19th Century Attitudes Towards Marriage Through Elizabeth Bennet's Perspective

Pride and Prejudice is one such novel where author Jane Austen successfully demonstrates the flexibility of the novel genre. She makes sure that romanticism and realism are balanced throughout her novel, based on the accuracy of the socio-economic condition of the country at that time, along with the characterization of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. She also uses Elizabeth Bennet’s ardent approach and ideas towards marriage as a part of romanticism. Jane Austen effectively justifies this duality as she depicts Elizabeth's social mobility within the limitations of the British Regency’s rigorous class hierarchy. Though realism and romanticism are considered the primary genres of the novel Pride and Prejudice, the suppleness of the genre goes even further.

Elizabeth Bennet's View on 19th Century Marriage Norms

Jane Austen was an author who opposed portraying vice and virtue in absolute terms. Despite this, Toby R. Benis has termed Pride and Prejudice to be a ‘typical Austen Novel’ in which the heroine faces the hardship of choosing between two suitors, one virtuous and the other not. Elizabeth Bennet faces the choice between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins. Both of these characters have one or two flaws in their personalities, and neither of them is depicted as shameful for the Bennets, unlike Mr. Wickham.

In all the novels of Jane Austen, including Pride and Prejudice, a very shallow picture of British society of the time is portrayed. The opening statement of the novel, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife,” is idealistic in a very ironic way. There is further mocking of these people of the time with the statement, “feelings or views of such a man” are “little known.” This is something that is believed by most of the characters in the novel, even though none of them ever voice it out loud.

There is a very noticeable difference in the attitude of the older and younger characters towards the idea of marriage. Elizabeth Bennet refuses to marry someone just for money and thus rejects two marriage proposals. Like Darcy and Bingley, she is also ready to disregard social class when it comes to marriage. This is what brings the idea of romanticism to the novel, even in the realistic setting. The anxiety of class difference is presented in a much subtler manner, and the heroine also marries her lover at the end of the novel.

Just like the perception seen to have by the character of Elizabeth, the genre of Pride and Prejudice can be considered a fluid reality. Sarah Wootton has said that even though Austen might have been reacting to the semi-autobiographical hero of Byron, she isn’t completely influenced by him. Instead, Sarah Wootton states that these similarities are obtained as a result of a shared influence. She also states that Austen was very familiar with the emerging literary figures of the time, which included Milton’s Satan, Richardson’s Lovelace, and Hamlet. This awareness allowed Austen to craft characters that are both complex and relatable, resonating with readers across generations.

The Realistic Nature of Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice, practically speaking, is a very realistic novel that is presented to the readers in a romantic way. The beginning of the novel is marked by the challenge of Mrs. Bennet to her daughters, asking them to get married as soon as they possibly can. Towards the end of the novel, she also celebrates the marriage of three of her five daughters. Even though the plot of the novel mostly focuses on the character of Elizabeth Bennet and her ideas regarding marriage and love, the more realistic idea of the time is provided by Mrs. Bennet’s idea of marriage as she is seen relating a lot of words like “jewels and carriages,” “rich,” and “pin-money” which her daughters will get upon being married. Lydia’s marriage is shown to be less ideal as Darcy literally has to pay Wickham to marry her. This aspect of the novel underscores the transactional nature of many marriages during this period, reflecting societal norms that prioritized financial security over romantic ideals.

References:

Benis, T. R. (Year). Title of the work. Publisher.

Wootton, S. (Year). Title of the work. Publisher.

Austen, J. (1813). Pride and Prejudice. Publisher.

Smith, J. (Year). Title of the work. Publisher.