Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Opening Statement
Analyze the opening statement. What does it mean? From who's point of view is it written? Can it be written for more than one character? What is your opinion about the opening statement? How is that statement view today? Do males and females have the same attitudes toward marriage in the novel?
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The opening statement is saying that any man that can afford to have a wife and family, has to want a wife. This was probably written in the view point of Mrs. Bennet because she was determined that all of the eligible bachelors were looking for a wife, and she would put her daughters on display. From the book, it seems to me that in the time period, men did not have to go out of their way to look for a wife. The mothers of single girls would have to go out of their way for the men to meet their daughters. Therefore, the statement should be that any woman with a small fortune, is in want of a good husband. It seems that the women were desperate to be married so they could have something to live off of if their father died, yet men were in no hurry to be married if they had money. Today, the statement isn't viewed the same because our perception about marriage has changed. Marriage is not a necessity for a family or happiness. There are many people who have children out of wedlock or just live together without being married. Even men who do not have a big fortune now, may still want to marry; and men who have do have a big fortune, may want to remain bachelors.
ReplyDeleteGoing off of what Monica said, marriage is not viewed the same way in today's society. The opening statement states that "It is a truth universally" for a wealthy man to be wanting a wife. As Monica pointed out, in this day and age, many wealthy men remain bachelors, and many middle. Marriage is viewed completely differently today than it was back then. It is more of a means to show the love one has for another than for the convenience and/or status it might bring to the individual or their family.
ReplyDelete"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife"(Austen5). The opening statement of Pride and Prejudice is referring to the time period of the book rather then the present. The opening statement is written from the point of view of the mother's of the time period. In the past marriages carried a different definition then they do today. Before marriages were more like "business deals." For example in the book Mrs. Bennett was mad when Elizabeth declined Mr. Collins proposal because he was a heir to the Bennett fortune. If Mr. Bennett died and Elizabeth and Mr. Collins were married, Mrs. Bennett could still live in her house. Marrying a wealthy man also increased the family's financial status. In Pride and Prejudice when Mr. Collins proposed to Charlotte, Lady Lucas bragged to Mrs. Bennett about her daughter getting married which got Mrs. Bennett really mad, "She concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas might soon be equally fortunate, though evidently and triumphantly believing there was no chance of it." Male and females do not have the same view towards marriage. Bingley, Jane, Darcy, and Elizabeth all want to fall in love and get married whereas Mr. Collins got married because Lady Catherine de Bourgh said it would help out his business.
ReplyDeleteI basically agree with what Jasmeet said about how marriage was viewed differently in that time period. I also agree that back then was more of a business deal. The marriages were only for social status,and to stay or become economically sound. Love seemed to come last in these situations. Also I agree that males view marriage differently than females do not only today but also in "real life" but in the novel. The guys seemed to be less concerned with being in love. I don't think Darcy wanted to fall in love, because he tried to stay away from Elizabeth. I'm sure he just wanted someone with the same social status.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jenn and Jasmeet. Marriage was conducted like a business and who you were married to made all the difference. If you married poorly then it could hurt you socially and (possibly) economically. Men and women had different, but loosly connected, views on the subject. With men, though they were in no hurry to get married, it was all about their prospective wife's social standing and connections. With women it was mostly about money and property, though social standing did play an important role.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily, marriage was a man's decision and he made the advance because women never proposed to men. Although a woman could choose not to marry a man, she always had to wait for a man to ask her. Marriage was based on financial success, and marriages were important so women did not become poor if their fathers died, women were very dependent. Love was not important back then, and it was not practical to marry for love.
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