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“He congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage”

“I understand there were some very strong objections against the lady.” Fitzwilliam about Darcy
Have to make respectable marriages, a girl has to by ideal for marriage.

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“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.”

Charlotte Lucas

Marriage is more important than personal happiness

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“I was told… that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood…” Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Believes that there is no way a lady as low as Elizabeth could marry a man of as high a standing as Mr Darcy.

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“If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.” Mr Darcy

Mr Darcy promises that if Elizabeth does not return his feelings, he will not force her into anything and will never bother her with it again - he doesn't believe she should accept out of obligation

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PAGE 346

“My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.”

Mr. Darcy

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PAGE 336 “While in their cradles, we planned the union: and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished, in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family!”

Lady Catherine

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“My youngest sister has left all her friends – has eloped; - has thrown herself
into the power of – of Mr. Wickham… She has no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him – she is lost for ever."

“Never, since reading Jane’s second letter, had she entertained a hope of Wickham’s meaning to marry her” Elizabeth Bennet - A lady must have certain assets to tempt a man into marriage, and if she does not, she is lost forever, such as in the case of Lydia. Elizabeth believes that Lydia has nothing that would tempt Wickham into marrying her.

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page 314

“You forced me into visiting him last year, and promised if I went to see him, he should marry one of my daughters. But it ended in nothing, and I will not be sent on a fool’s errand again.” Mr. Bennet

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page 314

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“Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.”

Mr Collins to Elizabeth trying yo make her feel jealous about his marriage

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“Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage.”

Mr Collins

This is the greatest wish a person in society can wish upon a lady, because their only purpose is seen to be marriage.

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PAGE 295

“Had Lydia’s marriage been concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family, where to every other objection would now be added, an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with the man whom he so justly scorned.”

Authorial voice/Elizabeth Bennet

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page 263

“My youngest sister has left all her friends – has eloped; -has thrown herself into the power of – of Mr. Wickham.”

Elizabeth Bennet

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It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. (1.1-2)

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page 24 "happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance" Charlotte Lucas

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“My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

“You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness.”
Mr Darcy

Darcy tells Lizzy how much he loves her, but when she makes it clear that she does not return his feelings, he backs off and apologises, while also wishing her the best. He doesn’t try to force her into anything, so obviously does not subscribe to the school of thought that ladies should accept marriage proposals on the basis of gratitude and obligation.

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PAGE 253: “It was gratitude. –Gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough, to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him.”

Authorial voice/Elizabeth Bennet

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“In cases such as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally they may be returned. It is natural that obligation should be felt, and if I could feel gratitude, I would now thank you.”

“I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed to marry.” Elizabeth Bennet
Ladies are expected to accept proposals out of gratitude and obligation, with no regard to their personal feelings, as if they should thank the gentlemen for liking them, as if they are obliged to marry them because they were nice to them and expressed an interest.

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“In spite of her deeply-rooted disike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man’s affection, and though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive…”

By Elizabeth Bennet

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“I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”

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“My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it is a right for every clergy man in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness, and thirdly - which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling Patroness.”
- Mr Collins is only marrying for the advantages of being married not love.

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PAGE 97: “It was, moreover, such a promising thing for her younger daughters, as Jane’s marrying so greatly must throw them in the way of other rich men…” Mrs. Bennet

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“he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him.” Mr Collins

Making Elizabeth feel like she had made the wrong decision, trying to guilt her for refusing his proposal. - as if she ought to have accepted him

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Pg 36/37 - " But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world," replied Darcy.

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”If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs Bennet to her Husband, “and all the others well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.”
By Mrs Bennet