Preview

Critisicm on Pride and Prejudice

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1927 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Critisicm on Pride and Prejudice
Materialistic Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

Each individual in this world surely have a dream to get married once they grow up, especially with the one they love. Even though today’s society accepts unmarried relationship where couples live together and have babies out of wedlock, in the end marriage is what they hope for as a symbol of their relationship. Clearly, marriage is a must in human’s life. This necessity influences humans to create stories that end with marriage and live happily ever after. Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, is also one of those stories that fulfils this criterion. In this novel, Jane Austen described various marriages which differ from each other. Instead of love, there are marriages that are based on appearances and wealth, full of hypocrisy. At first glance, readers might not be able to recognize what Jane Austen’s messages from this diverse marriage assortment. However with deep analysis to the entailment issue, Jane Austen’s bibliography and Elizabeth Bennet’s psychological state, there is some evidence that Jane Austen was actually criticizing the manner in which marriages took place during her time that was mainly based on one’s wealth. Even though some couples were truly in love, nothing comes first before wealth.

The first enquiry that readers should doubt is the uncertainty of the entailment created in this novel. Mimetically, the entailment is just a tool created by Jane Austen to prove that she criticized marriage. Clearly Mr. Bennet cannot hand over the Longbourn estate to any of his immediate family members because he has no male heir. The rule of the entailment stated that no one can inherit any property unless they are the gentlemen of the family. The entailment had made Mrs. Bennet desperate to get her daughters married as soon as possible so that no one from her family including herself would live in poverty when her husband dies. "The business of her life was to get her daughters married." (Austen



Bibliography: Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. United States: Oxford University Press Inc., 1980. “Jane Austen’s Biography: Life (1775 - 1817) and Family.” pemberley.com. 13 March 2009 < http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/janelife.html> ----------------------- Adam 2 Adam 3 Adam 4 Adam 5 Adam 5

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the 19th century, marriage was the sole occupation of women and was the only way for women to rise in social status and to ‘support themselves’. Marriage was a fundamental aspect of Austen’s world and the importance of marriage is highlighted as Emma states that she is “not going to be married” and Harriet exclaims in a shocked tone “it is so odd to hear a woman talk so!”. For Harriet, and most women in the 19th century, marriage was an economic necessity to provide a stable financial future. This is reiterated by Emma’s use of short phrases in “a single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old maid” which expresses her disdain for those women who do not possess fortunes to match hers and reinforces the value of wealth in relation to marriage. Marriage was therefor, not for love but for wealth, as is demonstrated in Mr. Elton’s arrogant proclamation that he “need not so totally despair of an equal alliance as to be addressing myself to Ms. Smith!” The use of the word ‘alliance’ emphasizes the fact that matrimony was for financial benefits. Marriage in Austen’s time was valued unconditionally and was seen as a means to achieve financial and social stability.…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Through “Pride and Prejudice” Austen explores many values in place in her society and exemplifies just what value she applies to them. Marriage is the key issue addressed throughout this entire text along with her focus on women, which is Weldon’s focus as well; her approach is simple and abrupt. She accepts that marriage is a necessary goal for women yet believes that one should marry for love and happiness rather than financial gain or standing. Financial gain that results from marriage should be luck rather than the key factor for the marriage. This belief contradicted beliefs of society within that time as society dictated that the sole reason of marriage was to gain financial standing and as a result better standings within class and rank. Within the text there are many instances that show these contradictions of beliefs, of society and Austen.…

    • 1228 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Through the connections made between PP and LA, responders gain a deeper understanding of the purpose of a marital relationship within society, especially its importance in the lives of women. In the patriarchal society of Austen’s context women have no individual rights of their own and since inheritance was passed through the male linage marriage was the economic bases of life and the only option for women with limited fortune and beauty. The subsequent importance of marriage has been supported by the critic Ginger Graph, “the world of this novel; marriage is the market, and the young woman are the merchandise.” Austen has reflected the purpose of marriage as a tool for economic survival through her pragmatic characterisation of Charlotte Lucas who agrees to marry Mr Collins despite his, “conceded, pompous, narrow-minded nature,” she admits to Elizabeth that she “asks only for a comfortable…

    • 1562 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The fundamental importance and value assigned to marriage in the context of Jane Austen and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is reinforced through Weldon’s discussion of the options for women outside marriage and its purpose of providing financial security for women. In ‘Pride and Prejudice’, Austen presents the historical context of her novel in the mock axiom of “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” The parody of this statement is presented through Austen’s satirical tone, as the novel focuses heavily on women, rather than men, seeking to marry. Austen conveys this by directly informing the audience of Charlotte Lucas’ pragmatism, as she lives “without thinking highly either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young…

    • 1643 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    2. Why does Mrs. Bennet go through such troubles and schemes, such as forcing Jane to ride horseback in the rain, to marry off her daughters (Austen 29)? How does Mr. Bennet feel about this?…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    None of the Bennet girls have jobs, nor are they looking for any. All they’ve been clamoring for is to get married to someone quickly, which their mother, Mrs. Bennet, constantly reminds them to do. Elizabeth is the only one to challenge that convention, as she seems in no rush to get married and takes her time in carefully finding someone who can not only secure her financially, but suit her emotionally. Perhaps Jane Austen is criticizing the way in which 19th century England made women mere puppets in a society dominated by…

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In two societies where social hierarchy rules over love in marriage, the tones of selfish progression in teh passage from Pride and Prejudice counter those of loving sercurity in the passage from Our Mutual Friend. The character of Mr. Collins uses marriage fro social gain, having it take precedence over the feelings of the woman to whom he wants to marry. The other man longs to probide for the woman he loves and wishes to marry.…

    • 1097 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Criticism and manners determine the image given to a person from society. The satire, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, portrays the social life of young women who marry for love or money. The Bennet family becomes the center of attention through the conversing between Jane Bennet with Mr. Bingley, and Elizabeth Bennet with Mr. Darcy. Women married the wealthy for security and fortunate living. However, the men devise their own ways of courting women. Mr.Wickham and Mr.Darcy become foils of each other, through their many acquaintances with Elizabeth.…

    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Terrorism provides a unique challenge for emergency responders. Although they share many similar qualities as regular crimes, there may be an added danger. One such danger is the use of weapons of mass destruction. Responding to terrorism falls primarily into the realm of federal law enforcement; however, major incidents will often require the use of multiple agencies from multiple jurisdictions. A disorganized response force could spell doom for the victims. This is why the Incident Command System is so important in the prevention and mitigation of disaster effects.…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in wants of a wife” Chapter 1 | During the time period that this book takes place, this quote could be proven true. At this time, there were arranged marriages based on a mans place in society and his fortune. Today, people get married because they are in love. Some people may marry others based on their financial standings but there are many wealthy people, my aunt for example, who have no desire to rush into marriage. |…

    • 2070 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pride and Prejudice

    • 977 Words
    • 4 Pages

    This novel, being written in the eighteenth century, still provides many current, controversial themes. What is marriage about? Why should it be pursued? Mrs. Bennet seems to think that fortune precedes love when it comes to marriage. When first speaking of Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet shares her excitement by saying “a single man of large fortune;…what a fine thing for our girls!” (1). She finds it convenient for her daughters that the single Mr. Bingley has moved near to Longbourn. All she truly wants is to have her daughters married to respectable, wealthy men. Love, she feels, would be a lucky bonus. Because of this, the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet seems to be questionable as well.…

    • 977 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Property inheritance is another subject which Austen satirizes by using the situation of the Bennet family. In Regency England property was entailed, meaning it was passed down through a family, usually following the patrilineal line. “Mr. Bennet’s property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in default of heir’s male” (Page77). Here it is shown how a family estate was passed down, here in the Bennet’s case, as is it with most families, the estate was passed down to the next male in the family. This would mean that after Mr.Bennet died his daughters would have to leave their home and hand it over to the next male relative (Mr. Collins). This is the motivation behind Mrs.Bennet’s need to marry off her children before the death of her husband. This paradigm created by entailment limits both property and independence of women as it robs them of their immediate family inheritance and also causes them to hasten in finding a suitor. Both circumstances impose…

    • 1236 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mr Collins Proposal Essay

    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages

    According to Jane Austen, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” Now, imagine that you are a 27 year-old woman, unmarried, and living with your parents who must provide for your every need. Would you worry that you are a burden? Suddenly, a man walks in and offers you a chance at a new life. Would you accept his proposal and leave your parents? In “Pride and Prejudice”, Charlotte Lucas faced these challenges before accepting Mr. Collins’ proposal. “Pride and Prejudice,” a novel about love and marriage written by British author Jane Austen, reported the life of young women in search of an advantageous marriage. The novel shares the life of the Bennett family…

    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    What attitudes to love and marriage does Jane Austen explore in Pride and Prejudice? Can you identify Jane Austen’s own view? Jane Austen’s novel of Pride and Prejudice is set in the early 19th century and the central theme of the novel is love and marriage. Marriage was viewed very differently in those days and each character in her novel has different views of marriage.…

    • 1925 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout her work, Austen uses satire as a method of keeping the reader engaged, yet communicating her point. By examining how Austen narrates sections of the story without dialogue, how Charlotte Lucas acts in general and in specific instances, and by how Mrs. Bennet interacts both within and without her family. Due to the highly conservative yet class and wealth based marital system ingrained into society at the time, and as a result of Jane Austen’s continued pointed satire, it becomes evident that she is offering a critique of society’s way of marrying by expressing her ideas in an unusual way. Additionally, the fact that Austen never married and lived on an estate that she did not and was not allowed to own serve to further the idea that Austen is criticizing…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays