The opening line of Pride and Prejudice states something similar to “a man with a large wealth is surely in want of a wife.” By opening the story with such a bold statement, Jane Austen is trying to prove something about many aspects. Ourselves, marriage, class(social status), and materialism. Although Austen wrote during a time when society was very different from ours, there are still many idea from back then that are present today. The characters in the novel represent different thoughts on each of the three main themes and portray illogical thinking of them all. Marriage is one of the main and most important points discussed in Pride and Prejudice. It appears that all of the crucial characters have different viewpoints and and opinions
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To some of the characters in the story social ranking is everything, which is true from some people in the real world as well. Mrs.Bennet, the Bingley sisters, and Catherine de Bourgh are the main culprits of this attribute. Mrs.Bennet’s main focus is to marry her daughters off. When reading the book, some may interpret it as her trying to ensure her daughters will have financial stability. Others such as myself, interpret as her trying to marry her daughters off to rich men in hopes of them climbing the social rankings of society. If this wasn’t her intention, she wouldn’t be so concerned with getting one of her daughters to marry Mr.Bingley before she even knew them. Along with this, she makes sure that her girls spend as much time with the Bingley sisters as possible to help them become acquainted with the upper class through socialization. Although Mrs.Bennet is concerned with social status, Lady Catherine is the most affected by this idea. She likes to be seen as above others. When Elizabeth is getting ready to go to dinner with Mr.Collins and Lady Catherine he tells her that she doesn’t have to try hard to dress nice because “she likes to have the distinction of rank preserved” (Austen Chapter 29). He is stating that Lady Catherine has a great concern with being able to see the difference between those of lower/middle class and upper class, which is where she fell. Lastly impacted by this ideology is the Bingley sisters. Their mentality of social class being everything went beyond this though.They let it get to their heads which leads to them being rude and snotty to anybody that they saw as less than them. Initially when Elizabeth goes to visit Jane at Netherfield Park the Bingley sisters talk poorly of her (ie; how she traveled on her own and her messy appearance). Another instance is when they are talking with Mr.Darcy about marriage. Caroline tries to make sure he isn’t
To some of the characters in the story social ranking is everything, which is true from some people in the real world as well. Mrs.Bennet, the Bingley sisters, and Catherine de Bourgh are the main culprits of this attribute. Mrs.Bennet’s main focus is to marry her daughters off. When reading the book, some may interpret it as her trying to ensure her daughters will have financial stability. Others such as myself, interpret as her trying to marry her daughters off to rich men in hopes of them climbing the social rankings of society. If this wasn’t her intention, she wouldn’t be so concerned with getting one of her daughters to marry Mr.Bingley before she even knew them. Along with this, she makes sure that her girls spend as much time with the Bingley sisters as possible to help them become acquainted with the upper class through socialization. Although Mrs.Bennet is concerned with social status, Lady Catherine is the most affected by this idea. She likes to be seen as above others. When Elizabeth is getting ready to go to dinner with Mr.Collins and Lady Catherine he tells her that she doesn’t have to try hard to dress nice because “she likes to have the distinction of rank preserved” (Austen Chapter 29). He is stating that Lady Catherine has a great concern with being able to see the difference between those of lower/middle class and upper class, which is where she fell. Lastly impacted by this ideology is the Bingley sisters. Their mentality of social class being everything went beyond this though.They let it get to their heads which leads to them being rude and snotty to anybody that they saw as less than them. Initially when Elizabeth goes to visit Jane at Netherfield Park the Bingley sisters talk poorly of her (ie; how she traveled on her own and her messy appearance). Another instance is when they are talking with Mr.Darcy about marriage. Caroline tries to make sure he isn’t