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Overview

Pride and Prejudice is the flagship novel of Jane Austen in which she leaves aside other "trending" happenings in Great Britain's neighbourhood and focuses on pre-martial, martial and after-martial life in England and universally speaking, in every country. The theme of love and marriage are implemented in such a way that it is hard to separately discuss in the perspective of the novel. The theme of love and marriage go hand in hand in the particular novel.

Theme of Love

What is love? In Shakespearean eyes, it is "blind". In case of Pride and Prejudice, it is rendered as a blind insinuation by most of the characters in the particular novel.

Love between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet

The love triangle between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet is a good example of first sighted love and "eternal" agitation after marriage. They fall in love immediately after eying each other's beauty and saving them into their hearts. But such lovely warmth lasted till their marriage and once being loved are detached because of their mental incompatibility. Mr. Bennet is liberal minded but his "Youth Captivating" wife ends up losing the ability of understanding after getting married. That is why one is seen reading books while the other is seen busy in setting up her daughters to marriage. Their mental incompatibility has an adverse effect in bringing up their daughters properly.

“Her father, captivated by youth and beauty … had married a woman whose weak understanding and liberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her.”

Love between Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet

The relation of love between Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet is rather first-sighted but their mental compatibility takes their relationship to the next level. Their relationship in the novel is described as thus:

“Still they will be happy because Bingley is too good to offend consciously and Jane is too good not to forgive even any offense.”

They are not only drawn by enamouring looks but by the similar interests and traits. Both are sympathetic, loving and most importantly, problem solvers. They play a key role in drilling up the walls of pride and prejudice between Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Love between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet

It is a ball party in Meryton and a proud aristocrat utters the following words when he is suggested to dance with his future lady:

"She is tolerable. But not handsome enough to tempt me. "

Such sharp remarks are overheard by the lady and that is how the verbal seed of pride and prejudice grows into full-blown tree. But love continues to thrive inwardly and Charles Bingley, his closest friend along with Jane Bennet bring their saws to cut down the tree. Later, the revealance of Darcy helping the Bennet family from being demoralized by the society removes the roots of pride and prejudice and the novel ends happily with the marriage of the two sincere lovers.

Love Between Wickham and Lydia Bennet

Sincere love is rare but the relationship of love between Wickham and Lydia Bennet is purely based upon deception on part of Wickham. Wickham, a scoundrel, who is in search of possible preys to intensify his financial lust, throws the net of feign love on Lydia. She falls in the trap and elopes with him before marriage.

“They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheep situation, and always spending more than they ought. His affection for her soon sunk into indifference; hers lasted a little longer.”

She loves him sincerely but the truth soon dawns upon her and she realizes her folly. Fitzwilliam Darcy helps the illegal couple through his money to retain Lydia's good name.

Theme of Marriage

Marriage in Pride and Prejudice holds a significant point. Marriage has been termed as a necessity and an outcome of love. Let's unveil how?

Necessity of Marriage

Looking outside of the space of the novel, in Austen's time, it was considered immoral to stay single. Austen writes the following lines to her niece, Fenny Knight:

"Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor - which is a very strong argument in favour of matrimony."

Well, Austen asserts the fact that marriage is necessary to regain the domestic financial satisfaction. Why does Mrs. Bennet is anxious about her daughters' marriage? The first obvious reason is to retain her daughters' social status. Secondly, to eliminate their financial pressure by marrying to wealthy people.

Marriage as an Outcome of Love

In Pride and Prejudice, marriage has shown as an outcome of love. But the concept of love differs from character to character. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet love each other on the basis of their good looks. But their marriage is not successful. Darcy and Elizabeth gradually develop a love triangle after noticing sincerity on other's end. Jane and Bingley follow the same rule of falling in love through beauty and wit of the lovers. Wickham loves Lydia to attain more coins and she ends up eloping with him before marriage. Charlotte does not love Mr. Collins. She only marries him under economic pressure (and to retain their family estate). This is what Lydia says to her husband:

“I am not romantic[,] you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home.”

Conclusion

Through one older and four fresh marriages in the novel, Austen tries to teach us what is best for us in martial life. Love before marriage is idealistic if it is sensuous and love is a building block if it is based on mutual understanding. If such love continues to evolve after marriage then it is a perfect marriage in the eyes of Jane Austen.

Themes of Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice