Marriage Flashcards
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
In the first line of the novel, Austen reveals two of its primary themes: marriage and class (particularly as indicated by money). In the world of Pride and Prejudice, individuals are defined by their marital opportunities and financial holdings. However, the irony in this line conceals an implicit criticism. The line’s grammatical focus is on “a single man . . . in want of a wife,” but Austen’s novel is centered on her female characters as they struggle to succeed within this oppressive patriarchy. Each Miss Bennet knows that without a husband of decent means and status, she risks living a life as a powerless and potentially destitute spinster. That Austen can imply such a desperate reality in a superficially breezy and straightforward line is evidence of her mastery.
“there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten a women had better show more affection than she feels.” - Charlotte Lucas
On one hand, Charlotte’s pragmatic view of love, stands in stark contrast to the more romantic worldview that Elizabeth (and presumably, Austen herself) possesses. However, Charlotte’s philosophy reflects the unfortunate reality that the women in Pride and Prejudice must face. They live in a patriarchal society. If a man remains single, his greatest risk is loneliness. However, an unmarried woman faces a potential lack of financial security. In Charlotte’s eyes, this social inequality means that a woman must consider employing manipulation for the sake of her future. Charlotte follows her own advice when she shows “more affection than she feels” towards Mr. Collins in order to secure a proposal. Though Elizabeth’s happy ending suggests that it is not always necessary for a woman to be as pragmatic as Charlotte, her philosophy nevertheless serves as a criticism of a world that so limits a woman’s agency.
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance” - Charlotte Lucas
Charlotte’s pragmatic view of love and marriage actually conceals her fear and desperation. She sees love as irrelevant to a marriage and believes that a woman ought to limit her intimacy with her husband in order to avoid the inevitable disappointments. This indicates that Charlotte sees a husband as a commodity or means to an end. Even though Elizabeth criticizes Charlotte’s recommendation, there was sadly a great deal of truth to it in Jane Austen’s time. Charlotte is aware that if her expectations for a mate are too high, she risks becoming a struggling spinster. If she lowers her standards, though, she may not find love but at least she will be comfortable.
“You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way,” - Elizabeth Bennet
When Elizabeth refuses Darcy’s first proposal, she attacks his pride. Darcy clearly expects a positive response, which reveals his arrogance. However, Elizabeth’s claim that Darcy’s manner is not “gentlemanlike” shows that she judges him based on his behavior rather than his aristocratic standing. He can wear the label of a gentleman, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that his behavior is always appropriate. This particular statement causes Darcy great consternation. Elizabeth therefore forces him to reevaluate how he sees himself and consider his personality separate from his social position.
“How despicably I have acted! I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities!” - Elizabeth Bennet
In this moment, Elizabeth realizes how much her pride and prejudice have affected her judgement, even though she has criticized Darcy for the same narrow-mindedness. She believed Wickham’s story despite the obvious signs of his dishonesty - and she also wanted to believe the worst about Darcy. Once Elizabeth recognizes her faults, she does not wallow in them. Instead, she takes the opportunity to improve her attitude and finally admit her feelings for Darcy.
“I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled.”
This passage is the climax of Darcy’s journey to self-discovery. By admitting that he proposed to Elizabeth “without a doubt of [his] reception,” Darcy acknowledges that his class prejudice clouded his judgement. After Elizabeth’s rebuke, Darcy came to realize that a person’s manner is more important than his or her social status. He has since achieved a level of self-awareness that will enable his future happiness. Finally, this statement reflects the importance that Austen places on the family unit educating its children, since Darcy sees his shortcomings in the context of his upbringing.
