In Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," one of the most prevalent themes throughout the novel is the nineteenth-century English society's preoccupation in procuring socially advantageous marriages. It was the era where much importance was placed on marriage and all things in connection with it.
One of the primary purposes of getting married at that time is economical stability. Mrs. Bennett's immortal line, "...that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." clearly depicts this. Women feel that since all men of good fortune are in want of wives, they, the women, must also be in want of husbands of great fortune. Thus, mothers like Mrs. Bennett would often try their best to get their daughters married to wealthy men like Mr. Bingley. Likewise, even men sometimes get married for mercenary intentions. For example, Mr. Wickham married Lydia only because she came with a settlement of five thousand pounds and another hundred pounds per annum.
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