the trouble with marriage essays

the trouble with marriage essays In Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice the most important topic to theme and character development throughout the novel is that of courtship and marriage. From the very first chapter; the very first line, in fact, you see that this is a novel about the surmounting obstacles of courtship and the levels of difficulty in achieving romantic happiness, for it is well-stated that it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a good wife.(1) As one of the most famous lines in literature it immediately establishes the centrality of marriage to the novel . This is done first by introducing Mr. Bingley, an event that sets the novel in motion; second, by its implication that the real truth is the opposite...that a single woman is in want of a wealthy husband. Marriage in Pride and Prejudice is a means of survival in an economy-based environment. It is the playing card by which all single women hope to score big and settle down with their winnings. The Bennetts are a perfect example of the institute of marriage that is exemplified in most every case of Pride and Prejudice. They married for the most noble of reasons in their time. Mrs. Bennett whose only purpose in life seems to be to find husbands for her daughters, and Mr. Bennett whose marriage to her is explained as him having been, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humor which youth and beauty generally give resulting in his marriage to a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her (176).It can be best stated that the two of them merged for security and social climbing in the same way AOL and Time Warner have merged as corporations to improve their own individual worth. They are each others social game pieces...