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According to Milton Hershey School, “Family consists of the people who support and love you, and the people you can confide in and trust” In Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, the Bennet family has five daughters Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Cathrine, and Lydia. The goal for the Bennet's daughters is to be married move out and have a higher social ranking. This society depicts a woman’s reputation as one of the utmost importance to their life. The proper role of family is success in social class, marriage, and money. The only way to achieve this is by marrying someone in a higher social ranking or being born into a successful family.
First impressions have the greatest influence on others. When Darcy makes his first impression of the Bennet sisters he comes off as rude and arrogant: “His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped he would never come there again”(Austen 17). Darcy makes a terrible impression on the Bennet sisters. This shows how quickly people are to judge in this era. Jane is known for being very pretty and sweet but Elizabeth tells her that she needs to work on her first impressions, “Oh! You are a great deal too apt you know, like people in general. You never see fault in anybody”(55). Elizabeth tries to explain to Jane that she is being naive and forgiving but later on, proves that Elizabeth judges people harshly and too quickly. This is shown when she starts to ask Darcy about his past with Wickham but Darcy is resilient, “I remember hearing you once say, Mr. Darcy, that you hardly ever forgave, that your resentment once created was unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to its being created”(97). This shows how Elizabeth is pushing Darcy to tell her about his past, she starts to imply that he is stubborn and that he is too quick to judge.
Marriage is the key to success in this society. Austen's female characters are fixated on getting married, she portrays this by saying marriage is the only way to true happiness. Austen stresses this throughout the text and Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet's main concern for her girls is that they get married she does not care nearly as much about their happiness rather than whom they marry. “The business of her life was to get her daughters married”(24). Austen suggests that love is a desirable component of marriage but not in this society. Jane Bennet is compatible with Mr. Bingley, but love is not the only thing the Bennet girls have to worry about. Even though Mr. Bingley is a compatible partner for Jane, he does not have the money that the family needs. If Jane was a boy then her father's land could be passed on to her. The law says that he can only pass it on to Mr. Collins or Mr. Bennet. The only way Jane will be able to live comfortably is by finding a husband with money and social etiquette because the law makes Jane choose between a husband that she loves and has a connection with or a nice house and the ability to live comfortably, “Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted” (88). This proves how possessive Mrs. Bennet over her girls finding a husband and her lack of care for their happiness. When Jane gets caught in the rainstorm she becomes very ill, but Mrs. Bennet is too focused on getting a husband for her, Mrs. Bennet thinks that it will force Jane to go to Netherfield and find a husband there. Family is not always the source of happiness and love.
The perfect family does not exist in this society. Austen stresses this by showing Lydia runs away with Wickham about how hard marriage and social pressure can be. Society's expectations for marriageable women are very strict. Austen suggests that one act that is considered scandalous can ruin a woman's life and everyone she is related to and associated with. By sleeping with a man who is not her husband, Lydia does not just put her name at risk, but her whole family's name, “Oh! Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him”(103). Mr. Bennet thinks that Elizabeth should not have a say in whom she marries. This shows the gender roles in society in regards to how a father has complete control over their actions. Gender roles in society consisted of the man making almost all the money and the women having to possess certain skills to marry someone with money. Men only wanted women who have beauty, social etiquette, and a wealthy background, “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any” (66). Elizabeth expresses her anger toward Darcy after he explains to her that he will only marry a woman who has certain traits and appearance. Elizabeth tries to explain to Darcy that these standards are unrealistic and unfair. Darcy is very quick to assume that people will not question these decisions and just agree with him. When Elizabeth starts to challenge him, she makes her point clear that she does not agree with him and that she thinks her opinions are just as important as his.
Marriage, social class, and money are the only things you need to have a proper and successful family. This is shown through first impressions, marriage, and gender. First impressions are very important because it is how you are ranked in social class and it shows if you have social etiquette. Marriage is important because if you are a woman the only way you can make money is by marrying someone rich. Gender also plays a role in this society because women are expected to marry the wealthy, Men are considered to marry someone with a high social class and a wealthy background. Austen shows all of this throughout the book family is not always perfect and full of love but more expectations.
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