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Marriage: The Perfect Ending to Pride and Prejudice
American and British Literature
January 27, 1995
An individual often finds himself in a conflict with the rules of
society. Occasionally, rebelling is the path to happiness. However, usually, the real path
to happiness is through compromise. This is the case in the early nineteenth century
England setting of Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. In the novel, Miss Elizabeth
Bennet is a lively, independent woman, whose family's financial situation and whose strong
mindedness suggest that she may never marry. Mr. Darcy, is a rigid and proper man, who
falls in love with Elizabeth, despite their differences. By the end of the novel,
Elizabeth and Darcy learn to compromise, and, in doing so, become truly happy. In
marrying, they not only fulfill themselves as individual, but also affirm the principle
values of society. As in many of her novels, this marriage at the end of the novel shows
us Jane Austen's ideal view of marriage as a social institution.
The novel Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen gives us the reader a
very good idea of how she views marriage, as well as society. The theme of marriage is set
in the very opening sentence of Pride and Prejudice; "It is a truth universally
acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a
wife" (Austen, 1) As Norman Sherry points out, this is Austen's way of implying that
'a single man in possession of a good fortune' is automatically destined to be the object
of desire for all unmarried women. The statement opens the subject of the romantic novel;
courtship and marriage. The sentence also introduces the issue of what the reasons for
marrying are. She implies here that many young women marry for money. The question the
reader must ask himself is, does Jane Austen think this is moral? Sherry shows us that
Austen was not particularly romantic. She reveals these sentiments through Charlotte
remarks concerning her marriage to Mr. Collins.
"I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and
considering Mr. Collin's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced
that my chance of happiness is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage
state." (Austen, 95)
Elizabeth, as Sherry points out, is not particularly romantic either, however unlike
Charlotte, Elizabeth has a certain picture of an ideal marriage in her mind, and therefore
would never marry for reasons other than love. We assume that since Elizabeth is the main
character, this is how Jane Austen sees marriage. Since Elizabeth would not marry without
love, we can also assume that Jane Austen sees what Charlotte does as immoral. Elizabeth
also feels that marriages formed by passion alone are just as bad as marriages formed
without love. Elizabeth reflects on her sister Lydia's marriage; "But how little
permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their
passions were stronger then their virtue, she could easily conjecture" (Austen, 232)
We again see reasons besides love as the reason for marriage. Jane Austen is not very
optimistic about marriage, in fact there are almost no happy marriages in the novel at
all. Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet, Lydia and Wickham, and Charlotte and Mr. Collins are
examples of the ill-matched and unsuccessful marriages in Pride and Prejudice.
The characters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice are not all
miserable by the end of the novel. Happy marriages in Austen's novels do occur. Sherry
illustrates this point. The right people eventually come together, for example, Elizabeth
and Darcy, the hero and heroine. The development of the relationship between Elizabeth and
Darcy is the most important proof of the whole overall theme of compromise. This
relationship took work, it did not just occur. Elizabeth has to learn to control her
prejudices. She forms her opinions very quickly and does not change them easily. Darcy has
to learn to evaluate people on characteristics other than social rank. He is too proud of
himself, as well as his high social class, and it affects his ability to relate to other
people. Both Elizabeth and Darcy have to change a little and come to understand each other
before they can be together.
In the novel, the theme of pride and prejudice is first introduced in
chapter three at the dance. Darcy, acting on his own pride, insults Elizabeth. He claims
that she is not handsome enough to tempt him. Elizabeth, overhearing his insult, considers
his remark as a direct stab at her own pride. This succeeds in invoking a prejudice in
her, against him that remains for the greater part of the novel. She feels that he is far
too arrogant and proud. When Charlotte points out to Elizabeth that Darcy has a right to
be proud Elizabeth replies; "That is very true, and I could easily forgive his pride
if he had not mortified mine". (Austen 13) The entire novel consists of the forming
of pride and prejudice. The climax of pride and prejudice, as Sherry sees it, is the first
marriage proposal. It is the height of pride on Darcy's part, and the height of prejudice
on Elizabeth's part. The rest of the novel is a sort of anti-climax, in which they begin
to compromise and learn how to relate to one another.
The theme of pride is built up in many different ways. One method
Austen uses to emphasize Darcy's extreme pride is by surrounding him with characters with
similar faults, although, their pride is much more severe and much more insulting. The
character in the story who represents an extension of Darcy's pride is his aunt, Lady
Catherine de Bourgh. s hen Lady de Bourgh meets someone she sees only their rank and class
in society. She does not appreciate anyone for any other aspect of themselves. Sherry
proves this by pointing out the fact that she believes Darcy and her daughter should be
married. She bases her thoughts on their compatibility in ranks, neglecting the concept of
love.
"My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended on the
maternal side, from the same noble line; and on the father's, from respectable,
honourable, and ancient, though untitled families. Their fortune on both sides is
splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their
respective houses...." (Austen, 266)
Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, also represent the pride which Darcy possesses. The fact that
they feel entitled to think of themselves well and other badly is proof of this, as
Marilyn Butler points out. Examples of their snobbishness is the condescension they show
towards Elizabeth when she tells of her walk to Netherfield. "That she should have
walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself was almost
incredulous to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced they held her in
contempt for it." (Austen, 24) Unlike the others, however, Darcy's pride is humbled.
Elizabeth manages this hefty task by rejecting his marriage proposal.
We see the development of the theme of prejudice, right from the
beginning of the novel, when we have the pleasure of meeting Miss Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth's corresponding sin is much more subtle and her enlightenment takes up the
space of the whole book".(Butler, 206) As Butler shows, the readers usually see the
love between Elizabeth and Darcy as a love between two opposites, because of the
differences in attitudes and of course in rank in society. However there are in actuality
characteristics, although mainly faults, in which there is a striking similarity between
the two characters. This is Austen's way of emphasizing to the reader Elizabeth's fault of
extreme prejudice. Whenever Elizabeth complains of Darcy's faults, she also touches upon
one of her own. For example, Darcy's disapproval of Wickham is very similar to Elizabeth's
disapproval of Darcy. Elizabeth is quick to see the faults of others, however she is
reluctant to see her own faults. Her first clue that she has allowed her prejudices to
stand in the way of judgement is that she was wrong about Mr. Wickham, which consequently
makes her wrong about Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth knows that she must learn to be less
prejudiced. By getting together, they benefit each other. Elizabeth makes Darcy realize
his faults and vice-versa.
Other ways of looking at the novel come to the same basic conclusion of
compromise.
" Pride and Prejudice uses the familiar anti-thesis between art and nature as the
ground of the book's action. Elizabeth is portrayed on the side of nature, feeling,
impulse, originality, spontaneity....it wasn't possible for Jane Austen to deprecate art
all together.. the movement of the book is compromise, as Elizabeth learns to take class
into account, Darcy comes to share Elizabeth's genius for treating all people with respect
for their natural dignities"(Klinger, Jane Austen and the war of ideas, 199)
The difference between Pride and Prejudice and other eighteenth century
novels, is that the heroines differ.
"Instead of the innocent, impulsive fallible girl, the heroine of Pride and Prejudice
dislikes, teases, and ends in part by debunking the hero... Where other heroines were
sycophants of social and masculine prerogative, Elizabeth Bennet is fearless and
independent." (Butler, 199)
The difference in the novel, is in Austen's
approach to Elizabeth. By making her as independent, and lively as she does, perhaps she
is trying to show society that this is acceptable. If society would learn to compromise
and lose a bit of it's rigidness, as Darcy did, then people would be able to fully
appreciate characters like Elizabeth Bennet.
Marriage is the only logical conclusion to this novel. Had the novel
ended any other way, it would have had no point. As said before, the movement of the novel
is towards compromise. Through marriage, Elizabeth and Darcy are making the ultimate
compromise. They are both changing a little about themselves, so that their marriage can
be successful. Had the novel ended without marriage, then the realizations on both
Elizabeth, and Darcy's behalf would have been for nothing. Also, through the novel we see
that Jane Austen is using marriage as a way of representing society. An ideal marriage is
representative of an ideal society. If people used the same methods as a couple would use
to obtain an ideal marriage, then perhaps we would be able to obtain an ideal society. By
researching Jane Austen we know that most of the heros and heroines end up at the end of
the story in an ideal marriage; "to do all her heroines justice, we must conclude
that they all marry for love, and not for other considerations. As to the social and
monetary aspects of their marriages, Jane Austen makes them 'all right'." (Sherry,
92) By having Darcy and Elizabeth end the novel engaged in an ideal marriage is a
significant detail. Jane Austen, in doing this is suggesting that society would be better
if it followed Elizabeth and Darcy's example. By controlling pride and prejudice, and by
learning that compromise is sometimes the best way to happiness, society can hope to
improve itself. Marriage in the end, is the perfect ending, since it is both an
affirmation of the values of society as well as a personal fulfillment, which it is for
both Elizabeth and Darcy since they improve themselves by being together.
WORKS CITED
1. Austen, Jane. "Pride and Prejudice. New York. Bantam
Books, 1813,1981.
2. Butler, Marilyn. Jane Austen and the War of Ideas. Oxford.
Claredon Press, 1975
3. Sherry, Norman. Jane Austen. London. Montegue House, 1966
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