabeth merely by persistence, though this helps greatly. He not only “tolerates”, but delights in, Elizabeth's spirited readiness for disputation. By speaking her mind freely and intelligently she impresses Darcy with her independence. To win the love of such a woman is not easy but Darcy believes it to be well worthwhile she will love him, if ever she does, for himself, as she is not desperate to achieve great wealth or social status through marriage.
Another interesting marriage is that of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte is usually so sensible that Elizabeth is both baffled and hurt by the match. She has no reason to be. At twenty-seven, the rather plain Charlotte has little prospect of marriage this in a society in which the option of work is not open to women. Charlotte inhabits a world in which men judge a woman's looks before examining her character. Charlotte is sensible and intelligent - more worthy of a good husband, say, than Mrs. Bennet, but this also makes Charlotte a realist. In an odd way Mr. Collins is what she wants. The kind of suitor Jane Bennet can attract is, as experience has shown, beyond Charlotte's scope. Given his rather odious character, Mr. Collins, because of his evident lack of passion, is more eligible to Charlotte than if he were full of amorous desire.
Mrs. Bennet typifies the life