Pride and Prejudice - the Difference in Marriage Views Held by Charlotte and Elizabeth

Charlotte Lucas and Elizabeth Bennet have very contrasting views on marriage and love which proves to be a very central and examined prominent theme throughout the novel. Through Charlotte and Elizabeth's actions and words throughout the novel, the reader comes to see two extremely contrasting view points on marriage, one where Charlotte believes in marriage for material advantages and benefits and Elizabeth's view on marriage being one centred around romance and love. In this essay we will delve deeper into the views Charlotte and Elizabeth hold on marriage and love and how contrasting these two view points are.

In chapter 6, where Charlotte states "happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance," the reader can see that Charlotte believes that there is little chance of happiness in marriage, therefore showing her opinion that people should marry for reasons other than happiness as it is most unlikely that it happiness will be achieved. Charlotte then proceeds to say "If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life." Here she shows her view that people change in marriage and so she thinks that the amount of time two people know each other before they marry is of very little importance and quite meaningless. There is evidence of her belief in this opinion she holds where she agrees to marry Mr Collins after taking very little time to get to know him. She believes that a woman must first capture her man in marriage and must then grow to love him in her own time after she is married to him. In the same extract Elizabeth shows that she views marriage and love differently and believes that Charlotte's view is not sound or correct. Here we see the two contrasting ideas on marriage, which could be thought of as one of the most important points throughout the novel.

Charlotte Lucas takes a pragmatic and materialistic view on marriage. Her views on marriage for material reasons and her attitude on love show that she does not view men or matrimony highly. Because Charlotte Lucas is a pragmatist, she has come to see herself as not pretty or wealthy and therefore looks for marriage for material reasons such as financial stability and not for reasons of love. She views marriage as only necessary for a comfortable lifestyle and financial security. She reveals that she does not believe that romance is a possibility in her life or in a marriage for herself, and therefore shows that she does not believe in true love being a reason for two to marry. Charlotte believes that people change in marriage and so it does not matter how long a man and woman know each other for before taking one