Explore Jane Austen’s attitude to marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essay

Explore Jane Austens attitude to marriage in Pride and PrejudiceLooking at the friendly, historical and cultural linguistic contextIn the 19th century when Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice, the wayin which marriage was spateed was very varied. It would have beenexpected of a young adult female to find a suitable partner for marriagebefore they were thirty, as after this they could be seen as anembarrassment to their family. By suitable, it does non average in theway in which marriage is viewed today. Today marriage is seen as anexpression of deep make do and respect for another person. In Austenstime, a good marriage was seen to be one where wealth and socialstatus of the man and woman were socially suitable. There was verylittle, if vigour at all base on a good love match. This sess be seenin Austens opening statement, it is a integrity universallyacknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune mustbe in want of a wife. Austens use of irony immediately ind icatesthat she does not agree with this democratic view of her time. Austensviews are depicted without the book through the thoughts ofcharacters, especially through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet.They seem to share the same view that social suitability is not enoughfor marriage, but it should be based on love and understanding. ForAusten to hold this opinion in the time that she lived shows she was forrader of her time, as her opinion is the common view among todays upstart society.Austen illustrates two main examples of the ideal state of marriage.These can be seen through the relationships and eventual engagementsof Bingley and Jane, along with Elizabeth and Darcy. The way, in whichAusten portrays these two relati... ...and compatibility and thefeelings of the two people involved, were not high on the prioritylist for a good, successful marriage. up to now Austen thought thisshould be the other way around, as she believed that love andcompatibility are one of the most important aspects of a good marriageand that capital and social status should only play a part in marriage,not decide it. This can be seen where she shows her personal feelingstowards each different type of marriage shown. In the marriages shesees as being good marriages, we can assume that they will be happywhen the marriage has been based on a balance of their personalitiesand their love. Throughout each she continually stresses theimportance of love, comparison and compatibility in a marriage. Thereader is shown the alternatives to this, in both the positive andelectronegative consequences of marriage.