Will you marry me, Miss Bennet? : a study of marriage in Jane Austen's time

Abstract

Pride and Prejudice is a novel that has been called simply a "nice romance." Even though Jane Austen writes about love and marriage, it is much more than a romance novel. It explores the impact that class and money had on marriages during the Regency period. By examining the history of love and marriage, one can better understand the marriages presented in the novel. While this thesis focuses on Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, several other marriages presented in the novel will be studied.