Jane Austen s Pride And Prejudice - 2010 Words

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, an overarching issue is the idea of propriety within society and its conflict with love and passion. The majority of the Bennet family is subject to the whims of passion and very often forgets their presentation to the rest of their peers. Other characters found themselves putting aside their own desires in order to do what was expected of them. On both sides, there are both positive and negative effects that come from this placement of priorities. From the moment she is introduced, it is quite obvious that Elizabeth Bennet is a very independent individual who chooses to do things her own way, instead of the way that is expected of her. When, due to Mrs. Bennet’s scheming, her sister Jane falls†¦show more content†¦This obstinacy when confronted with her sister’s care shows how highly Elizabeth values her personal relationships. Elizabeth not only shows this tenacity in regards to her sister, but in her love life as well. When her father’s cousin, Mr. Collins, proposes marriage to her, she declines him, not only because she finds him a disagreeable person, but because she wishes to marry for love when she does enter into a lifelong pairing. The people of her acquaintance, including her closest friend Charlotte, feel that this expectation is an unrealistic one, and that Lizzy should instead marry for privilege. Elizabeth, however, holds onto her ideals, resigned to remaining an old maid if she cannot find a man whom she loves. Love was considered a luxury during this time, and one that very few people were lucky enough to wed for. While Elizabeth maintained her high ideals in terms of passion, Charlotte Lucas found herself more drawn to the side of propriety. Charlotte is perhaps one of the most sensible characters portrayed in Austen’s novel, including Elizabeth herself. She tells her friend, â€Å"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositio ns of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least† (61). Charlotte feels that entering into a loveless marriage is not the curse that Lizzy sees