Marriage

Question 1

Describe the role of marriage during the Regency period

Answer 1

• business contract, not a romantic attachment.

Question 2

Describe the purpose of marriage

Answer 2

• bring security, especially to the woman.
• Produce children- male heirs wanted.
• Men and women expected to marry.
• No love expected

Question 3

Describe Charlotte’s view of marriage vs Elizabeth

Answer 3

• Charlotte: ‘I am not romantic’
  separates ideas of love and marriage
• Elizabeth does not agree- she wants more to marriage
• Refuses Mr Collins’ proposal: ‘you could not make me happy’
  she wants more to marriage than social + financial stability, differs from Charlotte

Question 4

Describe how Austen critics higher class people who marry for status and wealth

Answer 4

• She thinks you should marry for love + happiness
• Characters in a loving marriage are happier, end up better than characters who didn’t marry for love. Elizabeth + Darcy, Jane + Bingley vs Mr Collins + Charlotte, Mr + Mrs Bennet, Wickham + Lydia
• She carried it out irl