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| Chapter one of Pride and Prejudice |
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
A writer who begins her book with such a clever statement will never disappoint her readers. Who points out the key cause of stress in the society of the 18th century as the major solution for every potential problem and can portray just a normal day for an ordinary person as the source of major plot twists for her characters. This is the reason why Jane Austen stands apart from her fellow writers.
Pride & Prejudice isn't just a story about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, it's about the norms of Jane Austen's era. The very first line of Pride and Prejudice is enough to portray the English society of the 18th century. Back then, England was quite different from what it is today. Women's only purpose in life was to find a good husband, and the only thing that raised a green flag in a guy was wealth, either inherited or earned.
What's So Special About This Line?
A well-constructed statement that appears to be factual at first glance is hidden satire. According to this statement, every rich and well-established man is looking for a suitable lady to marry. Do they though?
The truth, however, is rather different. People whenever they find wealthy men, ask them to think of their family's young daughters as potential wives.
Using the satirical element, Jane Austen captured the harsh reality of her time. When being married to a wealthy person was considered the only way to live happily ever after, whether they were compatible or not. The irony is that society truly held this belief and used to look for a guy or grown man with riches for young girls, ignoring all the other red flags.
Almost all the young girls in the novel, Pride and Prejudice, fell prey to this blind belief. It would not be wrong to say that in the race of finding an “eligible” proposal, only Jane and Elizabeth had found the right ones.
Background of the Statement
The 18th century wasn’t very lucky for the women of Jane Austen’s society. Women were deprived of their rights on financial, legal, social, and marital levels. Even some female writers had to publish their work under a man's identity because there weren't many occupations that were encouraged for women.
Only men of the family could inherit the family fortune, and wealthy women were regarded as treasures because their spouses would inherit their riches. In this single statement, Jane Austen acknowledged the daily struggle women went through and emphasized how crucial it was at the time to marry a wealthy man.
Have you read the Book?
Full of amazing dialogues, lots of lighthearted satirical remarks, and a classic tale of the 18th century, which takes you far away into the world of Elizabeth and Darcy is definitely worth reading. If you haven't tried it yet, check it out and some other famous books by Jane Austen, a classical book set one must have.
Conclusion
To sum up the analysis, I would say that Jane Austen was among very few such authors who could satire a society without being harsh. Only if she lived longer, she could have a more significant impact on her surroundings.
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