The Use of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice to Present the Nature of an Ideal Relationship With a social and cultural context where marriage was assumed to be of great importance, Jane Austen uses a number of marriages to expose and satirize societal values of the age, and to explore the nature of the ideal marriage. Austen portrays a true and ideal marriage to be one where economic and social compatibility is encompassed with love and the union of minds. In the novel, all marriages, except Elizabeth and Darcy’s, appear to be deficient in the values necessary for an ideal marriage. The marriage of the Bennets is an imprudent one, a union of a reasonably intelligent man with an inane wife. The suggestion that the initial attraction was purely physical elucidates that the relationship is based on superficial grounds. Mr. Bennet’s lack of satisfaction in his marriage leads him to shut himself from reality, failing to procure the masculine control that Austen regards as central in a successful relationship. Austen thus portrays marriage as a patriarchal institution, elucidating a perfect marriage to be one where the male takes control and the female allows for the “meeting of minds”. Like the Bennets, the marriage between Lydia and Wickham is also flawed. Their relationship is one where physical desire outweighs reason, decency and good sense, with “their passions stronger than their virtue.” Lydia’s infatuation with the “uniform” and desire for social standing, and Wickham’s desire for financial inducements leads them to marry for entirely wrong reasons. By stepping outside the social norms of her society, Lydia makes herself vulnerable to ostracism, and by breaking the rules of society (that Austen herself supports), their marriage is doomed to fail. In the novel, Charlotte Lucas presents a pragmatic view on marriage, declaring that “happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance”. Her marriage to Mr. Collins is to gain in establishment and acquire social standing and economic stability. It is through Charlotte Lucas that Austen illustrates the dire economic and social plight faced by unmarried women in the eighteenth century. The superficial nature of Collins’ love is made abundantly clear by Austen through his earnest desire to appease his patroness, by the ease with which he is able to transfer from one marriage object to another and the absurdity of his emotions. While the Collins’ relationship has social standing and economic security, it is entirely deficient in the affection and intellectual union that Austen regards as quintessential in a true marriage. The marriage of the Gardiners is superior to that of the Collins in terms of affection, intelligence integrity as well as economic stability. However, Austen’s realistic appraisal of eighteenth century society finds their relationship inferior due to its lack of rank and status. Similarly, Jane and Bingley [at the end of the novel] come to enjoy affection, position and economic security. However, their relationship is delineated to be lacking in depth of feeling and intelligence, and is a union of less intelligent minds, less self-awareness and Bingley’s weak irresolution. By comparison with all other marriages in the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy’s is the ideal by Austen’s standards - meeting the highest criteria of love, character and fortune. Theirs is a relationship of mutual respect and love, based on moral integrity and an understanding of each other as well as themselves, while possessing economic wealth and status. The marriages in Pride and Prejudice thus portray and advocate patriarchy within the economic system, social standing and society as a whole. Jane Austen therefore portrays marriage as a patriarchal institution where economic, social and intellectual compatibility as well as love must be present for the relationship to succeed. Marriage in Pride and Prejudice "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." Jane Austen provides subsequent argument with the first line of her novel, Pride and Prejudice. A statement that remains true to this very day. Austen's' first statement sets up the beginning of the novel. She states that a man, financially well off, but with no mate to accompany him to share in his wealth, is undoubtedly in search of a wife. In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy play the role of the rich men. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are the parents of five unwed daughters. Mr. And Mrs. Bennet have conflicting thoughts about the arrival of the rich neighbors. Mr. Bennet thinks nothing of it. He has no new thoughts about the arrival of Bingley and Darcy. Mrs. Bennet sees flashing lights. She views it as the perfect chance to automatically place a few of her five daughters into the rich community. Marrying off her daughters serves as the main purpose in Mrs. Bennet's life. Mrs. Bennet wants her husband to go and make a greeting to the new crowd. Her plans are to get in contact with them and make aware her five unmarried daughters. Mrs. Bennet encourages her daughter, Jane, to set her sights on Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bennet's' sarcastic comments prove his disconcert on the whole topic. When Jane is invited to meet with Mr. Bingley and his sister, Mrs. Bennet suggests that she go by horseback in hopes that she could probably get ill and extend her stay. Mrs. Bennet's' mind is always thinking of ways to marry off her daughters. Her idea works to perfection and Jane ends up staying longer. Mrs. Bennet goes to work again at the arrival of Mr. Collins, Mr. Bennet's' cousin. Mr. Collins stays at the Bennet's house for a short time. He will inherit Longbourn when Mr. Bennet dies since he will be the only, close male relative. Mr. Collins first intentions are toward Jane, but Ms. Bennet informs him of Bingley. Collins then changes his target to Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet is astounded at the rejection from Elizabeth. She does everything in her power to try to persuade her to marry Collins. Mrs. Bennet views Collins as a successful Reverend with a prosperous future who would be a good choice for Elizabeth. Elizabeth will have no such thing, and denies Collin. Her father also supports Elizabeth's decision not to accept the proposal. Marriage serves as the main element in Austen's' novel Pride and Prejudice. Mrs. Bennet's' preconception with her daughters and their mates leads her to be almost a social misfit. Behaving irregularly at public ball and events, she constantly sets a bad name for her family. On the other side, Mr. Bennet's' traditional ways of thinking of not trying to force marriage, but let it come naturally, contrast greatly with his wife.