Marriage is at the heart of every Jane Austen novel, or, at the very least, at the end, as each of Austen's heroines finds themselves to 'The End' with a husband, a fortune and happiness for life. In reality, however, women often had to make a choice between love and money and hope that lifelong happiness would follow, and while popular opinion favored "love and esteem", many Conduct manuals of the time indicated that “self-preservation rather than inclination” ensures marital happiness (Jones, 2009, p. 1, 11). Marriage was therefore incredibly important to young women as it could destroy or ensure future contentment, and for Austen the importance of marriage can be seen as threefold, in terms of its importance to society, to the individual and their importance in terms of morality. and virtue. In Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, marriage is important as a means of socioeconomic mobility, of exploration of morality and "proper" conduct, and as a social contract that affects the larger community. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay “She found herself at nineteen, subjecting herself to new attachments, taking on new tasks, placed in a new house, a wife, a mistress. of a family and the patroness of a village. » Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 50 When Marianne married Colonel Brandon, she gained not only a husband and a fortune, but also many social and domestic responsibilities and would have been expected and encouraged to adopt a new role. within society, Elizabeth would have faced similar tasks in Derbyshire as Mrs. Darcy (Jones, 2009, p. 136). Interestingly, the most vivid heroines of these novels become the wives who happily shoulder the most social responsibilities. In this way, Austen presents marriage in a realistic practical context and critiques elopement as failing to meet the important demands of the wider community. Lydia's decision to elope with Wickham is presented as foolish and irresponsible (Sundari, 2015). The practical and proper marriages of the heroines of these novels bring joy to both their families and the wider community, and for women of the time, marriage was a way to meaningfully participate in society (Jones, 2009, p. 136). ).However, the legitimacy and propriety of Marianne's marriage in Sense and Sensibility is juxtaposed with the passionate attachment she had to Willoughby and the unhappy marriage of Brandon's cousin Eliza, who succumbed to social expectations and was ruined for it. Although Marianne's decision to marry Brandon and take practical steps to contribute to society rather than uphold her previous ideals and remain single does not seem like a "happy ending" from an objective point of view, Austen describes Marianne as “as devoted to her husband as [she] had ever been to Willoughby,” and as such she prioritizes a socially beneficial and supportive approach to marriage (Galperin, 2003, p. 110). Above all, Marianne makes the choice to enter society through marriage, while Eliza is forced into a disastrous marriage with Brandon's brother with consequences apparently taken directly from a moralistic pamphlet, Austen here makes a distinction between the marriages which have the advantage of being socially advantageous and marriages. which exist solely for this purpose (Jones, 2009, p. 139). Of course, all of Austen's marriages that are purely socially or socio-economically motivateddon't fail as dramatically. Charlotte's marriage to Collins is entirely contractual and works without disastrous consequences for either party or their community, but it is comparatively not as successful as Elizabeth's marriage. to Darcy. In this sense, Pride and Prejudice is a much more idealistic novel than Sense and Sensibility in its description of marriage as a union of the individual and society (Poovey, 1984, p.17). "Single women have a terrible propensity to be poor, which is a very strong argument in favor of marriage. » Jane Austen, Letter to Fanny KnightSense and Sensibility, is also equally frank when it comes to the importance of marrying for money, particularly in the eyes of heroines who are keenly aware of the need for good marry to avoid poverty. Having no relatives willing to support Elinor and Marianne, they are forced to marry above their station as they have no means of earning money for themselves. Fortunately, Austen and moralists of the time agreed that “wealth inequality” is not a barrier to marriage as long as the other party is reciprocal in nature (Jones, 2009, p. 9) . This is true for Elizabeth, Jane, Elinor, and Marianne, who are held in high esteem by their communities, but it is interesting to note that the mercenary men in these novels tend to be presented as anything but worthy of the wealthy women they serve. 'attack. These men, like Austen's heroines, need to marry to live a comfortable life, whereas single men who possess good fortune, even if they need a wife, do not need one. . However, heroines are not predatory and motivated solely by money like men seem to be. In fact, Elizabeth's refusal of two wealthy suitors is the antithesis of Wickham's preying on two wealthy young women, and while Darcy earns $10,000 a year. is not inconsequential, it is not as important to Austen as mutual respect and affection, even at the risk of a “moneyless existence” (Jones, 2009, p. 11). However, Austen is realistic, and perhaps even cynical in that she is romantic, and each of her heroines in need of socioeconomic mobility benefits from it, and Mrs. Bennet's life goal of marrying off her daughters, well that apparently stupid, is an important question to ensure the happiness of his family. “Oh, Lizzy!” Do anything rather than marry without affection. » - Pride and Prejudice, chapter 59. Interestingly, Austen marriages are important as ways of rewarding and punishing behavior, and the happiest Austen marriages are symbiotic unions based on mutual strength of character and are earned after 'hard work, perseverance, love and luck' (Sundari, 2015). The importance of marriage is most important here, particularly the importance of carefully seeking a complementary partner. Elizabeth and Jane's parents are terribly well-matched, as her father does not respect the woman he married after being "dazzled by youth, vivacity and beauty", their daughters are much more cautious, perhaps too cautious according to Charlotte, but nevertheless rewarded for their virtue and judgment (Jones, 2009, p. 21). Women of the time had little autonomy except when it came to marriage, and Austen wisely elevates this decision beyond mere physical compatibility. Lydia makes her choice too quickly, based on passion, and must endure a life of play and flirting from Wickham (Jones, 2009, p. 157). Marianne's marriage to Brandon, to whom she was not initially attracted, reflects Lydia's elopement with Wickham and her own feelings towards Willoughby, if she was.1304048214