The topic of the book is established through the comical opening phrase – ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Marriage was of great importance in the 19th century, as it gave women an establishment, a supporter and a family. Women who didn’t marry were low in society, having to be supported by other family members. Marriage for love is greatly advocated in the novel, as it is exemplified by the protagonist, Elizabeth. As she ardently states, “nothing more than the deepest love will induce me into matrimony”. Others, such as Charlotte Lucas, are far less discriminatory.
It is clear that they are the embodiment of everything Lewis sees as a flaw in “young folks.” Jane is consumed by twisted feminist views that lead her to want to be the best wife possible, but still allow her to regret being married and begrudge Mark for everything he takes for granted. Mark is a pompous Fellow at the local college, and nothing concerns him more than being in the “inner circle” and by extension, being well-respected and liked. In fact, it is this flaw of Mark that leads him to fall in with the evil N.I.C.E. for the first half of the book. Much like how Edmund’s hubris leads him into the arms of the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Mark is slowly encompassed in the twisted political levels of N.I.C.E..
However we also find out throughout the course of the book how marriage wasn't always about love. Charlotte Lucas claimed, "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance". A very common view then, that Austen herself would have been very familiar with. Often marriages were more like business deals, simply a means of acquiring an establishment where habitually feelings weren't relevant. There was the mercenary marriage, brought about for financial reasons, the marriage based on passion and physical attraction, and lying somewhere in between, was the ideal.
Also Eliza resisted the sexual double-standard which I found really amazing. “Marriage is the tomb of friendship. It appears to me a very selfish state. Why do people, in general, as soon as they are married, centre all their cares, their concerns, and pleasures ion their own families? Former acquaintances are neglected or forgotten.
The Theme of Conformity In The Great Gatsby by, F. Scott Fitzgerald, conformity is brought on by Daisy. In those days, men were still seen as superior to women. She mentioned that she felt it was better to be a beautiful fool and get the man with all the wealth, then to be intelligent. She pretends to be a picture perfect wife even when she is completely unhappy with her life and ends up forgetting whom she really was before, therefore conforming to society. We could see that she has attributes that go beyond what everyone else sees.
However, when he focuses on Hutchinson herself, his attitude becomes ambivalent. Hutchinson has transgressed the limits decrees for her sex and will soon be imprisoned by men, yet Hawthorne marvels at her confident sexuality and superior mind. He acknowledges the free flight of the imagination unfettered by gender, but he believes that women must pay for this gift of her peculiar “loveliness”. Hutchinson has controversial abilities, so Hawthorne holds an ambivalent attitude to her. Although he admires her, he forbids himself such emotions and censures what he fails to suppress and judges Hutchinson severely.
He is very protective over her and he does mention that Paris should at least try and win her heart and make her love him before he proposes to her as he says “but woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart”, so we can see he does want his daughter to marry because she loves him not as in Shakespearean times when they married not for love, and they were expected to fall in love after marriage. In those times because when a couple is married and the girl becomes the husbands ‘property’ Capulet does not like the thought of that and he likes the power of being in control of Juliet and does not want to give her away. In act 3 scene 5 Capulet changes his thoughts about Paris and Juliet’s marriage, but because Juliet has only just married Romeo in secrecy and does not love Paris anyways she refuses and we can see how violent and controlling he is over Juliet when she rejects the other to marry Paris when he says “go with Paris
He scribbles a letter to Anne with the words “Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved no one but you” (p238). Wentworth learns to distinguish “between the steadiness of principle and the obstinacy of self-will, between the darings of heedlessness and the resolution of a collected mind” (p244). Anne’s unselfish behaviour persuades him to overcome his “angry pride” (p243), “put himself in the way of happiness” (p245) and to declare his love for
“Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.” Jane ch 17 -Charles Bingley- Easily influenced and a nice man. Darcy’s friend who move to Netherfield, and left Netherfield. “If a women is partial to a man, and does not endevour to conceal it, he must find it out.” Elizabeth ch 6 - Mrs. Bennet- obstructive and foolish. Elizabeth’s mother who is obsessed with husbands for her daughters. Attempting to push Elizabeth into a marriage with Mr. Collins.
While Falstaff’s ideals are pernicious, Henry’s condition is “to cold and temperate” and it is this very unsuitability to the throne that leads England to decay under his rule. He speaks contemptuously of “vulgar company,” “gibing boys” and “vile participation” in everyday life, illustrating his disdain for the common man. Simultaneously, he also idolizes Hotspur as “gallant,” “the theme of honours toungue,” and the “straightest plant…amongst a grove”. Yet in reality, Henry and Falstaff are both flawed role models, while Hotspur is also proven to be an inadequate leader. His ideas are deemed “dangerous,” “hare-brained,” and “uncertain” confirming that honour is not confined to valorous fighting.