Discuss attitudes to love + marriage in Pride and Prejudice essays

Discuss attitudes to love + marriage in Pride and Prejudice essays Set in late 18th Century Regency England, Pride and Prejudice is the portrait of the struggles of women finding the inevitable husband and of a society that believes in male superiority. Through Elizabeth Bennets lively intelligence and desire in finding a man she truly loves there is the contrast of her best friend, Charlotte Lucas marrying for convenience. Austen depicts the views of love and marriage in a time that matrimony to a gentleman of wealth was the goal of most womens lives: A ladys imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. We can see the importance of marriage from the start of the novel, Its influence over the characters and events of the novel is hinted at in the ironic opening sentence: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Through Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen portrays the commonly held beliefs about marriage at the time. She does this through her use of characters and their individual views on marriage and love. Societys view of marriage is evident through the many characters who express monetary views of the sacred institution. She uses Elizabeth Bennet to show the contrast between marriage for love and marriage of the era. Elizabeth Bennets views were very much disregarded at that time. Jane Austen uses this contrast to show happiness is more often found in Elizabeth Bennets idealistic views than in taking a chance with a man of good fortune. Elizabeth Bennets idealistic views are that she wants to marry for love. Many girls may feel similarly to Elizabeth Bennet but in the serial climate of the time of Pride and Prejudice, if a good marriage was offered she would accept. For example, Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte Lucas is the eldest child ...