Jane Austen is known for the popular theme of matrimony in her novels. Every character in her novels is seeking the perfect match for matrimony and the characters together approach the decision whether their decision of being together was correct or not. The reason why Jane Austen was so obsessed with writing about marriage and courtship was because at her time, marriage was thought to be a very important social event and it was ideal for a woman to find for herself a perfect match. Marriage became a prime theme in the novels because they showed the real position of women at the time who were financially insecure and had to marry men, who might be as undesirable as they seemed, yet they married them for financial security. However, in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s idea of a successful marriage was a marriage based on love and not other attributes, whereas Mary Wollstonecraft considered marriage as a pathway to grant social security to women.
There are many characters in the novel Pride and Prejudice which are involved in marriages, and the process of courting is described by Jane as well. Where at places she clearly identifies certain characters getting married solely on the basis of the other person’s beauty or charm, there are others who are in pursuit of true love which they believe cannot happen at first sight. The example of Jane and Mr. Bingley as well as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is an obvious one. Elizabeth is a character that is shown a very strong, intellectual and resilient woman who does not fall in love simply by the charm of Mr. Darcy. As in the novel, “he is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal.” (Austen 388). It so happens that Austen lets the reader believe that both Elizabeth and Darcy do not like each other in the beginning. However, the love between them is shown through the attraction and tension after the two get to know each other. As Darcy says, “he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expressions of her dark eyes.” (Austen 231). Love in a marriage is successful according to Austen when the bond between the lovers is pure and for each other’s pleasure and concern. It is selfless and done for one’s partner. Elizabeth realizes Darcy’s love for her when he finds out where Lydia and Wickham are and makes Wickham marry her. It is then Austen says, “her heart did whisper that he had done it for her.” (Austen 389).
Mary Wollstonecraft published her work years before Austen, and her work was also centered on women, marriage and their position in society. It would not be wrong to say that she was the first feminist of her time to actually speak against the treatment of women and their scope in society. Austen did follow her in certain ways, and there are certain similarities and differences between the two authors.
Wollstonecraft critiqued the role of women and their job as a homemaker and wife or lover without any other trait or job associated with her. This she proudly writes in her pamphlet, A Vindication of the Rights of Women. “ It is a fact that women spend many early years of their lives acquiring a number of accomplishments; in the meantime, their strength of body and mind are rendered sacrificial to the idea of beauty and to the desire to have themselves established- the only way a woman can rise in the world- by marriage.” (Wollstonecraft 123). Simultaneously Jane Austen agrees with her as the very opening of Pride and Prejudice reads, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (Austen 1). Hence, the two agree that marriage is the ultimatum in a woman’s life in spite
of any other credits to her being. Wollstonecraft mentions another point which is relevant to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice where she writes that many women marry for personal gains and benefits. Wollstonecraft writes, “To rise in the world and have the freedom to go from pleasure to pleasure, they [women] must marry beneficially, and in order to gain this, their time is usually sacrificed, and their own self is misused and disgraced.” (Wollstonecraft 130). This is quote similar to what Austen describes in the case of Lizzie’s and Collins’ marriage, where he proudly claims, “My situation in life, my connections with the family of de Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favor; and you should take it into further consideration, that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you.” (Austen 232).
However, there is a difference in the notion of successful marriage when it comes to them. Wollstonecraft greatly believed successful marriage relied upon the woman standing equal to a man. She said this by saying, “Till women are more rationally educated, the progress in human virtue and improvement in knowledge must receive continual checks.” (Wollstonecraft 108). Austen, on the other hand, believed in the power of love that strengthened the bond between the lovers and this she has depicted through the doubts and differences between Darcy and Elizabeth, “As he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favorable answer. He spoke of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security.” (Austen 167). Further, Austen solidifies the fact that marriages need to be made on the basis of love, not youth and beauty, “Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, [] had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown.” (Austen 239).
Hence, Austen proves her point that a successful marriage is made on the basis of love and mutual understanding between a married couple. Wollstonecraft established her similarities on some points like marriage being done for the sake of social security, and it is the only aim of a woman in her society. Yet she offers a different stream of thought where she encourages women to be educated just as men. Even then, Austen provides her claim that everything is futile except for the love between two people that flourishes only through good understanding.
Work Cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Project Gutenberg. 2008. Web. 28 Feb 2016.
Wollstonecraft, Mary. Vindication to the Rights of Women. Renascence Editions. 1792. Web. 28
Feb 2016.
