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

Explore Jane Austens attitude to marriage in Pride and PrejudiceLooking at the social, historical and ethnical contextIn the 19th century when Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice, the wayin which marriage was viewed was very different. It would have beenexpected of a young char 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 mean in theway in which marriage is viewed today. Today marriage is seen as anexpression of deep love and respect for another person. In Austenstime, a swell marriage was seen to be one where wealth and socialstatus of the macrocosm and woman were socially suitable. There was verylittle, if nothing at all found on a good love match. This can be seenin Austens opening statement, it is a truth universallyacknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune mustbe in want of a wife. Austens use of irony immediately indicatesthat she does not agr ee with this popular view of her time. Austensviews are depicted throughout the book through the thoughts ofcharacters, especially through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet.They seem to share the resembling 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 in front of her time, as her opinion is the common view among todaysmodern society.Austen illustrates two main examples of the ideal state of marriage.These can be seen through the relationships and eventual(prenominal) 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. However Austen thought thisshould be the other way around, as she believed that love andcompatibility are one of the most important aspect s of a good marriageand that money and social status should totally 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, equality and compatibility in a marriage. Thereader is shown the alternatives to this, in both the positive andnegative consequences of marriage.