Love and Marriage

• 'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife'

  • opening line - Introduces central theme of the novel
  • Austen uses the narrator to present this idea as the truth, rather than merely an opinion
  • Austen uses satire and irony to mock the infatuation of marrying for wealth and position
• 'good fortune'

  • Austen emphasises the importance of marrying for men and women due to the financial advantages
• 'When she is secure of him, she can wish to fall in love as she chooses'

  • Charlotte Lucas views marriage as a transaction for money and stability
  • The quote suggests Charlotte's strategic and calculated approach on marriage
  • The phrase 'secure of him' reflects the financial security which comes with marriage.
• What are the implications of Elizabeth's rejection of Mr. Collins on her social standing?

  It challenges societal norms regarding marriage
• 'I am not romantic, I ask only for a comfortable home'

  vs

  'You can not make me happy'

  • Charlotte's response to Lizzy's shock when she marries Collins
  • 'I was never romantic' suggests that romance and marriage are two different things, and where not related
  • Lizzy's juxtaposes Charlotte's response to Collins - she feels she wants to marry for love vs charlotte who married for 'a comfortable home' - security, wealth etc
  • Lizzy represents Austen's views of marriage for love
• 'With my connections with the family of De Bourge... it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage will be made to you'

  • Mr Collin's speach when proposing to Lizzy
  • he flaunts his social standings with LC which suggests his self entitlement and ego
  • 'By no means certain' - manipulates Lizzy to make her say yes - reflects the expectations society had on women for accepting marraiges based on money
  • Austen may be critiquing the 19th century marriage traditions to marry for money and social class, not love