“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours and laugh at them in our turn?”

Extracted from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

The novels of Jane Austen provide a compelling exploration of the nuanced roles of love, convenience, and arrangement in courtship and marriage during the early 19th century. Austen's work invites readers into the drawing rooms of the English gentry, where social conventions and personal aspirations intertwine to form intricate narratives of romance. This essay aims to explore and compare the various types of marriages or courtships found in Austen's novels, focusing on their motivations and outcomes.

Jane Austen's novels prominently feature courtships and marriages borne out of mutual affection and understanding. Arguably the most famous example is the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice." Their romance starts from a place of misunderstanding and prejudice but evolves into a profound mutual respect and love. Austen's opening line, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife," [1] sets the stage for the matrimonial motif. In the Bennet household, marriage is seen as a necessity for the daughters, driven more by economic security than love. This courtship displays Austen's belief in the importance of personal growth and understanding in a successful relationship. This type of marriage based on love is more appropriate and appealing simply because they allow individuals to choose their partners based on their own preferences and desires, which creates a stronger emotional connection between partners, as they are not forced into a relationship due to external factors such as social status or financial stability. Love-based relationships also tend to be more fulfilling and satisfying, as individuals are able to express themselves freely and be accepted for who they are. Additionally, love-based relationships are more likely to last, as partners are committed to each other for genuine reasons, rather than just for practical considerations.

Austen portrays various marriages, each highlighting different aspects of relationships. The matrimonial union of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet leads to an unhealthy familial environment. In contrast, Jane and Mr. Bingley's marriage is based on mutual love and respect, painting a more idealized picture of matrimony. However, the central romantic plot – Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's courtship – captures Austen's nuanced exploration of marriage. Their relationship evolves from initial prejudice and wounded pride to understanding and love, implying that successful marriage requires time, understanding, and the willingness to overlook social status for personal happiness.

Similarly, in "Persuasion," Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth's long-standing relationship is characterized by deep love. It is an exploration of second chances in love and marriage. Unlike other Austen novels, the protagonist, Anne Elliot, is an older heroine who has already rejected a marriage proposal from Captain Wentworth, the man she loved, due to societal pressure and persuasion. However, their love is initially thwarted by societal expectations and Anne's persuasion by her well-meaning, though misguided, mentor, Lady Russell. The novel depicts Anne's quiet suffering and eventual reunion with Captain Wentworth, underscoring the theme of enduring love. Austen's focus on the idea of a successful marriage being based on love and compatibility, rather than social standing and fortune, is evident. Anne and Wentworth's eventual union, after years of regret and longing, affirms the value of personal happiness over societal norms.

Austen also explores the theme of marriages arranged out of convenience or societal expectation. In Sense and Sensibility, Austen explores the matrimonial motif through the Dashwood sisters, who represent the title's dual themes. Elinor, embodying sense, and Marianne, representing sensibility, navigate love, heartbreak, and eventual marriage. Elinor's quiet love for Edward Ferrars, who is engaged to another due to a past indiscretion, highlights the need for rationality in choosing a partner. Elinor's patience and Edward's sense of honor eventually lead to their union, demonstrating the importance of character in marital success. On the other hand, Marianne's passionate and imprudent attachment to John Willoughby, who abandons her for a wealthy match, leads to heartbreak. Marianne eventually marries Colonel Brandon, a man of quiet, steady love, signifying a matured understanding of love and marriage.

Mansfield Park offers a darker view of marriage, depicting it as a tool for social and economic advancement. Fanny Price, a poor relation living with her wealthy Bertram cousins, is the quiet observer of matrimonial machinations around her. The Crawford siblings, Mary and Henry, embody the dangerous allure of charm without principle.Fanny's steadfastness in rejecting Henry Crawford, despite his persistent proposals and societal pressure, shows Austen's emphasis on character and moral integrity in choosing a marital partner. The happy ending, Fanny's marriage to her cousin Edmund, shows a reward for her steadfast morality. Fanny's successful marriage is not based on wealth or charm, but on mutual respect, shared values, and enduring love.

Moving to the comparison between love types, in which Austen's novels often include couples in long-standing relationships, providing a contrast to the budding romances of the central characters. In "Emma," Mr. and Mrs. Weston represent a successful marriage based on mutual respect and affection, serving as a positive model for Emma herself. The love in "Emma" is portrayed as a gradual and complex process, rather than an instant attraction. Emma's feelings for Mr. Knightley develop over time as she comes to appreciate his intelligence, kindness, and integrity. Similarly, Mr. Knightley's love for Emma grows as he observes her growth and maturity throughout the novel. The novel also explores the theme of unrequited love through the character of Harriet Smith, a young woman who falls in love with a man above her social status. Emma tries to match Harriet with various suitors, but Harriet's heart remains set on the man she loves. This unrequited love serves as a contrast to the more genuine and reciprocal love between Emma and Mr. Knightley. Similarly, again in "Persuasion," Admiral and Mrs. Croft's happy marriage counters the unhappy ones surrounding them, further emphasizing the importance of mutual affection and respect in a lasting relationship.

Through these relationships, Austen subtly critiques the societal norms and expectations surrounding marriage in her era. Love-based marriages, like Elizabeth and Darcy or Anne and Wentworth, often face societal obstacles but ultimately result in happier unions. One of the main advantages of love-based marriages is that they are based on a strong emotional connection between the partners. This emotional bond can provide a solid foundation for the relationship and help the partners weather difficult times. In addition, love-based marriages are often more fulfilling and satisfying because the partners have chosen each other based on mutual attraction and compatibility. Conversely, marriages of convenience, like Lucy and Robert or Maria and Mr. Rushworth, are generally depicted as lacking in mutual respect and happiness. However, they can provide financial security and stability for the partners and can be less emotionally charged and more stable than love-based marriages because they are not based on intense feelings of attraction or desire.

Martha Bailey has said in her work [2] specifically investigating Austen work, that “Austen conveys the lived reality of those subject to early nineteenth-century laws relating to the economic arrangements of marriage, pre-marital sex, the marriage of relatives, clandestine and underage marriage, divorce, and adulterine bastardy.” This unique perspective has inspired me to dive deeper into Austen’s works and realize how Jane conveys her point of view in every single word and has profound impact on future generations’ understanding of love.

In conclusion, Jane Austen's novels provide a rich tapestry of matrimonial motifs that reflect the societal values and personal aspirations of her time. Each novel presents diverse perspectives on marriage, interweaving themes of love, society, morality, and individual choice. Austen subtly critiques societal norms surrounding matrimony, arguing that a successful union must prioritize love, respect, and personal happiness over social status and wealth. Her novels remain timeless due to their explorations of the human heart's complexities within the framework of societal norms and expectations. They offer insightful commentary on the motivations behind courtship and marriage, presenting a nuanced picture of romantic relationships in the early 19th century. Through her work, Austen encourages her readers to consider the importance of love, respect, and personal growth in successful relationships, a message that remains pertinent even in contemporary society.

Throughout her novels, Austen validates the importance of love and mutual understanding as the cornerstone of a successful marriage, while scrutinizing the societal expectations that often hinder the formation of such relationships. Her enduring popularity attests to the universal appeal of her insights into the complex.

Work Cited

[1] Austen J. Pride and Prejudice[M]. 1940. T. Egerton, Whitehall, 1813.

[2] Bailey, Martha. “The Marriage Law of Jane Austen’s World.” Persuasions On-Line 36.1 (2015) Accessed 6 January 2021.