The central theme of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice is marriage, as indicated in the opening line of the book: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in a want of a wife." As we later find out, it is mainly Mrs. Bennet who is in search of a suitable husband for her daughters. It was a common practice during Austen's time for women to marry a husband to save herself from spinsterhood or to gain financial security. However, I dare to say that Jane Austen herself did not particulaly like this approach because the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte which was based on the "rule" mentioned before can never become a happy marrige. Anyway, Jane Austen was also very influenced by the time she lived in. We can say this because she did not let Elizabeth get involved with Mr.Wickham. Elizabeth's aunt Mrs. Gardiner cautioned Elizabeth not to fall in love with Mr. Wickham because he is not wealthy. "You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not affraid of speaking openly. Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve yourself or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent."(Chapter 26) The last sentence explains everything. Mrs. Gardiners advices Elizabeth not to fall in love with Wickham or to let him fall in love with her because the relationship would not be reasonable. Mrs. Gardiner's advice to Elizabeth shows that Mrs. Gardiner realizes that money is as important as love. Jane Austen created the character of Elizabeth in the eighteenth century when it was considered proper to keep passions and emotions under control and when sense was considered to be more imporant than feelings.That is why we can see here a conradiction between sense and sens...
