The 18th Century Upper Middle Class Women

From our 21st century perspective, the concerns of Pride and Prejudice may seem rather ridiculous. Who cares if the Bennet girls ever get married? Can't they just go on living their fabulous single lives?

Well, no. In the early 18th century there was no such thing as moving out of your parents' house, no such thing as building a career then worrying about marriage later, and marriage was literally the most important decision a woman could make. 

The Bennet sisters are all upper middle class women who were all brought up relatively privileged by having a house keeper, cook and maids so they never learned any domestic skills. This meant that they were looked upon as 'proper' upper class ladies as they had not had a need to learn peasant duties. However it also mean that if one of them were never to marry their lives would be extremely difficult, as they would have to live off an allowance from their family and would have trouble trying to take care of herself having not learnt any domestic skills. Also because of the Bennets social standing none of the daughters could take one of the few jobs available to women to supplement their allowance as there were few respectable jobs they could take up. Which left marriage as the only honorable provision for women in the class of society to which the Bennet family belonged. 

This is why Mrs. Bennet  desired all her daughter's to be married as she did not want any of them to become an old maid and have to live a rough life. However not all character shared this same view particular Lizzie (Elizabeth) as she wanted to marry for love, not wealth or status. This was shown when Lizzie found out about Miss Lucas engagement to Mr. Collins and thought it was ridiculous of Miss. Lucas to accept the proposal. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was the most humiliating picture!- And to the pang of friends disgracing herself and sunk her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen (J. Austen, 1813: 123). 

This video is a modern adaptation of the first few chapters of Pride and Prejudice showing Lizzie's opinion and view on Mrs. Bennets desire to marry off all her daughters.