In Pride and Prejudice, there are many marriages that demonstrate the bright sides and dark sides of marriage and it’s effects on an individual. Charlotte (Lucas) Collins is someone whose marriage both benefits her but has its’ consequences as well. Charlotte’s decision to marry Mr. Collins can be seen by different people differently. Although by marrying Mr. Collins Charlotte gets a good income, a large inheritance from Longbourne, and a wealthy living condition for the rest of her life, she is consequently stuck with someone whom she doesn’t love, who also happens to be a little brain dead and a arrogant neighbor. So although at first glance it may seem like a good decision on Charlotte’s end, as we understand her marriage better, it may not be as picture-perfect as it seems.
Marriage comes with many benefits, ranging from financial benefits to living conditions. Often, with marriage, comes financial benefits. If two wealthy people marry, such as Jane and Mr. Bingley or Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, their wealth combined makes them even wealthier. However, for someone poor to marry someone richer, the poorer person gains financial benefit & stability, such as in Charlotte’s case. When Charlotte married Mr. Collins, she married him knowing that he will inherit a large amount of inheritance from Longbourne, therefore providing her with financial stability. This is a wise decision of Charlotte’s as she knows that marrying Mr. Collins might be her only chance of gaining financial stability and have a good source of income in the future. At that time period, girls weren’t the ones who made money, therefore they solely depended on their husband to support them. This is why Charlotte pragmatic decision of marrying Mr. Collins has its’ benefits as it provides her with the financial stability she will later need in life and ensures her to have a good living condition later in life as well. Charlotte, being aware of her own limited prospects, makes a good decision in marrying Mr. Collins as it comes with many things that benefit her in the future.
A pragmatic marriage, though it can benefit certain individuals, comes with its’ consequences. Nothing is perfect, and choosing one thing can result in consequences that can have a lifelong impact. Although Charlotte’s marriage to Mr. Collins provides her with many benefits, her pragmatic decision also results her in being stuck with someone whom she has no romantic feelings for and someone who is no so smart. Additionally, she is stuck with an arrogant neighbor, another consequence that comes with her decision of marrying Mr. Collins. Not only does Charlotte not have any feelings for Mr. Collins, Mr. Collins has no feelings for Charlotte either, as he married her because his proposal to Elizabeth earlier was rejected. After marrying Mr. Collins, Charlotte also has to move in with him, resulting her to become neighbors with Mr. Collins’s patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Because Lady Catherine de Bourgh is Mr. Collins’s patroness, his living is therefore “funded” by her, resulting in him having to reside next to her. Although some may argue Charlotte’s marriage was a good decision, it is evident that all good decisions come with its’ consequences.
Happiness, love, wealth, and health, are four important aspects of life in which individuals prioritize differently. Most people, with the expectation of those risking themselves for money, prioritize health first in life. However, different people view happiness, love, and wealth differently. Some believe being happy in life is most important. Some believe finding their true love in life is most important, which others believe personal success and having money is the most important. Sometimes, you also have to make sacrifices related with these aspects of life. Marriage is something that may require you to sacrifice or compromise one of these aspects of life. When Charlotte decided to marry Mr. Collins, she had to compromised her own happiness. Unlike Charlotte, Elizabeth is someone who really values love and happiness, resulting in her to reject Mr. Collins. However, Charlotte, clearly expresses that she isn’t someone “romantic”. Charlotte’s marriage also greatly demonstrates the harsh reality many women at the time face. Many women had limited choices of husbands and often had to compromise their own happiness for the sake of financially stability/support and their future. Charlotte’s marriage greatly highlighted the oppressive nature of a society that valued financial stability over the emotional fulfillment of women.
Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, shows examples of many different marriages with many different approaches. Charlotte’s marriage to Mr. Collins is a marriage that has much controversy, for that fact that though her marriage to Mr. Collins came with many benefits, it also came with many sacrifices and consequences. Charlotte is a wise and smart girl, who, at 27, realized what she needed to do to ensure a stable life in the future. She realized that despite that fact that Mr. Collins might not be the man of her dreams, he might be her best shot at getting a man who can support her financially and provide her with a good living condition. She then decides to compromise and sacrifice her happiness for a marriage that can benefit her in the future. Marriage is a complicated topic many people will have to face in life, and it is up to you to decide what you are willing to sacrifice and compromise for a successful future.
Comments