by Rachel Knowles

Created on: July 27, 2009   Last Updated: July 28, 2009

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" is one of the greatest love stories ever written. The heroine, Eliza Bennett, falls in love with and marries Mr. Darcy and lives happily ever after. But whilst things work out in the end, the path of true love does not run smoothly, and Austen describes the progress of their relationship with great insight into human nature. But her observations of married life do not stop there. Whilst lifting up a good marriage based on love and mutual respect as a union to be eagerly sought after, she examines how less ideal relationships result in less satisfactory alliances and challenges the premise of her time that marriage is desirable under any circumstances.

Mr. and Mrs. Bennett epitomise the ill-matched couple. Mr. Bennett fell in love with a beautiful face. No doubt, Mrs. Bennett accepted him because he was an eligible partner and was encouraged to do so by her parents. As time passed, Mrs. Bennett's silliness began to grate on her husband's superior understanding, and his affection for her disappears, leading to the gradual deterioration of their relationship. By the time the book is set, Mr. Bennett despises his wife, delighting to tease her; Mrs. Bennett fails to understand his sense of humour and wraps herself up in the delight of her life: marrying off her five daughters.

Elizabeth Bennett is a very likable character. She has her father's intelligence and wit and a natural vivacity. There are three contenders for her hand: Mr. Darcy, Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham.

Mr. Collins is depicted as a garrulous clergyman with less than average intelligence, who believes that his comfortable situation in life gives him the right to choose a wife with every expectation of being accepted. Eliza cannot reconcile herself to marrying such a stupid man, despite her mother wishing her to accept his offer of marriage. Mrs. Bennett does not overrate Eliza's attractions and feels that Mr. Collins is a suitable match; Mr. Bennett on the other hand values good sense and supports Eliza's decision to refuse Mr. Collins.

Charlotte Lucas, Eliza's rather plain best friend, then plays her part, perceiving in Mr. Collins the means to achieving her own establishment rather than becoming a despised old maid in her parents' household. Charlotte holds to the belief that "happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance" and decides to take that chance with Mr. Collins, despite the fact that she knows he is a very stupid man. The desire for a comfortable

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