#5

           Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice showcases the Victorian females true opinion of marriage.  Of late it is found that Elizabeth Bennet's dearest friend, Charlotte Lucas, is engaged to the overly fawning, Mr. Collins.  Elizabeth is incredulous at the news and cannot see how her friend could have been induced to marry a man like Collins.  In truth Charlotte's marriage to Collins is not because she venerates him, Charlotte, "Without thinking highly of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated women of small fortune" (Austen 107).  Charlotte assents to marrying Mr. Collins purely out of  pragmatism.  She knows that a female of her lower status does not have the best lot in life single.  She considers her plain looks and Mr. Collins fortunes and thinks of his offer as the very best she can get.  This logicality in marriage is a reflection of a Victorian female's opinion of matrimony.  During this time period women had few options and women of the middle class even fewer.  Their best bet was to marry, in this way they would have financial stability and security.  Love was not put into the equation, it was not seen as necessary.  In contrast to the Victorian view, Elizabeth Bennet, who is disappointed in her friend's willingness to marry a man like Collins, takes a more modern view sees mutual like and possible love between a couple as being very important.  The Victorian view does not find long term happiness to be of the utmost importance.  It is very possible that a Victorian couple can have great felicity such as that of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.  However, when one only thinks of marriage in a logical sense, the main facet of happiness is marriage's security.