Jane Austen is satirizing the institution of marriage as
it was considered in her day. In 1800 England, many women married, not for emotional or
romantic intentions, but for social and economic security, and this caused a bit of
dissatisfaction. Austen is clearly critical of a society where it is nearly impossible
for women to be financially independent, and who are therefore forced into marriages for
convenience. This is most clearly evidenced by the marriage of Charlotte Lucas to Mr.
Collins. Charlotte very early in the novel tells Elizabeth that love in a marriage
isn't important to her, so her marrying the rather annoying Mr. Collins doesn't come as
that big of a surprise. If Charlotte had not married, she would have been destitute, so
she makes the only choice she can towards self-preservation, and marries Collins. She
makes the best of her situation and lives a comfortablee if not loving and joyful
life.
The fact that Elizabeth is in a similarly dire
situation but refuses Collins's proposal and states, emphatically, that she will only
marry for love also emphasizes the satire. As the hero of the story, Austen makes it
clear that this is the better attitude to have and this is the ideal that women should
be allowed to live to. Elizabeth's strength in refusing not one but two unacceptable
proposals is to be applauded, and we can then doubly enjoy the wonderful, romantic happy
ending where Elizabeth gets it all -- the wealth, and more importantly, the
love.
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