Christian Values?

              Pride and Prejudice takes place in the late 1700s, a time where Christianity was the basis for morals and laws. However, the book suggests that this idea is theoretical mainly. Christianity preaches that material goods are unimportant, love is key, and to care for your neighbor. While Elizabeth marries Darcy because she loves him, and Mr. Bennet seems to truly care about the wellbeing of his daughters, most of the characters seem to face marriage with the idea of improving influence and power. Lady de Bourgh exclaims, “Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?” to Elizabeth about the matrimony (338). Likewise, Elizabeth’s mother is enthralled with Jane and Elizabeth marrying because of the wealth involved. When Lydia runs of with Mr. Wickham, the dishonor and fear of what others will say drives the parents to force her to marry. There is no emphasis on love, though they claim to be good Christian people, and much emphasis on goods. Even the Gardiners, likely the kindest people in the book, seem to put weight on the importance of etiquette and riches. There is no love for neighbors expressed either. The Bingley’s take care of Jane while sick, but Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst do it only because society demands it and Mr. Bingley likes her. In fact, it states that “Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room” (35). While these people are considered antagonists, even the main characters are faulty. As the name suggests, Elizabeth and Darcy are proud and prejudiced against one another and other characters. While they grow to resolve this between themselves, it never states that they are less quick to judge others. It is interesting that Jane Austen chose characters that are so reproachable and do not embody Christian principles when they were so important in theory. Why did Austen forgo these values? In a story that is supposed to be so largely based on morals, I would have expected for the morals of some characters to be more in line with the historical context that I learned about in classes.