Nuptial Impatience, Financial Desire, & Class Dexterity in Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice

In this paper Pride and Prejudice is pore over from the perspective of socio-economic and women’s libber denunciation with a focus on the connection between marriage, financials, and upward class dexterity illustrated in the book. In the extremely pigeonholed Regency era represented in the novel, the institution of matrimonial is viewed not only as a venerated union but also as an indispensable mechanism that could guarantee financial safety and class victory for individuals. Retaining academic awareness derived from Marxism and Feminism, this paper will elucidate that matrimony sets of various characters in Pride and Prejudice are vastly inclined with class affairs and fiscal eminences. To support this avowal, the author examines three main characters, including Elizabeth Bennet, Charlotte Lucas, and Lydia Bennet, who reveal diverse attitudes toward marriage depending on their Class status and awareness of their socio-economic conditions. Equally, Elizabeth Bennet’s marriage to Mr. Darcy reflects a compromise in achieving emotional happiness and class dexterity. Truly, through this marriage, one can see exactly how gradually Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were changing from their prejudices and principles to something else. As well, it is worth noting that this paper presents the novel within the context of the “marriage-market,” where the women are part of a class and financial mechanism (Stone 45; Davidoff and Hall 312). In this way, it is clear that Austen not only criticizes but also recognizes the inevitable nature of this class mechanism. As a result, it is evident that the study shows that Pride and Prejudice presents an elaborate representation of marriage, both personally and politically, with financial desire and class dexterity.