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Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice spends about a year, or twelvemonth, in the Bennet home discovering the depths of society. Set in England in the early 1800 s, this book reads of the social standards during the Age of Enlightenment. It shows the emphasis on marriage, or, namely, whom you marry. This story consists of three marriages. The first is socially based, the second is based on mutual admiration between two people, and the third represents one mans love and fight for a woman. This novel shows how marriage and love can arrest or improve social status and how love overcomes adversity.
The first marriage is that of the youngest Bennet, Miss Lydia. She is imprudent and spontaneous. On a trip to the home of her aunt and uncle, she elopes with Mr. Wickham, a militia man.
Mr. Wickham has no intention of marrying her. This is a tragic social step. It is thought that the real motive for this elopement is not of love.
To this Mrs. Gardiner then says, It is really too great a violation of decency, honor, and interest, for him to be guilty of it (375). Only a few chapters later, Mr. Wickham is persuaded financially to marry Miss Bennet. Neither has any way of supporting the intemperate lives they live. These two extravagant young people do not, however, end happily.
Mr. Bennet refuses to see his daughter after her marriage. Despite the financial help occasionally given by Jane Bingley and Elizabeth Darcy, they are rarely invited to see their family, as they often overstay their welcome. In the final chapter it is said, ... His affections for her soon sunk into indifference; hers lasted a little longer (520).
This marriage based entirely on an attraction between a good-looking, charming man and an impetuous, stupid girl of sixteen resulted in a poor social appearance and exclusion from many close family relations. The next marriage is that of Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet. This pair is a match from their first encounter. Jane is Mr.
Bingleys obvious favorite. When they meet at a social function, they often enjoy many private conversations. Unfortunately, Miss Bingley has better social expectations for her brother. She pressures the household to quit Netherfield, a small estate, for almost a year. This problem is greaten ed by one of Mr.
Bingleys friends, who discourages him from pursuing Jane Bennet. Mr. Darcy tells Mr. Bingley that Jane has no partiality to him. This is supported by her manners [which] were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptoms of particular regard (264). Upon their return to Netherfield, Mr.
Bingley and Jane quickly regress into their previous admiration for Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley and Jane court for a few more days, and become engaged. The most endearing love story in this book is that of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
At their first encounter, a ball held at Netherfield, Mr. Darcy is incredibly shy. He offends most of the community with his standoffish character and proud character, that he quickly becomes detested by the socially acceptable. Elizabeth begins to despise him. Mr. Darcy has a few more meetings with the Bennets before he leaves Netherfield with the Bingleys.
During this time he begins to admire her. He meets Elizabeth again at Rosings, the estate where his aunt, Lady de Bourgh, lives and employs Elizabeth's cousin and his wife. After a few encounters in Lady de Bourgh's home, Mr. Darcy can no longer conceal his love for Elizabeth. One day while she is alone in her cousins house, he calls upon her. In a rage mad with love, he proposes to her.
She is horribly offended by this proposition, and refuses all his pleads. She feels excessively outraged and embarrassed by the whole idea. In a rage he flies out of the house. The next day, as Elizabeth is taking a solitary walk around the estate, Mr.
Darcy delivers a letter to her. She reads it repeatedly. It tells of events that have influenced her opinion of him. She doesnt know how to feel to this man.
She battles with her head and her heart to find her true feelings. From her hate of a once abominable man, grows a love and admiration of a good man. Mr. Darcy, however, is supposed to marry his cousin, Charlotte de Bourgh. Lady de Bourgh travels from Rosings, a rare event by someone so important, to forbid Elizabeth from marrying Mr. Darcy.
She claims it would be inconceivable to let someone of low social class marry into such a strong heritage, and rich family tree. Despite all of the threats by Lady de Bourgh towards Elizabeth, they marry and live happily on the huge Darcy estate. Marriage and love are great social indicators. Should people marry whomever they love and forget society, love will overcome society.
If society is only found through love, than society will be improved, but when love is found for society, society will fail the lovers. 32 e
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