In this class, we have asked ourselves after each novel whether or not the lives the characters end up with would be "enough" for us. Going into this work, I thought I was generally a pretty hopeless romantic, especially when it came to literature. The half-baked romance served on the side is usually my favorite plot of a book or movie.
All of this is to say, I though Pride and Prejudice would be a perfect match for my taste (one which I myself consider unfortunate, don't get me wrong). However, when I considered the question we have asked after each novel ("Is what character X has enough for me?"), I was surprised to realize that I do not believe what Elizabeth Bennet ends up with sounds unsatisfying and depressing.
Although at the conclusion of the novel, Elizabeth marries the man she allegedly loves, she is punished in too many other ways for that to be enough for me (Austen 327). First, she faces her family's disapproval, which she must combat in this era (Austen 330). Her closeness to her family has a lot to do with why her fate sounds unsatisfying to me, which might be unfair to what her life is actually like. I suppose Elizabeth Bennet is actually close to her family, and that she would wish to remain close to them. But if I had to ascertain my family's approval for everything I wanted to do, and, to top it off, live in close proximity to them, whatever love I had found probably would not be enough for me.
Part of the goal of finding love, in my opinion, is building a support system that doesn't require you to ask permission, as your childhood family did. Elizabeth Bennet is not granted this freedom. Or childhood family, including her mother, who she has shown she detests, will forever have a say in what she does simply because of proximity.
Additionally, simply because of the time period, Elizabeth will not be allowed to work outside the home. Is marrying into an enormous for the time enough to prevent me from wanting to work? No, because money is not the fulfillment I attain from working in the first place.
In conclusion, I though Elizabeth Bennet would have the happiest ending I could imagine. I suppose I should have seen this coming - I don't think the endings in Disney Princess films sound fulfilling, either. I just had higher hopes for such a "strong female character;" alas, she will be subjected to the wishes and opinions of her family and snooty community for the rest of her life, without even the ability to distract herself with work. Love is not enough to compensate for all of that hardship.
I agree, and I do not think that what Elizabeth Bennett ends up with in the end would be enough for me. However, I think that for this time period, Elizabeth ends up with a pretty ideal life. She has succeeded in moving up the social ladder and making a name for herself by becoming Mrs. Darcy. I also think that her family does come around to Mr. Darcy, shown in one of the last chapters of the novel when Austen writes “Mr. Bennett soon assured her that he (Mr. Darcy) was rising every hour in his esteem” (Austen 358). Also, Mrs. Bennett is just happy to have her daughter married off to a man of wealth and prestige. Thus, I think that Elizabeth’s family eventually has come around to Mr. Darcy, and I do not think that this was a big problem for Elizabeth. I think the main aspect of Elizabeth’s life that dissatisfies me would be the requirement of getting married in order to move up socially and be provided for. Elizabeth is possibly the smartest and most free-spirited character in the book, and I think if this novel had taken place in 2018 Elizabeth would not be married, and especially not to Mr. Darcy.
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