In this essay I will examine various concepts and ideas on marriage of some of the characters form Jane Austen 's book. There is no denying that early 19th century 's approach to marriage was based on creating materially beneficial relationship for both husband and wife. Especially for young women, marriage was an only option to have a prosperous life and respect from community they belonged to. It was a case of honour and a chance to safetly settle down and provide oneself a decent future. In the book this kind of attitude was represented especially by Mrs. Bennet, the mother of Bennets sisters.
Jane Austen uses the Bennet family to illustrate different types of marriage and thus reveals her own view on the topic. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” This is the first line of the novel Pride and Prejudice and stands as one of the most famous lines in literature. It explains almost the whole plot of the novel in one simple sentence. The fixation with socially advantageous marriage in nineteenth-century English society reveals itself here,
Pride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austin during the Georgian era. It tells the story of an old woman, Mrs. Bennet, who strives to ensure her daughters ' marriage to wealthy husbands in order to sustain the family financially. The novel discusses some themes like pride, prejudice, social class and individual vs. society through characterization and plot. Jane Austin conveys her central message about how individuals are trapped in social norms but could revolt against them in a smooth way. The story is based on the Bennet 's family made up of five daughters with Mrs. Bennet 's obsession to have them married to rich people in order to ensure the survival of the family.
Pride and Prejudice is a novel set Georgian England times focusing on the relationship between classes and the legitimacy and true reason for marriage. In the novel Jane Austen, the author, satirizes the vanity of the people during the time of the plot by outlining the fact that they get married for economic gain, are not educated about humility at a young age, and look at others flaws before their own. Charlotte and Mr. Collins relationship and marriage are used by Jane Austen to show the problems with marriages in the time of the novel. As exemplified in this marriage, women married for economic gain and stability. Austen describes Charlotte’s view on marriage,“Without thinking highly of either men or marrying, marriage had always been her object; it was the only provision for a well- educated young women of a small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasant preservative from want” (Austen 74), In this passage the author clearly tells the reader what Charlotte’s actual reason for marriage is and gives the reader an insight into how some women thought during the time of the novel.
It can be interpreted as women being always ready for marriage and have no other priorities than to get married. According to De Beauvoir women’s inferiority is the result of the difference in the upbringing of both men and women. Women are socialized in a particular way to think that they are inferior to men. It is man who has the power to control the lives of women. A woman in the nineteenth century needed to be submissive, shy and docile as these are the characteristics needed for marriage so that the woman does not have to remain a
Like I mentioned before, most of the marriage in this novel was loveless and based around personal gain. In today’s society, for the most part, marriage is based upon finding someone you love and admire. The role that women are given in this novel is almost like their jobs are to get married and to show off their husbands wealth. In today’s society it is more than common for women to be independent and not get married until they are much older. This novel is important to read because it reminds people what society used to be like for
In order to be able to fully understand Chopin’s message, readers must envision the tradition of the Victorian society in which Kate lived. This was a society that clearly defined the gender role. Looking at Louse Mallard, one of the characters in the book, the author uses a woman who suddenly discovered a new life after the death of her husband. Ironically, Kate depicts Louise’s independence as a doomed fantasy because such freedom was actually unrealistic for the 19th Century woman. In this book, Chopin clearly outlines the importance of a woman’s identity other than her main role as a man’s wife
Primogeniture is a main issue discussed in Austen’s novel as the man has the ability to break vows and marry for economic gain. Austen presents the limited lifestyle that women live as a result of primogeniture. This essay will analyze the impacts of primogeniture on women and the freedoms of both male and female characters as portrayed by Austen in her novel. Tarpley, Joyce Kerr. "Sonship, Liberty, and Promise Keeping in Sense and Sensibility."
In the novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen effectively portrays how women believe marriage is a necessity to have a satisfied life. The major characters of the story represent the important role in the theme revolving around the dominant reasons an individual desires to marry during the 19th century. For example, the youngest Bennet daughter, Lydia, elopes with Wickham to guarantee that they are going to get married since they live in an era of rigid restrictions. Elizabeth Bennet is a brilliant, deferential, and sharp woman whom does not allow society to interfere in her way. Moreover, the Lucas’ are a family of minor gentry.
In the novel Mansfield Park, in chapters 1 to 5, marriage is presented as a tool for social elevation, a way for financial gain and a woman’s duty. An example of this is shown from the introductory paragraph which clearly shows how Miss Maria Ward had benefited from her marriage with the baronet Sir Thomas. This is shown by the quote “thereby raised to the rank of a baronet’s lady, with all the comforts and consequences of an handsome house and large income” (chapter1, page 1). It seems as though Jane Austin’s own view of marriage is depicted by Edmund’s view of marriage which is that marriage should happen because of love and not financial gain. The idea of financial gain and gain of