How accurate does truth universally acknowledged prove to be in the novel Pride and Prejudice? Essay

This essay is concerned with studying examples of courtship and engagement in relation the marriages they produce. Jane Austen’s exciting novel explores the paths taken by young men and women, living in a time when pride and prejudice influenced people’s actions and behavior. Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice in the early nineteenth century, when social etiquette was strict and uniformly. Every male born became an heir to his family’s fortune, every female’s aim in life was to marry and secure her home. Inevitably, this would take away an element of romance to a marriage if it happened on the basis of economical reasons. Austen wrote a novel with a main theme of marriage, although love is mentioned only occasionally. Austen appears to be sceptical of the qualities of passionate love, and more approving of true love that is based upon respect, gratitude and understanding of one another. Hence the character Elizabeth Bennet, who was one of Jane Austen’s favourite characters. Women could not inherit their family’s fortune, which meant that every un-married woman lost their home and possessions when their father died, thus lay the importance of marriage to them. Men could be self sufficient, and not have a direct need to get married, although an heir was important to carry on their family name and fortune. These factors affected women’s perspectives of marriage. Was love important enough to attribute to a good marriage? Many women, like Charlotte Lucas knew that the aspect of love would have to be ignored when, at the age of 27 she was not already wed. Mr Collins is the cousin of Mr Bennet, who, with five daughters, knew what would happen to the un-married amongst them when he passed away. Mr Collins would inherit the Bennet estate, Longbourn. ‘Mr Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society’ (Chap 15) He is a humorous character in the novel, incredibly verbose, absent-minded and un-subtle. When he proposes and is declined by Elizabeth, claiming primarily that she is in no financial position to decline him, he is very condescending and is obvious about his economical reasons for marriage, and does not once mention love. His decision for marriage was prompted by his employer Lady Catherine De Bourgh and he makes reference towards her whilst proposing to Elizabeth; ‘It is the particular advice and recommendation of the very lady whom I have the honor of calling Patroness’ (Chap 19) Lady Catherine De Bourgh employed Mr Collins as a Clergyman on her estate at Rosings, and she would see it as fit that a man with a respectable career and moderate fortune should marry. Elizabeth is civil in her reply to him; ‘You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so’ (Chap 19) When Charlotte declares to Elizabeth of her and Mr Collins’ engagement Elizabeth questions her mercenary motives for marrying, and is unhappy that she knows her good friend will not ever be truly happy. ‘Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance’ (Chap 6) – Charlotte. Charlotte enlightens Elizabeth on the fact that she values security and comfort above love, ‘I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home’ (Chap 22) Mrs Bennet is superficial, ignorant, short tempered, proud and judgmental. She has made it her occupation in life to marry off her five young daughters. She was clearly distressed when Elizabeth turns down Mr Collins, and goes straight to Mr Bennet for assistance, ‘Oh! Mr Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr Collins’ (Chap 20) Mr Bennet is a sharp, witty and sarcastic toward Mrs Bennet, whom he married because he was ‘captivated by youth and beauty’ (Chap 42). They married young, as most people did and confesses to Elizabeth later in the novel that he ‘married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her’ (Chap 42) Their relationship in the book is one of humour, as Mr Bennet took delight in annoying Mrs Bennet, ‘Mr Bennet. You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves’ (Chap 1) Mr Bennet and Mrs Bennet’s marriage is also very formal, as they both call each other by their titles Mr and Mrs. They are obviously not a happy couple due to their complete difference in character and their bickering. Wickhams marriage to Lydia is much the same as Mr and Mrs Bennet’s. Wickham is drawn in by Lydia’s youthful flirting and energy, and when they elope then Wickham is paid to marry Lydia (Chap 49) by Darcy. The fact that money had to be included suggests that the marriage was economical, yet Mr Wickham, as we already know from past chapters, is a gambler and a liar. There could be no love involved from his part, and Lydia would be flippant enough to believe herself in love. Neither partner truly cares for the other, and this is why their marriage is similar to that of the Bennets. Elizabeth’s first impression of Mr Darcy is not a pleasant one. Darcy refuses to dance, when pointed toward Elizabeth, ‘She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me’ (Chap 3) Darcy’s pride leads him to be prejudiced by many of the women at the Ball. Especially Mrs Bennet who explains her dislike to Mr Bennet afterwards, ‘He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set downs. I quite detest the man’ (Chap 3) Elizabeth’s pride is hurt and she too is quick to be prejudiced about Darcy, this is her main fault throughout the novel. Elizabeth and Jane are very different; Jane is very passive and strives to see the best in everyone, whereas Elizabeth is more intelligent and observant when judging characters. Jane suggests that the reason for Darcy’s rudeness and pride is shyness, which happens to be the real reason behind his apparent inhospitality at Netherfield. The Bennet’s are of a lower class to Darcy and Bingley. Mr Bingley was good natured and well mannered, and Darcy, in contrast with Bingley seemed proud and unsociable. ‘There is not another woman in the room, whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with’ (Chap 3) The irony in this chapter is that, in her desperate attempt to impress and arrange single men for her daughters, Mrs Bennet is rude, poorly sophisticated and embarrassing, therefore affecting the chance of men being interested. It is clear when Miss Bingley opens the subject of Mrs Bennet’s lack of grace upon Darcy, that he is troubled by it. Darcy is already attracted to Elizabeth’s independence and wit, despite Miss Bingley’s attempts to deter his thoughts. Elizabeth meanwhile meets Mr Wickham and makes a wrong judgement of character. Wickham manipulates Elizabeth’s original dislike for Darcy, by telling her scandalous lies about him. When Darcy first proposes to Elizabeth, it is unfortunate that Colonel Fitzwilliam has told her that Darcy is the reason Bingley had left Netherfield. Elizabeth cares dearly for her sister and she is even more appalled that it is Darcy who has caused her unhappiness. Darcy approaches Elizabeth believing that his proposal would be accepted. Wickham’s words against him unbeknown. He is not tactful enough to change Elizabeth’s dislike for him. ‘He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride’ (Chap 34) Elizabeth is civil in her reply, which shows her strength of character, although she is aggrovated, ‘I cannot – I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly’ (Chap 34) She carry’s on to accuse him of her sister’s unhappiness, and perhaps the turning point in the book, when she reveals Mr Wickham’s lies. ‘Your character was unfolded in the recital which I received many months ago from Mr Wickham’ (Chap 34) They are both very angry; Darcy insults Elizabeth’s social status and ‘inferior connections’. She retaliates, ‘had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner’ (Chap 34) Darcy’s astonishment is great, and he leaves immediately. Upon receiving Darcy’s letter, Elizabeth re-evaluates some things. It is due to her family’s lack of credibility and breeding that is the cause of Jane’s unhappiness. She realises that she has been ‘partial, prejudiced and absurd’ (Chap 36) and this gains Darcy some respect, even though she still does not find him agreeable. The letter in itself made it clear to Elizabeth that Darcy really cared enough to write and explain himself, and he also bestowed trust upon her when he chose to explain about Wickham and Georgiana’s near elopement. Wickham’s main objective being Miss Darcy’s fortune of thirty thousand pounds. Elizabeth discusses Darcy’s proposal and Wickham with Jane. She analyses, ‘One has got all goodness, and the other all the appearance of it’ (Chap 40) People like Wickham could be judged on how well they displayed their manners and good breeding in public, at a time of strict rules for public behavior. Another meeting between Elizabeth and Darcy is when she visits Pemberly. She is told many things about Darcy that are the opposite of what she had previously thought of him. The housekeeper of Pemberly says, ‘He was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world’ Chap 43 Elizabeth perception is changed, she is no longer as prejudiced toward him, and thinks him more civil and kindhearted. This is partly due to her maturing and swallowing her own pride. Darcy has changed his proud manner and is very accommodating to Elizabeth and the Gardiner’s when they are at Pemberly. The most exciting and exhilarating section of the novel are chapters fifty to sixty one. The horror of Lydia and Wickham’s elopement makes Mr Bennet realise his failure as a responsible parent, the scandal meant that the rest of the daughters would be thought unsuitable wives. Mr Darcy pays Wickham money to marry Lydia; Wickham’s blatant desire for money shows his superficiality and is the beginning of another marriage devoid of happiness. Later in his second proposal to Elizabeth, when she thanks him for his kindness, Darcy justifies his contribution, ‘But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe, I only thought of you.’ (Chap 58) Elizabeth has found her happiness in a relationship of loving respect and mutual suitability. When Jane Austen handles the second proposal she is careful to show that there is no physical contact, and little eye contact. The way that the normally calm and collected Elizabeth stumbles over her words and reveals her inner thoughts to Darcy show a revelation in character. In conclusion, the statement presented by Mrs Bennet; ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife’ is not accurate. Mrs Bennet’s small mindedness and ignorance mean that she can not understand alternative reasons for marriage. Mr Collins and Wickham could prove this statement correct, as money did pay a part in their decisions to marry; yet they are depicted as scandalous or idiotic characters in the novel. Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley’s attitudes to marriage were different as, instead of money being a prime factor pushing them to marry, compatibility was considered, pride overcome and prejudice put behind them, to produce love in a marriage.