Since it was my part to introduce Jane Austen in a paper on 18th century women writers I wanted to know more about the female writers at her time. I chose Pride and Prejudice because it is one of Jane Austen's most famous novels. While I was reading it I soon discovered that marriage is the main theme of the novel. I want to compare the different kinds of marriages described in the novel putting emphasis on the marriage of the hero-ine and the hero. I want to show the importance of marriage in women's eyes in the 18th century. In a further step I will take a closer look at the ending of the novel which has often been described as a fairytale ending on the one hand and as confirmation of patriarchal structures on the other. I want to show that the ending can be interpreted in a different way. I shall reveal that marriage in Pride and Prejudice is not only the essence romantic novels are made of but rather important to the existence of women in the 18th century.
Table of Contents
- Mission statement
- Pride and Prejudice: Different kinds of marriages
- The marriage of Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins
- The marriage of Lydia Bennet and Mr. Wickham
- The marriage of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy
- The function of the “happy ending”
- Conclusion
- Literary Sources
Objectives and Key Themes
The author aims to explore the significance of marriage in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, comparing different kinds of marriages and analyzing the role of the "happy ending". The focus is on the 18th century context and how societal expectations influenced the lives of women.
- Marriage as a social and economic necessity for women
- Different motivations for marriage: love, convenience, and financial security
- The impact of societal expectations and class distinctions on marital choices
- The role of pride and prejudice in shaping relationships and marriage prospects
- The evolution of the heroine's understanding of love and marriage
Chapter Summaries
The paper begins with a discussion of the author's motivation for choosing Pride and Prejudice, highlighting marriage as a central theme. It then delves into the different types of marriages depicted in the novel.
- Chapter 2.1: Examines the marriage of Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, highlighting the pragmatic and financially driven nature of their union.
- Chapter 2.2: Explores the impetuous and ultimately disastrous marriage of Lydia Bennet and Mr. Wickham, highlighting the consequences of reckless choices and societal pressures.
Keywords
The main keywords and focus topics of this text include: marriage, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 18th century society, social expectations, women's roles, love, financial security, convenience, pride, prejudice, "happy ending", patriarchal structures.2
- Quote paper
- Katrin Schmidt (Author), 2004, The role of marriage in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/76795
