Pride and Prejudice Analysis Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen and set in eighteenth century England. The story is told from the point of view of the main character Elizabeth, or Lizzy, Bennet where she is the second oldest of five daughters with a marriage obsessed mother and a father that could care less about the martial status of his five daughters. This was one of Austen’s most famous novels; published in 1813, as it satirizes issues Austen noticed in this time period she lived. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice comments on and criticizes the time period in which it was written, the 18th century, by talking about the economic problems, roles of men and women, and the emphasis placed on marriage in that time period. To
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Being married off to a wealthy man was the only way for a women to get rich in these times. Women had to chose between marrying for love or for wealth and wealth was a common choice because women were not allowed to attend schools to get an education to get a job like males were. This relates back to the different roles of men and women in 18th century Britain. It was extremely hard when families had many daughters and no sons, like the Bennet family with five daughters. Because Mr. Bennet had five daughters he was going to have to give his property to the closest male family member, which happened to be Mr. Collins. There are five different marriages portrayed in Pride and Prejudice.” The first is Mr. and Mrs. Bennet; however their marriage isn’t specifically described in the book but, “it can be inferred by their conversions that their relationship was similar to that of Lydia and Wickham--Mr. Bennet had married a woman he found sexually attractive without realizing she was an unintelligent woman. Mrs. Bennet’s favoritism towards Lydia and her comments on how she was once as energetic as Lydia reveals this similarity. Mr. Bennet’s comment on Wickham being his favorite son-in-law reinforces this parallelism” (Morris). Second, Lydia and Wickham is an example of a bad marriage because Lydia tried to run off in secret and was proud to be the first Bennett girl married. Third, the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte was an example of a bad marriage because it was based solely on money and social status. Fourth, Jane and Mr. Bingley were example of a good marriage: however, "You [Jane and Bingley] are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income" (Austen ch 55). Fifth, is Elizabeth and Darcy, which was the most successful marriage in
Being married off to a wealthy man was the only way for a women to get rich in these times. Women had to chose between marrying for love or for wealth and wealth was a common choice because women were not allowed to attend schools to get an education to get a job like males were. This relates back to the different roles of men and women in 18th century Britain. It was extremely hard when families had many daughters and no sons, like the Bennet family with five daughters. Because Mr. Bennet had five daughters he was going to have to give his property to the closest male family member, which happened to be Mr. Collins. There are five different marriages portrayed in Pride and Prejudice.” The first is Mr. and Mrs. Bennet; however their marriage isn’t specifically described in the book but, “it can be inferred by their conversions that their relationship was similar to that of Lydia and Wickham--Mr. Bennet had married a woman he found sexually attractive without realizing she was an unintelligent woman. Mrs. Bennet’s favoritism towards Lydia and her comments on how she was once as energetic as Lydia reveals this similarity. Mr. Bennet’s comment on Wickham being his favorite son-in-law reinforces this parallelism” (Morris). Second, Lydia and Wickham is an example of a bad marriage because Lydia tried to run off in secret and was proud to be the first Bennett girl married. Third, the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte was an example of a bad marriage because it was based solely on money and social status. Fourth, Jane and Mr. Bingley were example of a good marriage: however, "You [Jane and Bingley] are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income" (Austen ch 55). Fifth, is Elizabeth and Darcy, which was the most successful marriage in