Arts >> Books >> Literature

How to Compare the Four Marriages in Pride and Prejudice

The issue of marriage is the main theme in Jane Austen's classic satirical novel "Pride and Prejudice," which was first published in 1813. The novel opens with "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" and tells the story of the Bennet family and their attempts to find suitable husbands for the five daughters. Told mainly from the perspective of Elizabeth Bennet, the book features four marriage ceremonies, including Elizabeth's own to Mr. Darcy. The different marriages can easiest be compared by organizing a grid.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Paper
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a grid with four columns and rows and write the names of the four couples in the top line: Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, Lydia Bennet and Mr. Wickham, Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

    • 2

      Write "Character" to the left of the first row and define the main traits of the personalities that are listed in the top row. Below Charlotte and Mr. Collins you can mention his silliness, and her level-headed calculations, while Lydia and Mr. Wickham can be defined by their recklessness and lack of consideration for others. Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley can be described by evaluating their good nature, but also their willingness to be influenced by others. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's characters are the most complex to analyze, as their personalities are continuously developed with the progress of the story, but can easiest be evaluated by applying the words "Pride" and "Prejudice."

    • 3

      Start a new row below the characterization and write "Courtship" in the first line. Analyze the courtship procedures each couple applied. Take into consideration how the couples met, the amount of time spent on the courtship, and the obstacles the couples met before the wedding.

    • 4

      Write "Reasons" in the row below "Courtship" and describe the considerations that have taken place before each member of the list agreed on marrying the partner of their choice. Determine what roles love, financial security, happiness and respect play in the individual decisions, and how the society's attitude toward marriage influences the character's decisions.

    • 5

      Write "Prospects" in the next row and speculate about the possible future for each couple based on the information given by Austen. When speculating about the future, take into consideration the probable financial situations, the influence of other family members and the view of society on each of the couples. Ask yourself how happy each individual partner will be, and how stable the relationship will remain in the years to come.

    • 6

      Summarize your findings in a few paragraphs below the grid. When describing the differences of the marriages, take into considerations the historical aspects and how society looked upon marriage at the time of Jane Austen's writing. You might also want to draw comparisons between the four marriages in "Pride and Prejudice" and the meaning of marriage as presented in traditional wedding or marriage vows.

Literature

Related Categories