In today’s society, we take it for granted that we will someday be in a relationship or marry someone whom we love and have much in common with. Love and similar interests were not always the primary considerations for marriage, particularly in the case of English high society during the late 18th century when social class was considered a far more compelling trait when deciding whom to marry. In the Longbourn countryside of Hertfordshire, England the fictional Bennet family and its five unmarried daughters navigate their society’s expectations surrounding marriage.
In the satirical novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, the author tells this story using irony, exaggeration, and ridicule throughout the story to criticize society’s expectation that marriage is an apparatus of social elevation rather than an expression of love and commonality.
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By using Charlotte Lucas, the author criticizes the traditional matrimony system. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man is possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”. - Narrator, Chapter 1. Jane Austen uses irony in this line conceals an implicit criticism to illustrates that during the late 1700s the Regency society has a habit of expecting young people marry with someone who had a higher rank or fortune and Inheritance from someone in their family. On the other hand, this marriage expectation is only part of the traditional culture. Mary Bennet provides a simple definition of pride and vanity, so that readers can have a better understanding of the central ideas of the novel. “Pride is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed; that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self- complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” - Mary Bennet, Chapter 5. Her speech indicates that these attributes are “very common”. Therefore, she hinted that it is best to recognize this behavioral tendency of a person. However, at the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, both Elizabeth and Darcy believed that they transcended pride and vanity. They believe that they can avoid these cultural norms, but ultimately they are forced to accept that they do exist in the context of a greater society. They are responsible for others and should consider how their family and friends view them to some extent.
Pride and marriage is not the only society expectations. By using Charlotte Lucas’s marriage, the author emphasizes the theme of the story “true love verses class and reputation” After Charlotte Lucas decided to marry Mr.Collin, she tells Elizabeth not everyone have luxury for true love. “I see what you are feeling,' replied Charlotte. 'You must be surprised, very much surprised—so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.' Charlotte is simply indicates that she is going to marry Mr. Collins for his money. The Lucass are not wealthy and can't handle any substantial money in Charlotte's marriage. Therefore, for her, marrying someone with enough money to support their family is crucial. But not everyone in this story is willing to sacrifice marriage to wealth.
After Charlotte told Elizabeth the marriage between her and Mr.Collion. She Elizabeth respond with her belives on marrage. “Elizabeth quietly answered 'Undoubtedly;' and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins' making two offers of marriage within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she had not supposed it to be possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a most humiliating picture! And the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.” Chapter 22. The quote shows Elizabeth's perspective on marriage. which she believes that people should marry for true love and respect, not for material comfort. Elizabeth fulfilled her wishes in her marriage with Darcy. But in addition to love, she also receive the material comfort that Darcy brings.
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