Throughout class discussions, we have talked about the theme of marriage in Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which sets the beginning of the novel by stating "It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife". However, this fragment means the opposite of what it states, that is, every single woman is in desperate need of a husband who possesses a good fortune.
Now, what I would like to address is if this vision of women wanting to pursuit a good marriage has changed over the years (centuries).
To begin with, as it was depicted on the novel the results of bad marriages can lead to a monotonous life such as Mr. Bennet who found himself isolated in the comfort of his library to avoid contact with his unbeautified wife, Mrs Bennet who did not turn out to be an educated lady, proud to be shown in society and well-contacted woman.
Back then, making the right choice of whom to marry was the woman's life insurance of happiness and well-being as Charlotte Lucas' character represents in the novel.
Money has always been in the picture when it comes to marriage, for example, a woman used to get marry by dowry, that is "an amount of property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage day", which served as the price for her marrying a man.
Nevertheless, this dowry was a small price to pay if the soon-to-be-husband was a wealthy man who could provide the woman a comfortable and even luxurious lifestyle. However, the concern behind marriage is that it was a sort of imposed or almost semi-arrange that the daughters should marry a man of good fortune for the sake of the family's honor.
Henceforth, this has made me wonder if marrying a person for social-economical purposes is still a matter that occurs nowadays, and I have found out that a man's earning power is a key factor for a woman's expectation of marriage (Schulman, 2003). As an annecdote, I recall watching an afternoon brazilian soap opera where one of the character once said "first you marry for interest (meaning money), and then you divorce well, and then you marry for the second time for love"; the reason behind this character statement was social movility, assuring her state by making the executive decision of marrying well a first time, so that later in life she could enjoy her wealth with the man she truly loved who could not give her the economical support she desired at an early stage in life.
However, I have also found out that despite that there are women who find their jackpot husbands to provide for them and to have them as trophy wives; nowadays, both men and women are who are "highly educated – and therefore have higher income potential – are more likely to choose each other as spouses" (Linn, 2003), rather than leaving the possibility open for lower-educated women or men to move up the social-economical ladder through marrying an educated and wealthy person.
So, do you believe that marrying someone for their money and goods will fulfill you as a person and therefore grant you a life full of happiness?
References:
- Jane Austen´s Pride and Prejudice novel.
- http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dowry
- Schulman, D. (2003). http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200305/women-marry-money
-Linn, A. (2013). http://www.today.com/money/marriage-luxury-good-class-divide-who-gets-married-divorced-8C11457474
I do agree with most of what you have said. However, I strongly believe that Austen was not only trying to say ''every single woman is in desperate need of a husband who possesses a good fortune''.
ResponderEliminarOn the one hand, I think that she wanted to state that women during those time were in a desperate search for a men who were prestigious, honorable, educated and had a fortune. But on the other hand, I also believe that Austen is trying to tell us that getting married and picking a husband is more than a simple search. On the contrary, it should be a well-thought decision, she is inviting us to reflect a bit more, and to express that women should not get married because of first impressions or be deceived by people.
Austen's conception of marriage promotes equality and balance. That is one of the reasons why women need to be accomplished, to be as good as men. Marriage should be an instance where men and women are equal.
All in all, Jane is telling us that women should make a good choice based on good judgment not based on survival.
I agree on the point that the current tendency is to marry someone to gain something. That the decision is not just pure love. But first of all, I do not think that we can generalize. I think that paying for the bride or to the groom ( depending on the culture) is not a viable choice anymore because of the uncertainty of a lasting marriage. People does not marry forever anymore, so Why would I invest on that?
ResponderEliminarSecond of all, I believe in marriage in the "forever" terms, and I have to agree with Sussy in the sense that it is not just about love, or money, but ideals and standards of life. My dad taught me marriage as a contract, as a society. You and your partner are beginning a society for life, having a business mindset, you would not start a society with someone just because of money, feeling or just because, you will really think it through. Your future, life, children, household, safety is in stake. So nope, there are bad marriages in low and high societies, and if I were I future to be bride, I would think it twice, three times and five times.