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Courtship In Pride And Prejudice And Great Expectations Essay, Research Paper

In Pride and Prejudice and Great Expectations the theme of courtship is found throughout the novel. In Pride and Prejudice Austen depicts courtship through the young Bennet sisters particularly, Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Bennet. Similarly, in Great Expectations Dickens depicts courtship through Pip s search for love, and the marriages of Biddy and Joe and Estella and Drummle. Austen and Dickens both take on the important concept of courtship and in different ways exemplify the important moral, philosophical and social issues that are reveled through courtship. In Austen s novel the question regarding motives for marriage and circumstances under which people choose a marriage partner arises; whereas, in Dickens novel, infatuation is mistaken for true love and marriages based on companionship prove to result in a happier outcome than those based on social status.

One of the main themes of Pride and Prejudice is stated in the first sentence of the novel: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (Austen 5). In this statement, Austen has cleverly done three things: she has declared that the main subject of the novel will be courtship and marriage, she has established the humorous tone of the novel by taking a simple subject to elaborate and to speak intelligently of, and she has prepared the reader for a chase in the novel of either a husband in search of a wife, or a women in pursuit of a husband. The first line also defines Jane s book as a piece of literature that connects itself to the 18th century period. Pride and Prejudice is 18th century because of the emphasis on man in his social environment rather than in his individual conditions. David Monaghan notes, the use of satire and wit, a common form of 18th century literature, also contributes to label the book as 18th century (Monaghan 15). In the figure of Elizabeth, Jane Austen shows passion attempting to find a valid mode of existence in society. Passion and reasons also comes together in the novel to show that they are complementary of marriage.

The marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth reveals the characteristics that constitute a successful marriage. One of these characteristics is that feeling cannot be brought on by appearances, and must gradually develop between the two people as they get to know one another. In the beginning, Elizabeth and Darcy were distant from each other because of their prejudice. Elizabeth has no real feelings for Darcy at the beginning of the novel, where he is seen as having a strong sense of social superiority and pride. It is not until Elizabeth pairs her impressions of Rosings and Pemberly that she is finally able to achieve a more introspective view into aristocracy that she begins to understand Darcy. Similarly, David Monaghan notes, it is not until Darcy meets with Mr. Collins and Sir William Lucas at Rosings and the Gardiners at Pemberly that he gains a more clear understanding of the middle-class (Monaghan 68). One of Darcy and Elizabeth s first encounters sets the stage for these misunderstandings to occur at the Netherfield Ball. Monaghan notes that the entire dance invitation motif surrounds the aura of courtship, and the Netherfield ball scene serves as a microcosm of the relationships and issues that arise during the first part of the novel (Monaghan 69). Mrs. Bennet, whose own marriage is nothing close to ideal, only wants her daughters to get married. For example, when Bingley arrives at Netherfield the Bennet household is filled with nothing else but endless chatter about the mysterious Bingley. In fact Mrs. Bennet s mind soars into a whirlwind of thoughts regarding her daughters and Bingley; partners for the evening or partners for life, her thought almost become interchangeable as Mrs. Bennet only thinks of matrimony: To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley s heart were entertained. If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield, said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, and all others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for (Austen 11).

At the Meryton Ball when the charming Bingley asks Darcy to join in the dancing: Which do you mean? and turning around, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew he own and coldly said, She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me, and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by young men (Austen 13). Darcy could not resist Elizabeth s beauty despite his feelings of Meryton society, but no sooner had me made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes (Austen 26). Soon after Darcy s realization he learns to separate his feelings between Elizabeth and her world.

Because Darcy s attitude to her society is no better than it was when he rejected Bingley s similar proposal at the Meryton ball, Elizabeth is quite justified in refusing him. After the Meryton Ball, when Elizabeth assures her mother, I may safely promise you never to dance with him (Austen 19). Elizabeth s true understanding of Darcy is exemplified in her conversation with Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte believes: His pride .does not offend me so much as his pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud (Austen 21). Elizabeth on the other hand, believes that because of his pride the aristocrat is inevitably offensive in his dealings with those he considers to be his inferiors when she says, I could

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