Unpopular Opinion: Mr. Darcy is the Absolute Worst

A princess kisses a frog who transforms into a prince. The bad boy changes his unruly ways for the right woman. A beautiful woman teaches a beast to become a prince. We are all familiar with this overplayed plot-line. Essentially, an intelligent, beautiful woman settles for the love of some man who lacks emotional and / or mental maturity, and suddenly she becomes responsible for his growth from a boy to a man. Or, in the case of Jane Austen’s nineteenth century novel Pride and Prejudice, the sub-par Mr. Darcy transform into a gentleman for the remarkable Ms. Elizabeth Bennet. The romance in the novel is merely a thin veil hiding a toxic excuse for men to act however they please and for women to pick up the pieces.

Darcy’s growth throughout the novel is entirely dependent upon Elizabeth. In the beginning of the novel, Austen depicts Darcy negatively numerous times. He is unfriendly, standoffish, and unsociable. Even when faced with remarks about his pride, Darcy replies, “where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation” (Austen Chapter 11). He is not a great guy. Darcy is only appealing because of his looks and money – neither of which are good reasons to love a man. It begs the question, if Darcy were poor or unattractive, would women be interested in him? My guess is no, not at all. Darcy’s personal growth journey was nonexistent until Elizabeth comes into the picture. When Darcy rudely proposes to Elizabeth the first time, she replies by saying “From the very beginning— from the first moment, I may almost say— of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry” (Chapter 34). Her harsh and honest response is magnified by the difference between their economic statuses; a poorer woman does not desire a rich man because he is so awful! For the first time, Mr. Darcy is motivated to become a better person. Austen depicts this proposal rejection as the motivation Mr. Darcy needs to become a better man and suitor for Elizabeth, while - in reality - it is merely an awful guy becoming less awful because he got rejected.

Ms. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s love story reinforces toxic gender norms. First, it tells young men that it is okay to have no standard for their personal growth or maturity until a woman demands that they grow up. Also known as, “boys will be boys.” Secondly, it tells women that men will be not meet their expectations, but they will eventually become Mr. Right with enough patience and encouragement. The romantic lens that is put on toxic traits encourage women to associate bad qualities in men as the potential for a happy ending. While Elizabeth and Darcy enjoy a happy ending in the fictional Pride and Prejudice, most women in the real-world find themselves endlessly chasing boys who refuse to grow up and take responsibility for themselves.

The Archetypal Love Story

Admittedly, I found Romeo and Juliet to be quite boring when I first read it; this should come as no surprise to anyone, since I read it in a high school literature class. It’s a good read, but I didn’t find it to be a page-turner by any means. The unfortunate truth regarding my circumstance was that, simply put, I couldn’t kick the feeling that I had read that story before. What’s interesting to me years later is that, in a way, I had read it before. Romeo and Juliet is a love story that inspired so many after it, to the point where it is hard to name a romantic comedy, a Nicolas Sparks novel, or even an early-era Beatles song that didn’t owe at least some of its roots to Romeo and Juliet.

After having that experience, I was better prepared to dive into Pride and Prejudice. While maybe not as influential as the Shakespeare classic, Jane Austen’s masterpiece reads like something you’ve read before; it is really hard to shake the feeling, while reading, that you know the story already. While Romeo and Juliet introduced the timeless concept of star-crossed lovers who face an unsurmountable societal challenge to being together, Pride and Prejudice takes a different path by introducing more specific factors that, as a whole, make up what is known today as the archetypal love story. The clearest archetype is the character of Fitzwilliam Darcy- the man who appears to be arrogant and classist from the get-go, but ends up a sweet and caring hero who falls in love with the protagonist in the end. Jane Austen employs her knack for villainizing characters while setting up Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship from the outset of the novel; in fact, during Darcy’s first entrance in the novel he remarks to Mr. Bingley within Elizabeth’s earshot that Elizabeth is “not handsome enough to tempt me” (13) (me meaning Darcy, of course). This concept was the inspiration for Austen’s first working title of the book, First Impressions. Ironically, however, if Pride and Prejudice were to be published today that title would probably not be considered due to the prevalence of fictional love interests giving bad first impressions. It is almost as though the anti-judgmental theme Austen put forth in her novel is so ubiquitous in today’s romantic literature that it is not considered a uniquely thought-provoking concept anymore.

On top of Darcy’s character, another archetype that was established in Pride and Prejudice is the role that Mr. Collins plays in the novel. While these characters take on different forms, shapes, and sizes throughout literature, almost all love stories today have an undesirable alternative love interest that is intentionally written-in to contrast the desirability of the primary love interest.

Austen’s masterpiece novel influenced so much romantic literature that came after it, that it is hard not to compare the work to legendary classics such as Romeo and Juliet. Doing so not only helps to understand Pride and Prejudice a little more, but also helps to appreciate it as well.

Married Off

While reading Pride and Prejudice, I found it nearly impossible to avoid comparing Mrs. Bennet and the Bennet family with that of Marmee and the March family.  While the tales are approximately 65 years apart and take place in different countries, there are parallels between the two families and the circumstances they find themselves in; they only have daughters, the families have enough to get by but by no means are well-off, and the girls are expected (by society) to grow up and marry rich.

It is said that "The business of [Mrs. Bennet's] life was to get her daughters married" (Austen 2).  This is a key character trait of Mrs. Bennet and it drives her throughout the novel, pushing her to come up with convoluted schemes to get her daughters in the vicinity of wealthy, eligible bachelors.  Her one-track mind regarding her daughters’ love lives is representative of the important for women to get married during this time period.  It is also indicative of the class of the Bennet family, for while they are not poor, the family worries about losing their home when Mr. Bennet passes away, and it is essential to Mrs. Bennet to ensure her daughters’ future economic prosperity by securing them husbands.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Bennet’s antics often push away the very men that she wants to attract to her daughters.  This is seen in Darcy’s first attempt at a proposal to Elizabeth, when it is suggested that he views her as especially inferior because of her family (Austen 162).

However, despite her own character flaws, Mrs. Bennet finally sees her plan come to completion at the end of the novel, when Lizzy announces her engagement with Mr. Darcy to her mother.  Mrs. Bennet is silent at first, but quickly gets over her shock and cries, “Good gracious! Lord bless me! Only think! Dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it! And is it really true? Oh, my sweetest Lizzy! How rich and great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Jane’s is nothing to it — nothing at all.  I am so pleased — so happy” (Austen 325).  This quotation makes it clear that Mrs. Bennet values money over everything else.  She is not happy for her daughter for having found love, she is happy for her daughter for securing a wealthy husband.

Especially when compared to Marmee, who taught her daughters to value love and respect over everything else, Mrs. Bennet seems like a bad mother.  While she may be flawed, one could argue that she is merely practical — in this society at this time, it is important to have money to have the sort of life a respectable person should live.  Wanting to secure this respectable life for her daughters may paint her in a shallow light, but is it truly shallow, or merely practical?  After all, is love and respect truly important if you are starving to death in 19^th century England?

Pride and Prejudice Gets Married

The women of Pride and Prejudice are much different from the modern woman of 2020. In today’s bustling world, everyone is expected to work, and in order to survive in the expensive world of today, women find themselves needing, and wanting, to work. I think this fostering of independence and creativity is at the heart of the differences in the marriages we see in Pride and Prejudice. The marriages of Elizabeth and Jane to Bingly and Darcy are marriages in order to keep their lives comfortable and stable. With the entail on the Bennet estate, the Bennet sisters need to find husbands who are able to give them the lifestyle that they desire and are accustomed to. Today, women marry, if they choose to, for different reasons. This issue of being taken care of is not something that women are so focused on because women have the ability to take care of themselves. When women were forced into the workforce, it required them to think outside of the box and when they were able to have that confidence, they realized that they could do anything on their own. When women were able to live on their own, without the necessity of a parent or a husband the dynamic of marriage was able to shift to one of love rather than necessity. While I believe that Jane and Elizabeth did love their husbands, the only reason that they were put together was because of this financial aspect and the stability that the men provided to the women. However, not all marriages are made out of money, some are made out of necessity. We see this in Charlotte’s case when her biggest fear is that of being alone forever. This shows the reader that independence is not a positive quality in this novel. Independence is a sign that the woman was unable to get married rather than choosing to be single. Again, this is different from the average purpose of marriage in 2020. Women are proud to be alone and would, for the most part, rather be alone than be stuck in an unhappy marriage because of the status that the marriage would give her.

Prejudice is Rewarded

In order for Elizabeth and Darcy to accept each other, Elizabeth must rethink her prejudices against Darcy, and Darcy must reduce his pride. Many analyses frame these changes as both characters revising their negative traits, becoming better people, and being rewarded with happiness in the form of marriage. However, Elizabeth’s original prejudice is not punished; in reality, it saves her from a marriage with a proud and aloof Darcy. Assuming happiness is a reward for good character, Elizabeth preserves her happiness by refusing to marry the man who “was not more elegant on the subject of tenderness than of pride” (185) and who made clear in his proposal how above her in status he considered himself to be. Elizabeth is rewarded for her prejudice in that it allows her to avoid a marriage with a man who is not yet reformed enough to make her happy. Because of this outcome, the idea that both characters simply become better through their trials with each other and go through a black and white change from bad to good is false. Elizabeth’s prejudice in the first portion of the novel is not a bad trait; it ensures her own happiness and inspires Darcy to become a better man.

The change in Darcy’s character only takes place as a result of Elizabeth’s prejudice. Had she not acted on it and harshly turned down his proposal, he would not have chosen to fix the pride she loathed. In this way, Elizabeth and Darcy don’t grow to be better people simultaneously, as many analyses paint them to. Her prejudice against him directly causes the change in his character. When her own character changes and she lets go of her prejudice, it’s only due to his improved treatment of her. He becomes a gentleman in their next encounters, and chooses to help her family when the opportunity presents itself later on. He manages to change her opinion of him; although she must let go of her prejudice, it’s not done until he deserves a better impression. Because of this, Elizabeth’s prejudice, although it must be revised later on, is not a purely negative trait at the beginning of the book, and the change in her character is more complex than simply growth from bad to good. 

Jane Austen and the Tsundere Male Love Interest

The Japanese language uses a term, tsundere, which refers to a character who is “initially cold (and sometimes even hostile) before gradually showing a warmer, friendlier side over time” (Wikipedia). The term began in the realm of Japanese dating games, usually referring to female characters in games targeted towards men. However, I think that this word encapsulates a character trope in a way that no English language equivalent can—even if one were to refer to it as “playing hard to get”, it doesn’t truly show what it means to be a tsundere.

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, along with other works of hers (in this case I refer to the character of Mr. Knightley in Emma), uses tsundere (long, long before the creation of the actual term) within the main male love interest. Put simply, Mr. Darcy is a tsundere.

At the beginning of the novel, Austen builds Darcy to be an incredibly unlikeable character. Per the definition of tsundere, he is described to be cold, especially in his rejection to the idea of dancing with Elizabeth, which is referred to as “coldly said” (Austen, 9). Within the same moment, he is shown to be hostile, insulting Elizabeth by calling her “not handsome enough to tempt [him]” and implying her to have been rejected by other men (Austen, 9). By starting Darcy off in such a manner where he is rude and cold to Elizabeth, Austen is setting up a relationship in the same way as the tsundere trope, relying on the concept of people wanting what they cannot have, and that passion, even hateful passion, is the basis for an intense relationship of some kind.

Over the course of the novel, as a variety of events bring them close, Darcy is transformed before the eyes of both Elizabeth and the reader into a gentleman who is shown to truly care for Elizabeth. After his first proposal, which seemed to have been propelled by the previously mentioned passion within their relationship, he is humbled in his second proposal, which has been alternatively inspired by real feelings of love and devotion. When he confesses his continued love to Elizabeth, he tells her that “[his] affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from [her] will silence [him] on this subject forever” (325). By phrasing his confession in this way, he has become warmer and friendlier than before, not giving out his feelings with prideful intensity but giving Elizabeth the power in the conversation to say no.

Jane Austen, of course, wrote novels long before the concept of a tsundere could ever exist. However, her use of the trope shows a through line of appealing characters in fiction from the 19^th century to now; people enjoy falling in love with a character they originally assumed to be out of reach and unlovable. Beyond this, people enjoy a character who falls in love with them (or in the case of Austen’s literature, the main character) despite the original impression that said character detested them. The times may change and new words may be used to refer to character tropes, but those tropes remain timeless despite any evolution.

Virtues Over Status

In Pride and Prejudice, author Jane Austen describes the Bennet sisters in their pursuit of marriage, particularly of marrying wealthy men. Even the first line of the novel expresses that “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (5). With pressure from their mother, Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are expected to marry a man that will raise their status in society, which is why Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy catch their attention initially. There’s an important distinction of classes made between them and the Bennets towards the beginning of the novel, as the Bingleys are considered “a respectable family in the north of England” who “associated with people of rank” (17). While the Bennets visited Netherfield, Darcy says that “In a country neighborhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society” referring to the Bennets’ measly upbringing (42). Austen also makes distinctions in the importance of status for Mr. Bingley, the Bingley sisters, Jane and Elizabeth, and Darcy. Mr. Bingley pays no mind to Jane’s status and is considered a proper gentleman; this is contrasted to Darcy, who initially uses his status to justify his judgment and is then humbled when he is originally rejected by Elizabeth. In another way, the Bingley sisters lust after Darcy and act better than Elizabeth, yet do not win Darcy’s attention; the older Bennet sisters act honestly and virtuously and are rewarded with great marriages. In this way, Austen expresses the utmost importance of kindness and the danger of pride.

While Pride and Prejudice initially focuses on what physical things (land, beauty, money, etc.) are important when it comes to choosing a reputable suitor, Austen reveals that the Bennets’ virtuous character and Bingley’s and Darcy’s kindness are the most attractive aspects of them. Bingley from the beginning of the novel is described as “good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners” (12). His open mind and kindness towards Jane are evident throughout the story, and he is rewarded for his good nature with a happy marriage with Jane. While Elizabeth is initially unimpressed with Darcy’s arrogant and judgmental personality, she eventually experiences a “change of sentiment” after Darcy comforts her after hearing her sister Lydia eloped; she realizes that “gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection” towards Darcy (265). As Elizabeth and Darcy get married, it is evident that Austen sees rank and status as unimportant; what is most important is to live disinterestedly. Good people will be rewarded with marriages to good people, which is more important than marriage to maintain a certain social status.

No Place for Pride or Prejudice

The novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, serves as a warning for the importance of not being prideful or prejudiced. Austen emphasizes changes in characters such as Darcy and Elizabeth to show the reader that pride and prejudice have no place in the pursuit of love and marriage. Darcy, in opposition to Bingley, comes off as less of a gentleman in the beginning of the novel, because of his demeaning opinion of Elizabeth on their first meeting, where he says "she is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me" (Austen 13). This interaction serves to show Darcy's pride as he looks down upon those that are born below him. Elizabeth, on the other hand, resigns to her first opinion of Darcy, which she holds onto for as long as she can. Elizabeth holds onto her prejudices against Darcy, until his first proposal, where she says "long before [your proposal] happened, my opinion of you was decided" (187). Both Elizabeth and Darcy begin the novel with faults, and it's not until Darcy's disastrous first proposal that they start to see the error in their ways. 

After the proposal, Darcy's letter of explanation helps Elizabeth realize that she was wrong in maintaining her first opinion of Darcy. Elizabeth opens her eyes to the ways that Darcy goes against her opinion of him, for example his relationship with Wickham. Elizabeth, for the majority of the novel, uses everything she learns about Darcy to further condemn him; however after reading the letter, Elizabeth's prejudices disappear as she tells Jane that "[Darcy] has all the goodness, and [Wickham] all the appearance of it" (217). Darcy, too, realizes his faults and pride after the proposal. Darcy begins to overcome his pride by helping those lesser than him, for example helping the Bennetts after Lydia elopes with Wickham and bringing Bingley back to Netherfield. Darcy explains his actions in saving her family to Elizabeth, as he says "much as I respect them, I believe, I only thought of you" (346). Both Elizabeth and Darcy had faults of pride and prejudice that they had to overcome before they could truly be in love and get married. 

Marriage as a Social Tool

Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is based around the concept that women must be married. While the novel comes across initially as a traditional marriage story, the underlying idea that marriage is socially necessary for women, at least at the time of the novel, undercuts the idea that “Pride and Prejudice” is only about love and marriage. Each of the sisters who gets married ends up marrying a man who provides a fitting match morally, and, excluding Lydia, a man who provides a steady financial basis for them. Jane and Elizabeth, through their wits and charm and morally sound personalities, are able to secure husbands that carry them up the rungs of the social ladder, from gentry to aristocracy. It is clear from the beginning of the novel that Jane and Mr. Bingley are a suitable match, although his financial status is significantly above her own. Where Mr. Bingley has a “large fortune; four or five thousand a year,” Jane has very little to her name (51). Even the Bennet sisters’ home is “entailed in default of heirs male, on a distant relation” (75). Yet, through her charm and her gentle disposition, Jane is able to woo Mr. Bingley into marrying beneath him. While the novel is insistent that the marriage is based on their mutual love, the obvious social elevation, along with the fact that Jane will not be removed from her home (a concept explored in another of Austen’s novels, “Sense and Sensibility”), shows that Jane’s marriage provided necessary social stability that could not have been achieved otherwise. Similarly, Elizabeth’s marriage to Mr. Darcy provides her with access to his “ten thousand a year” (58) and his large estate at Pemberley. Once again, the novel implies that the cause of their marriage is mutual love, but as a passing comment to Jane Elizabeth says she is uncertain of when she fell in love with Mr. Darcy, but she can “date it from [her] first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley” (382). While she may be in love with Mr. Darcy, it is clear that Elizabeth’s marriage to Mr. Darcy is even more advantageous than that of Jane and Mr. Bingley. 

The option for Elizabeth to marry Mr. Collins and remain in her father’s estate, thus securing it for her family for the future, is quickly dismissed, because, while it would provide some sense of stability, that marriage would not have allowed her to make the social climb that she is designed to deserve based on her strong morals and personality. Mr. Collins is instantly unlikeable due to his obsession with Lady Catherine and his general social behaviour. He does not possess the refined personality that Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy do. While this means that Elizabeth does not love him, it also creates a boundary around the concept of staying put rather than making the social climb that Austen often writes her characters to make. Ultimately, the personalities of the older Bennet sisters and their general refinement allows them to make the socially advantageous marriages that Austen makes clear are necessary for them to maintain their happiness. 

Virtue and Vanity

Virtue and Vanity

The novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, is ultimately a tale of the romances of the Bennet family and most importantly, a detailed description of the characteristics of a suitable romantic partner.  Throughout the novel, Austen provides numerous accounts of the virtues that the Bennet sisters should seek as they search for their desired partners.  The most prominent example of Austen’s depiction of a gentlemanly suitor revolves around the character transformation of Darcy.  Elizabeth originally rejects Darcy’s proposal because she deems him to be arrogant and preoccupied with wealth.  For example, during Darcy’s initial proposal, Austen explains Elizabeth’s sentiment towards Darcy with the statement, “His sense of her inferiority – of it being a degradation – of the family obstacles which judgement had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding” (Austen 185). Austen’s description obviously highlights Darcy’s incompetence as a suitable romantic partner for Elizabeth due to his arrogant behavior. However, as the novel progresses, Darcy realizes his fault and begins to behave in a more virtuous way.  In fact, after Elizabeth encounters Darcy at the Pemberley, Mrs. Gardiner comments on his behavior, “‘On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when he speaks. And there is something of dignity in his countenance, that would not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart” (247).  For the rest of the novel, Darcy treats Elizabeth in a noble manner, and the two eventually marry, largely due to this character transformation.

On the other hand, Austen also identifies the traits of an unsuitable romantic partner through her depiction of Lydia’s husband, Wickham.  Ultimately, Lydia, because of her reckless and impulsive nature, engages in a relationship with Wickham, who is a charming, yet devious character.  To describe his unethical behavior, Austen describes Lydia’s revelation towards Wickham’s true nature with the statement, “She saw the indelicacy of putting himself forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his professions with his conduct” (200).  This account of Wickham characterizes him as an unsuitable partner to marry Lydia and ultimately a vile, dishonest man.  Furthermore, he bears an extreme preoccupation with wealth in the novel, which further attributes to his poor image.  After Darcy and Elizabeth get married, Austen reveals that Wickham “was not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on to make his fortune” (365). Ultimately, Austen uses Wickham, who suffers from greed and dishonesty, as a character foil to Darcy, who overcomes his own arrogance to reveal a sense of respectability and virtue.  I found this contrast to be relevant to an important theme in the novel, the importance of choosing a suitable romantic partner.  Furthermore, the novel highlights what constitutes an appropriate partner through the exemplary behavior of Darcy, in contrast with the shallow, self-centered nature of Wickham.

Rank and Wealth

Jane Austen comments on social mobility and relationships in Pride and Prejudice by relating the characters to one another based on their social ranking. Austen often addresses rank and its effect on social status in the novel to give readers a sense of who the characters should associate with. However, rank in this novel is not equal to a character’s wealth or connections, but is mainly determined by their morality and personability.

            Upon meeting Mr. Darcy for the first time, Elizabeth is appalled by his detached and unsociable behavior. Mrs. Bennet, after hearing of Mr. Darcy’s behavior, tells Mr. Bennet that Elizabeth should not be upset by his dismissal, “for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and conceited that there was no enduring him!” (8). Even though Mr. Darcy is extremely wealthy and should have the highest social status because of that, he is detested by most of Hertfordshire because of his abrasive actions and attitude. It is only later, when he has mended his faults, that people begin to think of him with esteem for his wealth and rank.

            Another instance of wealth and rank being unrelated is Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She has a high social standing and is very wealthy, but when Elizabeth meets her, she is struck by how little manners the Lady has. Lady Catherine de Bourgh questions Elizabeth about her upbringing and her status as a young lady, but she does so in an insensitive and condescending manner. Because of this questioning, Elizabeth’s commendation of Lady de Bourgh, “costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins” (114). Lady de Bourgh is of the highest rank in regards to wealth, but Elizabeth is quick to find out that her personality and manners greatly decrease her rank.

            Even those with less money as others can have higher ranks than them. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are not the most affluent couple in the novel, but Elizabeth considers them of the highest rank because of their affability. Mrs. Gardiner gives Elizabeth valuable advice many times in the novel, and Mr. Gardiner helps her family recover Lydia and regain their esteem among the community. In fact, they are the reason that Elizabeth and Darcy are able to reconnect. During their visit to Pemberley, they see Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Gardiner begins a conversation with him. Elizabeth remarks that “she gloried in every expression, every sentence of her uncle, which marked his intelligence, his taste, or his good manners” (170). While they are not the most wealthy, the Gardiners prove themselves to be of the highest rank.

            Austen emphasizes morality and politeness over wealth and status by praising characters based on their actions and morals rather than their money. Austen chastises Mr. Darcy and Lady de Bourgh for their self-importance, while Austen celebrates the Gardiners for their character.

Different Attitudes on Marriage

              While I was reading Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice, I found myself analyzing the male and female attitudes towards love and marriage. For example, Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth's friend, views marriage as a practical way to secure her future. When discussing her future marriage with Mr. Collins to Elizabeth (Lizzy), she says, "I am not a romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state" (Austen 123). Here, Charlotte shows no real feelings of love for Mr. Collins as a person. She believes her happiness in life depends on what her partner can provide for her. Therefore, since Mr. Collins is known to be a decent person and has a nice home (and a good amount of money), she agrees to marry him. Charlotte does not consider if Mr. Collins will be a suitable person for her to spend the rest of her life with based on his personality alone. She doesn't even care that her soon-to-be husband proposes to Lizzy just a few days before he proposes to her. She aspires to live a comfortable life in a nice home, and ends up marrying him (even though she isn't truly in love). In the end, she attains that level of security, which is what she has always hoped for.
              Next, a different attitude on marriage is presented by Mr. Collins. Before Mr. Collins proposes to Charlotte, he asks Lizzy to marry him not one, but two times. When he finally understands that she denies his request for her hand in marriage, he calls her "headstrong and foolish" (Austen 108). Collins goes on to say, "...I know not whether she would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If therefore she actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it would be better not to force her into accepting me, because if liable to such defects of temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity" (Austen 108-109). Mr. Collins's opinion on marriage differs from Charlotte's because overall, he wants someone to simply make him happy. She is "not a romantic" and believes that a comfortable home is all that she needs. Her first priority is not love, because she doesn't see love as a means to being content. Mr. Collins does not want a "headstrong" wife, because that's too much trouble for him. It also stuck out to me that all he talks about is his felicity and happiness, and not his future wife's. Ultimately, that's the probable reason why he chose Charlotte to be his wife, because she is willing to listen to his long talks without complaint and put up with his self-centered nature. Lizzy is not as submissive as Charlotte, and she is more willing to stand up for what she believes in. It was typical for a man in that time period to desire a docile woman. However, it is evident in this example and throughout the rest of the novel that Mr. Collins views marriage as something that exists to solely make him happy, and believes it should not inconvenience him in any way.
              To complicate things even further, it can be said that Charlotte and Mr. Collins are both using each other to get what they want in life. Mr. Collins "needs" a wife to make him happy and because he wants to set a good example of marriage (so that he can show everyone he's a good clergyman). Charlotte wants to increase her standing in society and live in a better home. In a way, they are benefiting off one another in this sense. Collins can have his one-sided happiness, and Charlotte can have a nice home. It is evident to readers that they do not really love each other.
              Lastly, it was interesting to me to read Mr. Darcy's and Lizzy's interactions after they become engaged. As they're discussing their complicated relationship, Lizzy says, "To be sure, you knew no actual good of me–but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love" (Austen 359). She always made a point of being rude to Darcy whenever she saw him, so her dislike was evident. Therefore, it may have been hard for Darcy to see the good part of her character, because she does not readily display that him at first. The fact that Darcy still loves her, after seeing her bad side, is notable to Lizzy. She says that "nobody thinks of that when they fall in love", because true love isn't as shallow as it's portrayed in other parts of the novel. Charlotte married to simply secure better living conditions for herself, while Mr. Collins just wants a wife to make him happy. Lizzy recognizes that Darcy was still willing to pursue her, even before she opened up to him. Darcy and Lizzy both could have settled for a spouse that was more convenient and easier to pursue, but they both chose not to forget each other. 

Marriage Relating to the Same Themes

Throughout the novel, there is a large underlying theme in the different types of marriages occurring through the main characters. For example, Charlotte marries out of convenience; Mr. Collins brings her many things that are valued in this time. While it is partially frowned upon, especially by Elizabeth, there is also a certain amount of respect that comes with the marriage because it leads Charlotte into a wealthier lifestyle. In contrast, Elizabeth's story is more unrealistic. She is able to marry, not only improving her social standing/ class, but also, out of actual love. This parallel is essential to the story and it's theme because it outlines the reality, Charlotte's case, and the unrealistic case for this time period, Elizabeth's case. Marriage wasn't always something of love in this time period and it was much more focused on the who you were marrying and what they have. I believe this results in Mrs. Bennet's erratic behavior when it comes to marrying off her daughters because she understood this concept (obviously, more than we do). For Mrs. Bennet, marrying her daughters was so important because the Bennet family is a family of enough class where their daughters will never work but, they have to marry into a higher class to have any sort of inheritance and well-off life. 

I think this novel easily connects to the previous books we’ve discussed in class because they all have a certain emphasis on class systems and wealth, and even, Little Women had relatable factors when it comes to the role of women in society. Having seen these repeating themes throughout this semester makes me wonder why they values were so emphasized in the past, and why they are still significant and important to be teaching to teenagers. I understand the emphasis on morals but I believe the emphasis on class systems and wealth is very irrelevant. I have been able to gain a better understanding of some of my experiences, and understand were I guess some pretentious wealthy stem from but overall, I don't see a huge relevance in continuing teaching teenagers novels that all represent the same values.

Mrs Bennet and the Idea of Marriage

Mrs Bennet in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is not the type of mother that you would expect. From the very beginning, she is noticeably concerned about finding husbands for her five daughters as she encourages her husband to go and become acquainted with their new neighbor Mr. Bingley. Not only is the prospect of marriage important to her, but also the idea of marrying rich. When describing Bingley in the beginning, Mrs. Bennet claims, “Oh single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls” (Austen 1). Right away, it is discovered that Mrs. Bennet will be very involved in her daughter’s quests in finding a suitable husband.

Mrs. Bennet is very serious in the matters of finding husbands for her children, so much so that rejecting a man is unacceptable for her. When Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collin’s proposal, Mrs. Bennet was very upset and said, “ I have done with you from this very day. - I told you in the library, you know, that I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good as my word” (98).  Instead of being there to comfort and encourage Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet casts her away and moves on to assist one of her other daughters. This contrasts dramatically with Alcott’s character Mrs. March in Little Women. If Mrs. March’s children would have rejected a marriage proposal she would have assured them that they made the right decision and most likely ended with some kind of teaching or moral lesson. Additionally, Mrs. Bennet is so delighted to see that her youngest daughter Lydia has found herself a husband, even if it is to Wickham, whom the rest of the Bennet family finds very disagreeable. Her excitement surrounding this marriage proves that she more focused on marrying off her daughters and not worried about the prospect of a happy marriage or even the kind of person the husband is. Conversely, Mrs. March focuses on the character of a man in order to anticipate a happy marriage and therefore show her approval.

One of the most indecisive characters in the novel is Mrs. Bennet. Several times throughout the story, she is easily persuaded to change her opinion about a topic she so adamantly disagreed with before. When the Bennet's learn of Mr. Bingley’s return to Netherfield after a long absence, Mrs. Bennet replies with, “He [Bingley] is nothing to us, you know, and I am sure I never want to see him again” (275). However, the news of Jane’s engagement with Mr. Bingley quickly changes her mind, and she could not hide her excitement. The same could be said about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage. Upon seeing Mr. Bingley accompanied by Mr. Darcy, she claims “Well, any friend of Mr. Bingley’s will always be welcome here to be sure; but else I must say that I hate the very sight of him” (275). However, Mrs. Bennet’s opinion swiftly shifts after hearing about the marriage proposal, saying “I am so pleased - so happy. Such a charming man… pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before” (316). These drastic shifts in opinion can only be attributed to the fact that Jane and Elizabeth had finally married, and they married very rich men.  

Revelations

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a story of revelations.  These revelations are meant to display the theme: there is more to a person than someone’s first impressions of them. This is shown through the character of Wickham.  His manipulative character is revealed despite his appearance of a gentleman.  The gossip he spreads about Darcy and his previous goal of marrying Darcy’s sister for her fortune displays his ulterior motives. He also is paid off to marry Elizabeth’s sister Lydia.  It is clear that he would have left her dishonored had he not been paid to marry her.  The whole Bennet family, excluding Mrs. Bennet, hates to have her marry such a scoundrel.  This is in total contrast to the first impressions most of the family makes of him.  His popularity among the women of the story displays this near the beginning of the novel: “Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards who almost every female eye was turned,...” (75).  

Another revelation comes in the form of Darcy’s love for Elizabeth.  His feelings are revealed to her when he abruptly proposes to her.  He explains that “In vain I have struggled. It will not do.  My feelings will not be repressed” which show how he was attempting to hide them from her (185).   However, Elizabeth rejects him on the basis of his behavior.  It also is revealed that Darcy tried to hide his emotions at that point because the Bennet family is from such a lower status.  He makes this clear in the argument following the proposal by saying “Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?” (188).  In the biggest revelation of the novel, Elizabeth comes to find that Darcy is very well regarded by the people who work for him.  His housekeeper attests to his good nature by saying “If I was to go through the world, I could not meet with a better” (238).  As Elizabeth is shown more and more of his estate, she comes to find more and more of Darcy’s true nature.  Elizabeth’s first impressions of Darcy are that he is prideful.  However, as an opposite to Wickham, she finds out that he is a true gentleman.  The surface level impression made of him does not even compare to his deep and compassionate nature. All in all, Austen writes many revelations in Pride and Prejudice that display the story’s theme: there is more to a person than someone’s first impressions of them.

Is Mrs Bennet as "crazy" as she seems?

While there are many layers to every character in Pride and Prejudice, one that I find to be the most interesting and also perhaps the most confusing is Mrs. Bennet. She is portrayed throughout the book as a woman obsessed with wealth and status, fixated on the marriage of her daughters to successful, well-respected men. Austen writes of her as a seemingly crazy mother, doing anything in her power to attract proper men to her daughters. She is made out to be a crazy, controlling mother throughout the story, yet I am not sure if I think this is true. At the core of every decision Mrs. Bennet makes is love for her children and a desire to provide for them as much as she possibly can, an innate desire that every parent inevitably has for their children. 
 
Mrs. Bennet is inarguably obsessed with two things, the acquisition of a husband and the attainment of wealth for all of her daughters. For example, when Mr. Bingley first arrives, Mrs. Bennet is immediately overcome with excitement and convinced that his visit will end with a proposal to one of her daughters. Upon hearing of Mr. Bingley’s arrival, Mrs. Bennet exclaims to her husband, “Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!...My dear Mr. Bennet, how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them” (Austen 66). Mrs Bennet sees every man coming into contact with her family as a potential suitor. She then analyzes them exclusively based on their financial standing and ability to provide for her daughters. Her desires seem superficial and based solely on status and wealth, with little regard for the actual feelings of her daughters. Mrs. Bennet is scrutinized throughout the story for this obsession with marriage and wealth and ultimately made out to be a crazy, controlling character. 

 However, I would argue that Mrs. Bennet is not nearly as “crazy” as Austen makes her out to be. While most will agree now that marriage should be based on two people’s mutual love for each other and desire to be together, it is an innate worry of a parent’s to ensure that their kids are marrying an appropriate suitor. Parents want their children to be as successful as possible and have the best lives possible. I believe this is where Mrs. Bennet’s crazy actions come from. Everything that Mrs. Bennet does comes from a place of love for her daughters and hope that each one of them lives the best lives possible. You can see this in the excitement she possesses for each one of her daughters when they get engaged. When Lizzy informs Mrs. Bennet of her engagement, she responds, “Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Everything that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord!” (Austen 357). Mrs. Bennet’s desire of marriage for her daughters comes from a place of wanting them to each have everything they want in life. Ultimately, during this time period, marriage was the only way to be ensured of that for a woman. While Mrs. Bennet is a “crazy” character at times, she is still respectable as everything she does is out of love for her children.