Pride and Prejudice Group

Question:

linca
linca
Student
High School - 12th Grade

How does the novel reflect/project the theme of marriage? Provide an example to support your answer.

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Posted by linca on Tuesday April 29, 2008 at 10:18 AM and tagged with marriage, pride and prejudice, themes.

Answers:


  1. podunc Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    Austen contrasts the four marriages that take place in this novel to reflect her views on marriage in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

    Charlotte Lucas marries for financial security, not for love. She marries Mr. Collins, a buffoon who was earlier rejected by Elizabeth. Collins, however, can provide her with a comfortable home and will, in fact, inherit Mr. Bennet's estate when he dies.

    Lydia Bennet marries Wickham, a penniless manipulator, for love (or at least attraction). It is not a prudent match socially, and their relationship is an embarrassment to the Bennet family.

    Jane and Elizabeth, on the other hand, marry Bingley and Darcy, men they love. These gentlemen are, however, still wealthy men who can provide a life of relative ease and comfort.

    Through her portrayals of these four diverse marriages, Austen seems to endorse a middle ground between the old ways of marrying for money and social position, and the new trend toward "companionate marriage" or marrying for love.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/pride

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    Posted by podunc on Tuesday April 29, 2008 at 1:05 PM