''PRIDE AND PREJUDICE THEMES OF LOVE AND MARRIAGE"
Though, marriage is the end of Jane Austen’s novel, yet it evolves more than the conclusion of a simple love story. There is a depth, variety & seriousness in Jane’s treatment of these topics.
Marriage was an important social concern in Jane Austen’s time & she was fully aware of the disadvantages of remaining single. In a letter to her niece, Fanny Knight, she wrote:
"Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor - which is a very strong argument in favour of matrimony."
The only option for unmarried woman in Jane Austen’s time was to care for someone else’s children as Jane Austen herself did; as there were no outlets for women.
The novels of Jane Austen’s – especially “Pride & Prejudice” – dramatize the economic inequality of women, showing how women had to marry undesirable mates in order to gain some financial security.
The theme of love & marriage is one of the major themes in “Pride & Prejudice”. Through five marriages, Jane Austen defines good & bad reasons for marriage. Charlotte – Collins, Lydia – Wickham, Jane – Bingley & Elizabeth – Darcy are the four newly-weds. The old marriage is that of Mr. & Mrs. Bennet.
Mrs. & Mr. Bennet are poles apart in their natural attitude. Mr. Bennet is sharp & witty. Mrs. Bennet is vulgar & discreet. Together they constitute a very ill-matched couple.
“Her father, captivated by youth & beauty … had married a woman whose weak understanding
& liberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her.”
Mr. Bennet married for beauty. Soon he realized that Mrs. Bennet, due to her intellectual bankruptcy & narrow vision, would not make him an ideal wife.
Mr. & Mrs. Bennet never enjoyed the marital bliss of emotional & intellectual understanding. The gulf between them had widened. Mr. Bennet becomes lazy & irresponsible & an odd mixture of ‘sarcastic humour, & caprice’. He mocks Mrs. Bennet & exposes her to the scorn of their five daughters. The disadvantages of such marriage attend the daughters also. Elizabeth & Jane become what they are almost. Mary becomes a vain. Lydia grows into a selfish & deceitful flirt who elopes with a selfish & corrupt rake. The stupid & weak-spirited Kitty follows Lydia's example & flirts with the military officers.
Charlotte & Collins are the first to get married. Collins, after, having a very good house & very sufficient income, intends to marry. He visits the Bennets to choose a wife among the Bennet girls. He sets out in detail his reasons for marriage:
“First … it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances to set the example of matrimony
in his parish. Secondly … it will add very greatly to my happiness, & thirdly … that is particular
advice & recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness”
Mr. Collins does not have any respect & affection for the girl he intends to marry. So, Elizabeth declines the proposal. Collins shifts contentedly to Charlotte who is herself eager to accept his proposal.
“Mr. Collins … was neither sensible nor agreeable … But still he would be her husband … marriage had always
been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune.”
Obviously Charlotte also does not think of love. She accepts Mr. Collins under economic pressure, knowing that she is going to marry an ass. Elizabeth is shocked at Charlotte’s engagement. Charlotte defends herself by saying:
“I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home.”
The next to be married are Wickham & Lydia. They elope before they get married. Compatibility & understanding are once again absent. Lydia is captivated by the external glamour of Wickham’s personality. She thinks, she is in love with him but she is only infatuated.
“They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheep situation, & always spending more
then they ought. His affection for her soon sunk into indifference; hers lasted a little longer.”
Jane & Bingley are sincerely in love with each other. Between them exists a great emotional compatibility. By nature, both are sweet & gentle, free from malice, ill will, affectation & duplicity, calm, unsuspecting, simple & willing to forgive readily. There is every likelihood that they will lead a happy married life.
Still, their marriage is timidly weak. Bingley is too weak-willed that in spite of loving Jane deeply, he does not take any initiative. Their temperamental harmony lacks the strengthening support of intellectual understanding & maturity.
“Still they will be happy because Bingley is too good to offend consciously & Jane is too good not to forgive even any offense.”
Elizabeth marries last & most desirably. When Darcy makes his first proposal, he had no doubts of a favourable answer. He acted as if he was offering prize which no sensible woman can refuse.
All the other characters believe Darcy to be a prize & that Elizabeth is falling for his wealth. Elizabeth rejects his proposal but accepts it for the second time.
Elizabeth & Darcy begin with prejudices & gradually move towards understanding. Elizabeth helps Darcy to shed his pride & be really the gentleman. Darcy in turn acts nobly & generously to win her love. Mutual affection & regards developed between them that form the basis of a sound marriage.
“It was a union that must have been to the advantage of both”
Elizabeth has to assure that she loves & respects Darcy. Love & respect count most in a marital union, & having secured both, Elizabeth does not make any false or exaggerated statement when she says half-mockingly:
“It is settled between us already that we are to be the happiest couple in the world.”
Thus it is true that the chief preoccupation of Jane Austen’s heroines is getting married & life is a matrimonial game as women in her times had no other option of business or profession open to them. However, marriage is not treated merely as a romantic end. Rather it is dealt with a depth variety & seriousness to highlight ‘good’ marriage based on mutual understanding, love, good sense & respect.
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