Jane Austen is known for using parallel characters to clarify points and is known for using them to highlight her culture, especially in terms of marriage and of happiness. In Austen's culture, class, rank, and financial status informed people's decisions about whom they might marry. People accepted these class arrangements, but some individuals did not have financial resources and were forced to marry someone who had money in order to survive. The relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy shows how both grew up and overcame their pride and prejudice towards each other to achieve happiness together. At the same time, there are Jane and Bingley who are presented as more immature and idealistic individuals who do not challenge each other in their relationship. Charlotte's choice to marry Mr. Collins illustrates a character who marries realistically. Charlotte gives up happiness with another person for the promise of her well-being, and her decision to marry Mr. Collins parallels Elizabeth's decision to refuse Mr. Collins's proposal. It's easy to see how some of Austen's characters marry people before knowing their spouse's personality; Readers can understand this point by observing the examples these people grew up seeking moral guidance from. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are a married couple who did not make good parents because their relationship fails because they are not in love. . Thanks to the support and concern of others, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are much more responsible and sensible parents than the Bennetts. The Gardiners are better examples of adults in a healthy relationship for the Bennet children to look up to. Austen's creation of the parallel characters listed above sheds light on how her culture affects love and happiness in marriage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay After many conversations, fights, and letters, Darcy's true character was finally revealed to Elizabeth. Lizzy had developed a prejudice against Darcy because of the way he stood in front of the company and the stories she had heard from other people. At one point in the book, she is quoted as saying, "But vanity, not love, has been my folly." Satisfied with the preference of the one, and offended by the neglect of the other, from the beginning of our acquaintance I have courted foresight and ignorance, and cast out reason where reason was concerned. one or the other. Until now, I have never known myself. (Austen, 205) Lizzy's eyes are opened to the fact that she finds the same qualities in herself that she shamed Darcy for possessing. Darcy's character is slowly revealed to Elizabeth through his noble actions. It takes Elizabeth considerable time to overcome the prejudice she has established against Darcy and realize that she has a growing love for him. Darcy grows in his relationship with Elizabeth as he learns to put aside his pride to respect her. “He likes to do what he wants very well,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “But that’s what we all do. It is only that he has better means than many others to have it, because he is rich and many others are poor. (182) Mr. Darcy's rich education made him a proud creature who believed himself better than others. Elizabeth's challenging and daring character caused Darcy to become more self-aware. Elizabeth and Darcy question each other's intentions and characters, in order to gain a better understandingdeep love of each other, felt through the wide range of emotions depicted in their relationship. A parallel couple to the one above is Jane and Bingley. Jane is a simple and wonderful girl, sweet and easy-going. Jane tends to think optimistically about people and situations, while Elizabeth will question people's motives and pick apart their character. “You never see a fault in anyone. Everyone is good and pleasing to you. I have never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life. (16) Jane is happily married to Bingley, although that seems to be all the emotion in their relationship. Bingley is not suspicious of the actions of others and is easily influenced by others. Darcy is the opposite as he is more intelligent and tends to take his word for it rather than looking to others for affirmation. Jane and Bingley, because of their attributes, have a superficial bond that is based on nothing other than loving each other rather than challenging each other. Their relationship will be incapable of evolving or beyond what it is. Charlotte's decision to marry Mr. Collins says a lot about her situation in life, which affects her view of love and happiness in marriage. “She had always thought that Charlotte's view of marriage was not entirely different from her own; but she could not have supposed that it was possible that, when called upon to act, she would sacrifice all the best feelings for the benefit of the world. (125) There are reasons why Charlotte does not view love and marriage the same way Elizabeth does. Charlotte is six years older and not as pretty as Elizabeth, which is important when it comes to marriage because the older a person gets, the lower the chances that a significant other will be interested in marrying them. Charlotte is rejected at home because she is not yet married this late in life and does not want to take the option of moving in with her brother. Charlotte married in a way that made sense for her situation and approached the marriage issue from the perspective of financial stability rather than a chance for love and happiness with Mr. Collins. “I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she married him tomorrow, I should think she would have as much chance of happiness as if she studied his character for twelve months. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the other parties are so well known to each other, or so similar in advance, this in no way promotes their felicity. They always continue to differentiate themselves enough later to have their share of vexations, and it is better to know as little as possible the faults of the person with whom you are going to spend your life. (24) Elizabeth doesn't understand why Charlotte would choose to live a life with the annoying Mr. Collins. Elizabeth defends her integrity and independence, refusing Mr. Collins' proposal. Elizabeth turns down two romantic proposals from two financially stable men. Elizabeth has a very small fortune and it is not reasonable to give up on proposals that would secure her future. “My situation in life, my relations with De Bourgh's family and my relations with yours are circumstances highly in my favor; and you must also take into consideration that, despite your many attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may one day be made to you. Your part is unfortunately so small that it will in all likelihood cancel out the effects of your beauty and kind qualities. As I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I will choose to attribute it to your desire to increase my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant women. (108) Elizabeth does not follow the status.