”It is truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife”
I would like to talk about one of my favourite novel “Pride and Prejudice” written by Jane Austen. It is her second best novel published in 1813. Basically it is a romantic comedy about the pride of a man and the prejudice of a woman. For me this is a hilarious novel, story of which is set around society of the English countryside during the 18th century, when young ladies were in want of a husband of good fortune and breeding.
In the beginning Darcy and Elizabeth (the two characters) were distant from each other because of their prejudice but as the story moves forward they managed to understand feelings for each other and their mutual understanding led them to a peaceful and lasting marriage towards the end.
For me marriage is one of the important themes of the novel, but the question that arises in my mind after reading this novel and especially its first sentence is that why it is important for the woman of that time to marry a man of good fortune for the security of their future? According to the laws of 19th century of England it was a woman’s duty to marry and bear children and at the time of marriage husbands were granted all wealth and property of their spouse and they were expected to take care of their wives. That is why unmarried woman of that time had very limited options for living comfortably.
I think that marriage especially with its closer relation with money is the important theme of the novel. The starting sentence shows the underlying humour and view of marriage of Austen’s time, in which money is important to begin a marriage. By saying “universally acknowledged” we get the impression that marriage is something that is wanted by all; unlike reality, where there are many who refuse it. It also implies that any rich man who wants a wife is actually a woman who wants a rich husband. So it’s the opposite of which Austen said. She is continuing with her joking tone, showing her unhappiness with the way marriages work in her era. She didn’t like that and this novel reflects her thought that woman should marry only for love. We take such a notion for granted today, but this is really revolutionary stuff for the turn of the century, especially for the ladies of little fortune. If money were there to begin with, one might have the luxury of meeting a suitable person who is truly likable, even loveable, but that is a secondary consideration.
In last, I think that love and affection for partner is the most important thing in marriage, though money is also important but that is secondary thing because love and affection for other is the thing that makes your life comfortable that can’t be bought by money.