Mrs. Geiger
Thesis B Final Draft
14 December 2012
The Foundation of Relationships In Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen debunks her society’s position on marriage and advocates the foundation of love through four relationships. The foundation that the couples build throughout the story consists of persevering through different trials. Austen believes that a couple should build a foundation by overcoming first impressions, by working through misunderstanding, and by dealing with society. Austen writes about four relationships and shows the differences between their foundations; some have good foundations and others are doomed to crumble and produce unhappy lives. These four relationships -- between Jane and Bingley, Lydia and …show more content…
They are both very proud people, and it initially hurts their relationship. Elizabeth Bennet, the second oldest Bennet daughter, is strong-willed and very vocal in what she believes. She is also very beautiful and the favorite daughter of Mr. Bennet because she is the most like him. She is a very prideful person, and she develops prejudices against people without knowing them fully. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the good friend of Mr. Charles Bingley, is a very misunderstood character. He is a handsome and wealthy man. He comes off as a very cold and arrogant man to people who do not know him. Darcy explains his behavior:
Unfortunately an only son, (for many years an only child) I was spoilt by my parents, who though good themselves, (my father particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable,) allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world, to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. (Austen …show more content…
Before Jane and Bingley have announced their feelings, she brags to everyone about how they are going to get married and how much money Bingley brings in a year. We also see Mr. Bennet’s reaction to their relationship, as it is in contrast to his wife’s. He is glad that Jane has found love in Bingley and that she will be taken care of but says, “I have not a doubt of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income” (Austen 632). This means that they will continually be taken advantage of, which is seen to be true when Lydia and Wickham come to stay with them. One can assume that Lydia and Wickham will overstay their welcome