Pride and Prejudice :: English Literature

pride and PrejudiceIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man inpossession of wide-cut fortune, must be in expect of a wife.Taken from Jane Austens classic novel, Pride and Prejudice, this isprobably one of the most famous opening sentences in faceliterature. It is clear to gibe from this one sentence that the novelis going to be about money, marriage and morals. The question is, fromwhose perspective, is a single, rich man in want of a wife?As we begin to read the novel, it becomes apparent that it is Mrs bennet who believes that all rich, single men must be in want of awife when she says at the beginning of the very first chapter, Asingle man of large fortune four or five thousand a year. What a lovelything for our girls, (volume 1, chapter 1, page 1). Mr and Mrs Bennethave just five daughters. Unfortunately for them, they have no sonsand in the time of Jane Austen writing Pride and Prejudice, it wasonly the sons who could, and would, get the wealth of the fam ily.Therefore, with the Bennets having just daughters, it meant that theclosest male relative, a cousin in this instance named Mr Collins, tothe head of the household, Mr Bennet, would inherit his wealth. Theladies would then be leftfield having to rely on family and would hope tobe bidd with all they needed. So, it was imperative to Mrs Bennetthat at least one of her daughters, if not all, married well. Wellenough to be able to provide security for herself, the other daughtersand of course, Mrs Bennet, should anything glide by to Mr Bennet. Infact, as we see at the beginning of chapter three, when Mrs Bennetsays, If I can see unless one of my daughters jubilantly settled atNetherfield, and the others equally well married, I shall have nothingto wish for, (volume 1, chapter 3, page 5), that she would want fornothing else.As interactions between potential couples didnt happen very often, itwas difficult for them to get to know each other properly. Generally,the only chance poten tial couples had of interacting with each otherwas at convocation balls, arranged by fellow family members or friends.Even then, they didnt get much chance of privacy and could only chatprivately whilst leaping. To be fond of dancing was a reliable steptowards falling in love, (volume1, chapter 3, page 5).As we progress through the novel, we see the heir to Mr Bennetswealth, Mr Collins, plan to marry one of the Bennet girls as an housePride and Prejudice English LiteraturePride and PrejudiceIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man inpossession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife.Taken from Jane Austens classic novel, Pride and Prejudice, this isprobably one of the most famous opening sentences in Englishliterature. It is clear to see from this one sentence that the novelis going to be about money, marriage and morals. The question is, fromwhose perspective, is a single, rich man in want of a wife?As we begin to read the novel, it becomes apparent that it is MrsBennet who believes that all rich, single men must be in want of awife when she says at the beginning of the very first chapter, Asingle man of large fortune four or five thousand a year. What a finething for our girls, (volume 1, chapter 1, page 1). Mr and Mrs Bennethave just five daughters. Unfortunately for them, they have no sonsand in the time of Jane Austen writing Pride and Prejudice, it wasonly the sons who could, and would, inherit the wealth of the family.Therefore, with the Bennets having just daughters, it meant that theclosest male relative, a cousin in this instance named Mr Collins, tothe head of the household, Mr Bennet, would inherit his wealth. Theladies would then be left having to rely on family and would hope tobe provided with all they needed. So, it was imperative to Mrs Bennetthat at least one of her daughters, if not all, married well. Wellenough to be able to provide security for herself, the other daughtersand of course, Mrs Bennet, should anythin g happen to Mr Bennet. Infact, as we see at the beginning of chapter three, when Mrs Bennetsays, If I can see but one of my daughters happily settled atNetherfield, and the others equally well married, I shall have nothingto wish for, (volume 1, chapter 3, page 5), that she would want fornothing else.As interactions between potential couples didnt happen very often, itwas difficult for them to get to know each other properly. Generally,the only chance potential couples had of interacting with each otherwas at assembly balls, arranged by fellow family members or friends.Even then, they didnt get much chance of privacy and could only chatprivately whilst dancing. To be fond of dancing was a sure steptowards falling in love, (volume1, chapter 3, page 5).As we progress through the novel, we see the heir to Mr Bennetswealth, Mr Collins, plan to marry one of the Bennet girls as an offer