Pride and prejudice(understanding marriage)

Understanding Marriage

Marriage as a perfect ending to the novel written by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice. People find themselves conflicted with the rules in society. However, rebelling to these rules of the society leads to happiness since the best path to happiness is in compromise. This setting is familiar with Jane Austen’s book Pride and Prejudice. The book is in the 19th century setting, in England. Elizabeth Bennet is a productive independent woman who seems to be in a position where she might never get married because of her family’s financial situation. Mr. Darcy is a popular and stable man who falls for Elizabeth even though they have little in common. They are different since they were raised in different family backgrounds and social classes. At first, Mr. Darcy was critical of Elizabeth social standing, disproving of her associations. Likewise, Elizabeth was critical of Mr. Darcy as she thought that he was arrogant. However, both were intelligent and principled. As the novel ends, we see the two decide to compromise in order to be happy. Marriage is the best ending of the play since it affirms the standard value of society. Marriage builds from love and romance, compromise, pride and prejudice, modesty and self-humbling.
Love and romance are leading factors to marriage. The novel by Jane Austen allows the reader to see how she sees marriage and society. She even puts it in the start of her book. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a considerable fortune must be in want of a wife” (Austen, 10). It is clear that she is questioning whether an unmarried rich man is the ultimate desire of other unmarried women. The words open up the novel to the genre of romance. The statements beg the reader to ask if Jane Austen thinks it is moral for women to marry for money. The plot of the novel is a complex love story that engages romantics from the beginning. Darcy and Elizabeth courtship is full of stumbling blocks and prejudices, which they overcome through their love for each other. Through romance and love, Elizabeth and Darcy are able to overcome their prejudices towards each other ultimately ending up marrying each other. This exposes Austen emphasis on the importance of love and romance to marriage to the reader. In the novel, Charlotte is the complete opposite of Elizabeth. She is less concerned about romance. She cares more about security than romance. She says that "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, 76). Elizabeth is not romantic also; however, she believes that she would not get married for any other reason apart from love. This highlights the importance of love and romance to the institution of marriage.
There is a huge element of compromise in the novel. The right happy marriage finally happens in the novel through compromises. Compromise is when two parties reaching an agreement lower some of their standards. Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth have to compromise on some of their beliefs in order to come to a workable relationship between them. It completes the plot set by Jane Austen. Compromise ensures that the right individuals in the novel fall in love. The right kinds of individuals in the play who come together are Darcy and Elizabeth. The compromise to the development of the two’s relationship is the main theme to the play. It takes a large deal of work for this relationship to work it does not just happen. In the play Darcy learns how to evaluate people rather than just judge them basing on their ranks in the society. He accepts Elizabeth as a person rather than basing his opinion on her social ranking. Both make adjustments in their lives in order to accommodate and understand each other.
Pride and prejudice are a hindrance to love and marriage for Elizabeth and Darcy. In the book Elizabeth says, "That is very true, and I could easily forgive his pride if he had not mortified mine” (Austen 19). The theme of pride introduces itself in the third chapter where Darcy abuses Elizabeth by saying that Elizabeth is not attractive enough to impress him. As Elizabeth hears Darcy’s comments, she thinks that his lamentations signify her success against his pride. This makes her joyous. Pride and prejudice grow throughout the novel. The highest point of prejudice and pride is the first marriage proposal. Darcy’s pride and prejudice is highest at this point. From the outset of his proposal, the reader can tell that Darcy did not believe that Elizabeth could refuse his marriage proposal. Mr. Darcy also speaks at length about the class inferiority of Elizabeth. On the other hand, Elizabeth pride is brought to the fore as she refuses the proposal. Her main reason for refusing the proposal is the arrogance displayed by Mr. Darcy, primarily touching on her pride. The novel then goes back to compromise where the two learn to cope with each other. Austen surrounds Darcy with characters that have faults and much insulting pride as a way of concentrating Darcy’s overrated pride. A good example of a character that has a lot of pride in the book is, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She brags about the possible wealth Darcy would obtain if he married her daughter. Others characters with pride include Miss Bingley and Hurst. Austen shows the readers that people have to overcome pride and prejudice in order to succeed in marriage. A working relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is only achieved after the move beyond their pride. Pride affects their perception about each other in the novel.
Marriage corrects to Darcy’s pride and makes him humbles his pride. Unlike others, Elizabeth manages to humble Darcy’s pride. Elizabeth manages to perform this huge task by refusing his proposal for marriage. Togetherness enables them to benefit and learn from one another. Elizabeth and Darcy have many faults but similarities between themselves is more. Both Darcy and Elizabeth are intelligent and principled. They are also quick in forming opinions about other people without getting to know people first. This indicates Austen’s way of concentrating Elizabeth’s extreme faulty prejudice. Elizabeth may seem to be complaining on Darcy’s faults but also seems to be touching on her own problems. An example is Darcy's rejection towards Wickham, which is almost alike to Elizabeth’s rejection towards Darcy. Elizabeth sees other people’s faults quicker than her own. Later on, Elizabeth learns to be less prejudicial and togetherness enables them to benefit from one another and learn from each other.
Marriage is the best and logical conclusion to Jane Austen’s novel. It completes the plot of the book as intended by Jane Austen. If the novel had ended in any other manner, then it would not have made its point. Austen points out several factors that are very important when forming a marriage. Darcy and Elizabeth love for each other enables them to overcome all the obstacles and end up marrying each other. Darcy pride and Elizabeth prejudice are the biggest stumbling block to their marriage. Darcy pride is countered by Elizabeth’s rejection of his marriage proposal. The drive to the novel is a compromise as said earlier. The marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth is the ultimate compromise in the novel. Both change something about themselves and their personalities in order for marriage to be successful. The novel is an illustration of Austen’s ideal view of an ideal society. She indicates that compromises can lead to an effective marriage as long as love and romance exist.

Works cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Champagne, Ill: Project Gutenberg, 1990. Internet resource.