Introduction:
We find theme of Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice. Pride and Prejudice is not only a social comedy of manners but also a profound exploration of love and marriage in early nineteenth-century England. The novel presents marriage as the central social institution that shapes characters’ lives, fortunes, and reputations. While some unions in the story are driven by wealth, status, or convenience, Austen emphasizes that true happiness in marriage must be based on mutual respect, understanding, and genuine affection.
Through the contrasting relationships of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, Lydia Bennet and Wickham, and Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley, Austen critiques the mercenary and superficial motives behind many marriages of her time. At the same time, she offers an ideal in which love, equality, and reason coexist, making Pride and Prejudice both a mirror of its society and a timeless reflection on human relationships.
Theme of Marriage:
Jane Austen repeatedly returns to certain key themes in her novels, yet she always manages to present them with freshness and originality. Among these, the subject of engagement and marriage occupies a central place. Austen’s fascination with young people, their romances, and courtships remains consistent throughout her works.
In each novel, we find young men and women paired as lovers, with the main focus placed on the love and eventual marriage of the central couple, while the stories of secondary pairs help enrich the plot and character development. From her novels, it is clear that Austen held firm beliefs about love, courtship, and marriage, and these convictions are revealed through the varying success or failure of the relationships she portrays.
The Theme of the Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice:
The arrival of Charles Bingley a young man with a fortune at Netherfield Park, sends the neighbouring Bennet household into a flurry of excitement. Mrs. Bennet with five marriageable daughters has fond hopes of arranging a match between the eligible suitor Charles Bingley and any one of her daughters.
After the customary introductory visits, there is the occasion of the ball from which proceeds the Jane – Bingley love story as well as the story of Elizabeth’s prejudice and Darcy’s pride which keeps them apart initially until they come closer gradually and eventually marry at the end.
Marriage, the End of the Austen’s Novels:
By the time we have reached the end of the novel Pride and Prejudice , not only the hero and heroine, Darcy and Elizabeth, but most of the young people have succeeded in pairing off in marriage. However, it is from the courtship of the hero and heroine that the story derives much of their tension. Though, marriage is the end of her novel, yet it involves more than the conclusion of a simple love story. There is a depth, variety and seriousness in Jane Austen’s treatment of these topics.
Austen’s Presenting the Disadvantages of Remaining Single and Regarding Marriage, a Social Concern:
Marriage was an important social concern in Jane Austen’s time and she was fully aware of the disadvantages of remaining single. Charlotte when she is giving Elizabeth reasons for accepting Mr. Collins echoes the same view: “I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home, and considering Mr. Collins’ character, connections and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair , as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”
The Importance of Correct Judgement:
Jane Austen firmly believed that to form a right judgement, one must have right principles and right perception of the nature of other people. One must be able to see through affectation, deception and hypocrisy. One must not be a victim of flattery. One must not be carried away by the opinions of other people. The ability to judge correctly is particularly important to her heroines, for it is upon this ability that their choice of a suitable husband depends.
Elizabeth’s Judgement under the Spirit of Prejudice:
Elizabeth Bennet, who is so certain of her judgement at all times, is blinded by prejudice to judge Darcy wrongly almost losing the man she comes to love. But once the true facts are known she realises her mistake.
Seven Marriages in Pride and Prejudice:
There are seven marriages in Pride and Prejudice. Three marriages that of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Charlotte and Collins and Lydia and Wickham reveal the bad marriages and the importance of good judgement and proper feeling in determining a couple’s future happiness.
Mutual respect, the basis of a sound marriage is lacking in the Bennet’s marriage. Prudence alone should not dictate, as it does in Charlotte’s case, nor should it be regarded, which is that Lydia does. Thoughtless passion leads only to disgrace and misery for the families concerned. Esteem, good sense and mutual affections are the right ingredients for a successful marriage as the Darcy – Elizabeth marriage indicates.
Good and Bad Marriages:
(a) Marriages Based on Financial Condition:
One example of a bad marriage in Jane Austen’s view is the marriage based on economics, such as that contracted by Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas. As a result of Charlotte’s need for financial security, she is willing to destroy her own life by linking herself to a pompous ass. Such marriages should be condemned.
(b) Marriages Based on Superficial Qualities:
The second kind of bad marriages are marriages based on such superficial qualities as sex, appearance, good looks and youthful vivacity — the runaway marriage of Lydia and Wickham. The passion between the unprincipled rake Wickham and the flighty Lydia is bound to cool and in their unhappy married life mutual toleration is the nearest approach to affection that can be expected a less obvious example of this kind of marriage is that between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet .
Undoubtedly they were once attracted to each other very much as Lydia and Wickham were. Even at this late stage Mrs. Bennet is similar to Lydia in her silliness and shallowness. The Bennet marriage ends in mutual forbearance. Mr. Bennet is in general retreat and isolation, and Mrs. Bennet is a completely disorganised woman.
(c) Marriages Based on Love and Respect:
The two examples of good marriages are, of course, those of Jane and Elizabeth based as it is on mutual love, respect and knowledge of one another.
Thus, it is true that the chief preoccupation of Jane Austen’s heroines is getting married and life is a matrimonial game as women in her times had no other option of business or profession open to them.
