Austen’s Portrayal of Money, Marriage, and Happiness by Character Usage in Pride and Prejudice Throughout the novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen portrays her views on money, marriage, and happiness through the coupling of several characters she created. Austen uses the characters and their relationships to show what true love should really be like in her opinion. One of the ways she showcased marriage in the book was that marriage created love and happiness, as opposed to the idea that love and happiness were a direct result from getting married. I have chosen ten characters from the novel, and through their coupling, will portray Austen’s views on money, marriage, and happiness in the nineteenth century. The coupling of Elizabeth and Darcy is the kind of pairing that is common in present day society. They seemed to fall in love before the decision to marry was decided. Elizabeth defies the general views of what society considers right. She makes her decisions on marriage based on her feelings and not on status, money, or pedigree. This is portrayed in the novel when Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth and she does not accept because she does not love Collins. Unlike other couples, Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship is not based on money, status, or name despite Darcy’s social status. Instead, it is based solely upon their feelings for one another. Elizabeth perfectly describes Darcy's affection for her when she stated, "'...you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them'" (Austen 359). Darcy did not just choose a wife based on social or financial benefits that were so common during that time. He fell in love with Elizabeth. Their marriage has the most chance of being successful because they married for love and not for money and status.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have a different relationship that was more common during the 19th century. Mr. Bennet fell in love with Mrs. Bennet’s solely on her youth and beauty. Austen states that "Elizabeth's father captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour, which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her" (Austen 228). This shows how many men during that time fell in love with a woman’s physical appearance without taking time to learn of their personality. After a while, the beauty tends to fade or is just not enough to keep the feelings alive and the man is trapped in a loveless marriage. I feel Austen used the Bennet’s as an example of how marriage should not be based.
Mr. Collins and Charlotte’s marriage is based purely on social status and money. Both wanted to get married because he was in search of a spouse and she wanted security. Before he proposed to Charlotte, Mr. Collins proposed to Elizabeth and stated, "My reasons for marrying are, first that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances, like myself, to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly--which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness" (Austen 103). Love is not included among his reasons for matrimony. It is all about appearance and what he thinks is deemed appropriate in society. He also points out that he thinks marriage will bring him happiness, which goes along with the theme of marriage will bring happiness and not the other way around. He proposes to Elizabeth days before his proposal to Charlotte, which shows he is looking for a wife to fill a role and is not so concerned with who fills the role. Charlotte is more concerned with “marrying up” which was common for females in that time. She states to Elizabeth that "I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state" (Austen 167).
Lydia and Mr. Wickham's relationship seems to be based entirely on money, status, and lies. Mr. Wickham's character is that of someone who is only concerned with money, status, and his own well-being. He tries to obtain those comforts by any means possible which include deceiving people. He runs away with Lydia, Elizabeth’s younger sister, and after some time responds that he is going to marry Lydia. His only reason for this is because Darcy paid him off so not to shame Lydia and her family. This way Wickham would have money and Lydia and her family would be spared from the public shame. This proves Mr. Wickham does not love Lydia and cares only about money and status. Lydia is naïve to what has occurred and thinks that she has found a fantastic husband. She only is concerned with idea of being married because she thinks that is what makes a woman successful in life. She feels that she has benefited much more than her sisters by stating "'I am sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half my good luck. They must all go to Brighton. That is the place to get husbands'" (Austen 300). Neither Wickham nor Lydia love one another. They are only concerned with the money and status aspect of a marriage. Once again, their relationship is based on the notion that happiness can only come from after marriage.
Jane and Mr. Bingley's relationship is more based off of love than that of money and status. After Mr. Bingley goes to London, both miss one another terribly. Mr. Bingley lets himself believe from Darcy that Jane isn’t in love with him and only cares about his money and status. He lets others opinions cloud his judgment. While he could have found another prospect, he did not. He truly loved Jane and did not want to only marry to gain a wife. He wanted to marry because he was in love. They are engaged because they are also in love, and not for money or status.
I believe Austen used the coupling of Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, and Mr. Bingley in such a way to show what she perceived was the correct way to approach marriage during that time. She also used Lydia, Wickham, Mr. and Mrs Bennet, and Mr. Collins and Charlotte as a way to showcase her thoughts on the ideas that should not make a marriage. While the idea to have a marriage based on love was what appealed to Austen, she kept the novel extremely realistic to the times by portraying the latter couple’s selfish views of money and status above happiness and love. She showed that while some couples believed that happiness and love led to marriage, others showed that only marriage led to happiness through money and social status.

Works Cited Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2007. Print