Meredith Martin

Ms. Free
AP Language 4th pd.
30 March 2017

The Beginning

In Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, the first chapter introduces the major themes set

throughout the rest of the novel. In the first chapter, Austens irony and sarcasm about marriage

reveal her disappointment and irritation towards the conditions and necessities involved in the

practice; Mr. Bennets indifference towards the arrival of Mr. Bingley reflects his lack of

responsibility towards his duty to his daughters; Mrs. Bennets intense and extravagant nature

towards the situation mirror the intensity of the consequences if their daughters are not married.

Austen starts this novel by saying, It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single

man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Quickly, she reveals her opinion

towards marriage with the use of sarcasm in the very first line. In this time period, women cannot

work, therefore they need a husband who is wealthy to have a comfortable life. In contrast,

Austen states that it is the man with the good fortune who is in need of a wife. This irony reflects

on the importance of wealth in a marriage. Austen goes further by saying this truth is so well

fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some

one or other of their daughters. The irony in this statement is found in the man being considered

the property. In reality, after a woman is married, she becomes the property of her husband.

Throughout the entire novel, typically wealth and property dominate the conversation whenever

a marriage offer is a possibility. One thing that is not generally mentioned when discussing a

marriage is love. The lack of love mentioned in the first chapter reveals how little of importance

it is. Austens irony towards wealthy, property, and womens rights, or lack thereof, reflect her
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disappointment with marriage and the need she feels for the conditions of a union to change. This

change occurs in Elizabeths needs for marriage. Elizabeth views love as a necessity for marriage

instead of a desire. Austen also uses this first chapter to introduce the theme around Mr. Bennet.

Throughout the first chapter, along with the novel as a whole, Mr. Bennet is very

detached from the rest of the family. With the arrival of Mr. Bingley, Mr. Bennet made no

answer to his wifes pestering questions. When asked if he would go visit Mr. Bingley, his

answer was I see no occasion for that. Mr. Bennets teasing Mrs. Bennet about Mr. Bingley

shows his lack of seriousness towards the subject. Mrs. Bennet, though intense and silly about

the subject, is trying to marry off one of their daughters. Even though Mr. Bennet is joking with

Mrs. Bennet, his not realizing the seriousness of the situation, provides insight to his

irresponsibility as a father. This irresponsibility leads to terrible decisions and problems later on.

One of which being Lydias marriage. Having Lydia run away and elope shows the lack of

discipline she had and the poor parenting she was given. Mr. Bennets eagerness to allow Lydia

to leave on her trip to Brighton also shows how little he thinks of the consequences that could

arise on her trip with such little supervision. This situation coming from the irresponsibility of

Mr. Bennet and his detached nature from his family described in the first chapter. This reflects on

Jane Austens opinion of how bad parenting and lack of responsibility can be detrimental to not

only one child but to an entire family.

From the first chapter, all the way until the final chapter, Mrs. Bennet is silly and

hysterical, especially when it comes to marrying her daughters. During the first conversation Mr.

and Mrs. Bennet have about Mr. Bingley, Mr. Bennet shows almost no interest but Mrs. Bennet

is so caught up in the news leading her to act overly excited. During their conversation, Mrs.

Bennet cries impatiently and over exaggerates every little detail. She says, Oh! Single, my
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dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year? What a fine thing for

our girls! Despite the truth in Mrs. Bennets statement, her over exaggeration and exclamation

at every small detail reflect her silly and hysterical nature towards marriage. Mrs. Bennet

continues by replying to Mr. Bennets refusal to visit Mr. Bingley with Ah! You do not know

what I suffer. She goes even further by saying that any other men who come into their

neighborhood will be no use to us, if twenty should come since you will not visit them. The

Bennet daughters are in need of a husband and Mrs. Bennets intense nature towards marrying

them off mirror the intensity of the consequences if they are not married. Mr. Bennet is not very

wealthy at all and once he dies, the entire estate will go to Mr. Collins. If no daughter is married,

this would leave Mrs. Bennet and all five of her daughters homeless. If a daughter is married,

then she can help to care for her mother and sisters until they are married. With this, Mrs. Bennet

is right to try and marry off her daughters. Once they are all married or at least a few of them are

married, they will all be safe and taken care of. However, Mrs. Bennet is so eager to see her

daughters married that she cannot see any downfall to any of their unions. When Elizabeth was

proposed to by Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet had no care for what Elizabeth wanted and her main

objective was to force her to marry him. Later on when Lydia elopes, Mrs. Bennet cannot see the

consequences of their union. Eloping is frowned upon and would bring shame to their family, but

Mrs. Bennet does not worry. Mrs. Bennet represents how love and other important parts of

marriage are not considered at all when discussing a union. She cares only about the wealth and

the ability to care for her daughters and herself. Mrs. Bennets silly character reflect on how

Austen sees marrying without love.

Austen uses Elizabeths defiance of these needs in a marriage, such as wealth, to mirror

her opinion of how a marriage should be. Her own irony in the first chapter, Mr. Bennets lack of
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responsibility towards his parenting, and Mrs. Bennets silliness exploit everything Austen finds

wrong in this society when it comes to marriage. The main theme that comes from this is that in

a marriage, wealth and stability are important but love is most important.