P&P #1-7 Analysis

            The reoccurring theme of pride dominates Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as materialistic and personal values of marriage regulate society. The novel begins with a direct statement regarding the societal requirements of marriage: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (Austen 5). According to Mrs. Bennet, she makes the assertion that marriage and material worth coincide with each other. The more money individuals inherit, the better the chances are for these individuals to marry. The fact that she responds with “A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” (Austen 6) accentuates how materialistic worth is the defining concept of marriage. Later in the novel, Elizabeth remarks that “I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve [love] entirely away” (Austen 45). Throughout the beginning of the novel, marriage has been solely defined by inheritance. The interest in materialistic worth exceeds the interest for sheer love, even though Charlotte explains that “there are a very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement” (Austen 22-23). In a society that seeks out materialistic worth, men are only allowed to gain access to marriage if they posses high materialistic worth. Pride, a result from high social status, is the result of favorableness among individuals in society. The characters throughout then novel exhibit pride in the sense that the amount of pride an individual has defines what their social status is as seen in Elizabeth’s remark to Mr. Darcy, “I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine” (Austen 21). Pride, social status, and materialistic wealth all come into play in terms of marriage. Though Elizabeth proclaims that her pride is crushed since she overheard Mr. Darcy saying that she does not please him, pride plays a crucial role in being accepted into society. As Mary states, “Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others to think of us” (Austen 21). Elizabeth’s pride is lost, and as a result, her social standing is crumbed based on her own opinion of herself. To others, she still remains a possibility for a suitable marriage. Marriage, as a whole, is dictated by internal assessments along with an individual’s materialistic wealth.