“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (Austen 1). This is the first sentence within Pride and Prejudice, which was spoken by Mrs. Bennett, the supposed loving mother who wanted what was ‘best’ for her daughters. She constantly was auctioning them off to be married to the richest and most handsome man. During the 1800’s, women were expected to marry as rich as they could in order to elevate their social status. Status meant everything to most women, so therefore marriage was just another way of achieving their goal. But Elizabeth Bennett defied these standards set forth for women; she only desired to marry for love. After having a quick romance with Wickham and after rejecting Mr. Collins proposal, Elizabeth finally found true love with Mr. Darcy. She ignored the high social status and money of Mr. Collins because she did not love him. She also didn’t even consider how poor Wickham was while she was courting him. Mrs. Bennett did not approve of any of these things that Elizabeth did though. She warned Elizabeth that if she did not accept Mr. Collin’s proposal that she would never see her again; that is how strongly she felt about marrying into a higher class. She even admitted that “the marriage of a daughter” was “the first object of her wishes” (Austen 198). Since Mrs. Bennett married for lust over anything else, she regrets her decision and only desires for her daughters to have the status and money that she never did have. Yet being a part of the gentry does not mean you will be happy. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth serve as an example of what Jane Austen thought marriage should be like. They both married for love as opposed to lust or status. Even though at first they were both prejudice, but once they began to be acquainted with each other they discovered the real personality of the other and eventually fell in love. Elizabeth even denied Mr. Darcy when he first proposed to her because she did not feel the love for him. She then admitted that “she began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man, who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her” (Austen 199). She doesn’t even consider his wealth or social status as what attracts her to him. Furthermore, Jane and Bingley are also adequate examples of a real marriage and relationship. Even though at first Mrs. Bennett set them up because he was of the gentry, Jane fell in love and when he broke her heart she was devastated. After all the adversity, they ended up together because their love endured through everything. Elizabeth even admits that they had “a general similarity of feeling and taste between [each other]” (Austen 223). Their marriage wasn’t fake or based on false pretenses how most relationships were because women only desired to be of a higher social status.
Jane Austen’s presentation of the various types of marriages reveal that the ideal marriage is one founded on love instead of wealth or lust. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane and Mr. Bingley completely contrast with Mr. and Mrs. Bingley, Lydia and Wickham, and Charlotte and Mr. Collins. Darcy and Bingley both have happy and caring marriages based on love. But the other three marriages are based on lust or social status and wealth and none of them appear genuinely happy. Through these couples, Austen clearly portrays her vision of what marriage should be.
I agree with everything that Austen was portraying about marriage in Pride and Prejudice. Love and a common understanding of one another is what a marriage should be more focused on. Austen does not include anything about God throughout the whole entire novel, yet that is also another important aspect for me in my relationships. The point of a relationship shouldn’t be to only please yourself or others, it should be to please God. Since God made us to be with a partner, we should glorify him through our relationships. I don’t disagree with any idea that Jane Austen presents within her novel, but I do think there is more to a marriage than just love.
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