One of the most obvious themes of this novel is marriage. That said, the first passage that stood out to me as I was reading Austen’s novel happens when Charlotte becomes engaged to Mr. Collins:
The whole family, in short, were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte’s dying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still, he would be her husband. — Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it. (Austen, 120).
What I find so interesting about this quote is the stake the entire family seems to have in the engagement of one of its daughters. The bride herself feels “lucky” for becoming engaged to a man at her age, especially “without having ever been handsome,” despite the fact that Mr. Collins is such an unagreeable man to take as a husband. Then of course there are her sisters to consider, who are rejoicing about the union because it means that they could be given the chance to be married soon next. Finally, the brothers are grateful to not have to worry about the shame and expense of a sister who is an old maid. For a modern reader such as myself, these motives are highly unsatisfying in seeing characters get married. It in no way evokes the same kind of reaction from me as when reading about Jane and Lizzy’s engagements. Their bridegrooms at least seem to be men whom they admire and love. For Charlotte, the entire marriage is more of convenience and advantage, just like Mr. Bumble’s in Oliver Twist.
The tone of this passage seems to suggest that Austen’s novel views this aspect of society, where women marry only for the advantage of their family and to avoid becoming an old maid, with contempt. The description of Mr. Collins that Lizzy gives us here is what really sets this contemptuous tone. The suggestion that his attachment, “must be imaginary” is a comical way to represent his character. This description also inspires sympathy from the reader for Charlotte, who has no interest in either men or marriage. However, as stated about, “it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune. This suggests that to not marry would make a woman of such social rank stupid. The comparison of the marriage to a preservation of self is another example of how the language is inspiring the reader to feel sympathy for Charlotte, and contempt for the way in which society is forcing her to merely preserve herself from a wanting status, whether that include want of money or relations. As this passage suggests, not getting married would be shameful for the entire family, and leave the girl not only broke, but unfavorable to her friends and relatives.
Good points here, Maggie. I agree: Austen is certainly interested in the motivations involved in marriage. If you think back to the opening chapter, where Mrs. Bennet is determined to get Mr. Bennet to visit their new rich neighbor, you find that this novel starts to offer this critique of the marriage market from its very opening. And yet Austen is careful to marry her protagonists to men who are suitable and wealthy! She seems to be critical of a marriage based just on passion (think of Lydia!) So perhaps her critique of the marriage market isn’t quite as straightforward as we might think!