Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, set against the backdrop of the early 19th century, offers a vivid portrayal of societal norms and expectations, especially concerning marriage. The Bennett family, with its five daughters and financial concerns, becomes a lens through which Austen critiques the prevailing attitudes towards matrimony. This essay explores whether the Bennett family's marriage theory aligns with the trends of the Victorian Era and whether its influence persists in shaping contemporary beliefs about life and relationships. Pride and Prejudice depicts the life of the Bennet family, focusing particularly on that of Elizabeth Bennet. The initial chapters tell of the visit of a group of high-class people and the ensuing ball that takes place. The story introduces us to the Bennet family, particularly Mr and Mrs. Bennet, and puts special focus on their two eldest daughters, Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. This family serves to embody the traits of the Victorian Era, and Elizabeth Bennet in particular serves as a sort of exception to the others.
The Victorian Era was marked by rigid social structures and a focus on propriety and class distinctions. Marriage, often seen as a means of social mobility, was subject to various societal expectations and familial considerations. The Bennett family, particularly Mrs. Bennett, reflects this mindset as she tirelessly endeavors to secure advantageous matches for her daughters, acting as a symbol of Victorian ideals within the novel. The novel’s beginning also serves to highlight the connection to the Victorian era, opening with the line “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in posses- sion of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (Austen 1). The Bennett family's marriage theories continue to resonate in modern society. The pressure to find a suitable partner, financial considerations, and societal expectations persist, although specific focuses may differ. However, the unconventional nature of Elizabeth and her refusal to conform challenge the accepted traditions of the era—Elizabeth Bennet cares little about her partner’s position in life and society, yet moves herself by her feelings towards them, something we see increasingly frequently in modern society. It is in this way that Pride and Prejudice can be interpreted as a satire of the marriage traditions present within the Victorian Era—indeed, Mr. Collins’s speech after Elizabeth’s denial of his hand supports this argument: “It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my [connections] with the family of de Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favour” (Austen, 77). The only concept touched upon in Mr. Collins’s speech were about his situation in life, and did not mention once the emotions and feelings of himself and Elizabeth Bennet, something starkly contrasting with the latter’s mental processes.
It is especially interesting to consider Pride and Prejudice in the context of modern society. While, to the reader, the vast majority of characters within the story appear to be relics of a past era, Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth Bennet are strangely relatable. It is interesting to note that Elizabeth Bennet is presented as the narrator of the story, albeit its third-person point of view. In placing the nonconformist character that rejects Victorian norms as the reader’s lens in which to view the world, the author could be potentially trying to criticize, and even influence marriage norms. Readers today find no fault with Elizabeth Bennet’s thoughts of a love-centered marriage, or Mr. Bennet’s beliefs that situations in life didn’t quite matter if one was happy and focus on one one’s mental capabilities: “They have none of them much to recommend them [...] they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters” (Austen 2). Mr. Bennet’s commendation of Elizabeth Bennet shows his belief in one’s intellectual prowess, something modern society has begun to put more and more emphasis on. Similarly, his dismissal of Mrs. Bennet’s statement that Elizabeth was “not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia” (Austen 2) shows his general disinterest with vain pursuits on the outside, again reflecting the beliefs of modern society. In a way, the story transports one back to Victorian era culture, allowing one to experience the proceedings there while maintaining one’s beliefs and culture in the form of Elizabeth Bennet, the narrator of the story.
While Pride and Prejudice challenges certain Victorian norms, it does not entirely escape the constraints of its era. The narrative is still poised in a hierarchical society where social status and wealth play significant roles in marital decisions, symbolized by just about everyone within the story except Elizabeth Bennet. Even Elizabeth herself isn’t completely an exception—it could be argued that her rejection of Mr. Collins and her initial rejection of Mr. Darcy was simply because she found the two too exceedingly horrid to live with, something further emphasized by the fact that she, at the end of the story, ends up settling down with Mr. Darcy in a good position in life. This fact is further emphasized through the fact that Mr. Darcy seems to be the embodiment of the high-bred gentleman—something Victorian traditions center around. Furthermore, various Victorian era norms are emphasized quite heavily throughout the novel, such as civility, courtesy, and various traditions such as marriage, dining, relations attributed to said era. Various dinner traditions, such as inviting guests over to dinner, and time with relations, are omnipresent within the novel.
In conclusion, the Bennett family's marriage theories in Pride and Prejudice provide a fairly accurate portrayal of Victorian Era attitudes towards matrimony. While the novel challenges some societal norms, it also encapsulates the limitations imposed by the social structure of its time. Despite this, the enduring themes of love and the pursuit of happiness are omnipresent within Pride and Prejudice, making the novel a classic exploration of themes of marriage and relationships.
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