Pride and Predjudice
Pride and Predjudice“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” were the words that Shakespeare’s Juliet whispered in Romeo and Juliet to express her feelings of the insignificance of naming. Perhaps this holds true for almost anything in any century. Jane Austen first wanted to call her book “First Impressions,” but finally settled on Jane Austen first wanted to call her book “First Impressions,” but finally settled on Pride and Prejudice. No matter what Austen called her novel, it still “smells as sweet,” and represents the same issues. Austen carefully crafts her novel so that the issue of money, manners and marriage involved are accurate reflections of the English obsessions of the early eighteen hundreds. Yet modern American society has a perspective on money, manners and marriage that contrasts those of Jane Austen’s eighteenth century novel. As a rose goes through its life cycle it sprouts from a tiny bud into a few withering petals. Likewise the themes of money, manners and marriage we see in Pride and Prejudice have drastically changed over time.
Money seems to be of equal importance today as it was in the nineteenth century. Money is what classifies people into a certain social class. In the time of Pride and Prejudice, money, along with property, was not always diligently worked for; money and property was often passed down from generation to generation through the male lines. The Bennets face the threat of losing all of their stability in the future because their family consist of only daughters. “It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.” (pg.46) Mrs. Bennet goes against convention when she argues that Mr. Collins should not get their estate.
“Oh, my dear, I cannot bear to hear that mentioned
Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is
the hardest thing in the world that your estate be entailed
away from your own children; and I am sure that if I had
been you, I should have tried long ago to do something
or other about it… and I think it was very impertinent
that he write you at all , and very hypocritical. I hate
such false friends…” (p.46)
Money is always a conflict in the Bennet household. As the Bennet daughters approach the age of marriage, money becomes an issue that haunts the family. As a dowry is being prepared for their youngest daughter Lydia, the issue of money comes up. An unknown source pays for Lydia’s wedding, and Mr. Bennet feels obligated to repay whomever it was. Assuming that Mr. Gardiner paid for the wedding, Mr. Bennet worries how he will ever repay his brother.
“But there are two things that I want very much to know-
one is, how much money your uncle laid down to bring
it about; and the other,...
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