18th Century and Marriage

When looking at the novel Pride and Prejudice in order to fully understand the events that took place and the full effect of the decisions of particular characters when must first understand the context in which it was written. Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen during the 18th Century. Jane Austen was the daughter of a clergyman (a male minister of the church) and was one of 8 children in her family. She was formally educated until the age of 11, which was a relatively good education for a women in those days as many women did not receive any education. After the age of 11 she then continued self study in literature through the use of books in her family library. Although Jane Austen was never married, marriage in the 18th Century was seen as the only way a women could ever gain any freedom from their family.


In the 18th Century marriage was more often than not for wealth and security rather than love, which may seem outrageous to the 21st century women of today but back then because females did not have as many rights and as much power. A women was almost entirely dependent on the male in their lives whether it be their father, brother or husband. So in order to ensure they were to be looked after particularly when they were no longer young a thought of as 'beautiful', it became the top priority between the ages of around 16-25 to find a fit husband.  Who could over them financial security, the opportunity to have a child and possibly (depending on what social standing the husband possessed) advancement of class.