“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (Austen 1813/1994: 5)
The famous opening sentence of the even more famous novel anticipates the majority of Pride and Prejudice´s content.
This Bachelor thesis examines Jane Austen´s representation of marriage in her novel Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813 in England during the Regency Period.
Pride and Prejudice contains every sort of marriage a person like Jane Austen could imagine in those days: matched marriages, concerned of “making a good match”, the romantic love marriages including marrying under one´s social rank, and the disastrous incident of lovers eloping.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennett: A functional marriage through ignorance
3 Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins: The Marriage for Convenience
4 Lydia Bennett and Mr. Wickham: The Catastrophe of Elopement
5 Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy: The Romantic Marriage
6 Jane Bennett and Mr. Bingley: Love marriages
7 The Marriages That Never Were: Motifs and Reasons
8 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This bachelor thesis analyzes Jane Austen's portrayal of marriage in the novel Pride and Prejudice within the context of the Regency Period and Victorian Age, exploring how different marital unions reflect societal expectations and individual pursuit of happiness.
- Representation of diverse marriage forms (convenience, romantic love, elopement)
- Impact of 19th-century societal norms and conduct books on marriage expectations
- Interplay between social status, moral character, and individual happiness
- Analysis of character development through matrimonial experiences
- The role of "gentlemanly" conduct and female societal positioning
Excerpt from the Book
5 Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy: The Romantic Marriage
The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused and interested you because I was so unlike them. Had you not been really amiable, you would have hated me for it; but, in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and, in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you. (Austen 1813/1994: 293)
Elizabeth Bennett, the second eldest Bennett sister, is described as vivacious, engaging, strong-willed and thoughtful. She is a witty and perceptive person, who cares about those she is connected with. Austen focuses a lot on feelings in her novels, especially those of Elizabeth Bennett are described in detail, and the pride and the prejudices in the title of the novel refer mainly to her and Darcy´s feelings. The world of emotions is thus not left aside and universally acknowledged by the protagonists of the novel. Emotions accompany personal development and character formation, which in the 19th century was transmitted through evangelicalism and became the “essence of improvement” (Gohrisch 108).
Mr. Darcy is an aloof man, reserved, assured, shy and responsible. In the novel, he constitutes the epitome of a “gentleman”. The title “gentleman” was distributed to a man with social privilege, but also assumed certain standards of behaviour. During the Regency Period, clear procedures existed regarding form of address, introductions to foreign people, visiting or correspondence, order of precedence and formal relationships between the sexes. A gentleman was sure to behave correctly in all said situations. His outward formalities and civilities were supposed to reflect his inner values and moral standards. In Jane Austen´s time, the “general cultivation of nobleness of character is the major standard for morality” (Gohrisch 2010: 112).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the research focus on Jane Austen's representation of marriage in Pride and Prejudice and sets the historical context of the Regency Period.
2 Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennett: A functional marriage through ignorance: This section examines the dysfunctional, ironically detached relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and its impact on the family.
3 Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins: The Marriage for Convenience: The chapter explores the pragmatic, non-romantic union of Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, highlighting the role of financial security.
4 Lydia Bennett and Mr. Wickham: The Catastrophe of Elopement: This part analyzes the volatile marriage resulting from Lydia's elopement and the threat it poses to the family's social standing.
5 Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy: The Romantic Marriage: The focus is on the emotional and moral growth of the protagonists as they overcome prejudice and social barriers to find a fulfilling partnership.
6 Jane Bennett and Mr. Bingley: Love marriages: This chapter discusses Jane and Bingley's relationship as a successful, rationally founded, and affection-based marriage.
7 The Marriages That Never Were: Motifs and Reasons: This section investigates failed potential unions and explains why characters like Miss Bingley or Anne de Bourgh remain unmarried.
8 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes how the novel balances social and moral expectations, concluding that true happiness is found in marriages of mutual respect and kindred spirits.
Keywords
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, Marriage, Regency Period, Victorian Age, Romanticism, Conduct Books, Social Status, Character Development, Matrimony, Happiness, Gender Roles, Elopement, Convenience, Morality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central subject of this academic work?
The thesis explores Jane Austen's representation of various forms of marriage in her novel Pride and Prejudice.
What are the primary themes analyzed in the paper?
The paper focuses on the tension between social and moral scales, the concept of marriage as a security measure versus an emotional bond, and the impact of 19th-century conduct literature on marital expectations.
What is the core research question or objective?
The objective is to analyze how different marriages in the novel mirror the societal norms of the Regency Period and the subsequent Victorian Age, and to evaluate how the protagonists find happiness through these unions.
Which scientific method is applied in this analysis?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, contextualized by historical conduct books and cultural studies on 19th-century societal expectations regarding emotions, manners, and marriage.
What aspects are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines specific couples—the Bennetts, the Collinses, the Wickhams, the Darcys, and the Bingleys—and discusses failed marriage prospects to illuminate the author's message.
Which keywords define this thesis?
Key terms include Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, marriage, Regency Period, social status, and conduct books.
How does the author characterize the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett?
The marriage is depicted as a dysfunctional union based on initial attraction that ultimately suffered due to lack of understanding, resulting in mutual detachment.
What is the significance of the "romantic marriage" in the context of the thesis?
The romantic marriage, exemplified by Elizabeth and Darcy, is shown to overcome social barriers like class and wealth through mutual respect and intellectual compatibility.
How does the author interpret the failed match between Mr. Darcy and Caroline Bingley?
It is viewed as a match based on social status that fails because Caroline lacks the moral values and genuine character necessary for a true union.
- Citation du texte
- Svenja Strohmeier (Auteur), 2012, Jane Austen´s Representation of Marriage in "Pride and Prejudice", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/212357
