Pride and Prejudice Outline

Question:

Explain the importance of marriage in the early 1800’s in England and describe how social status and sensibility affects ones desire to marry. How has the view of marriage changed from then to now?

Intro:

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen satirizes the conventions of marriage in the early 1800’s in which marriage is based off of the economic well being of each individual.  

Thesis:

In contrast to present day social norms in which marriage is based off of strong physical and emotional connections, Austen satirizes the follies of marriage which

are based on the intent of gaining money, status, and sensibility.

First Few Paragraphs:

Marriage in the early 1800’s

First Paragraph Topic Sentence:

In the early 1800’s, marriage is cenetered on financial obligations rather than   the typical romance.

-Expectations

            -Mrs. Bennet wants her five daughters to get married

            -She wants her daughters to have financial stability

             because Mr. Bennets property is entailed to Mr. Collins

                        -Marrying for money

                        -Charlotte marries Mr. Collins for money

                        -Wickham marries Lydia to pay off his debt

                        -if a women did not get married, she would become an outcast and 

                         wouldn’t  be accepted

                        -whether a women marries or not influences the women’s reputation

-As a women age, it is more crucial for her to get married   because marriage usually promises financial stability

                        -time is of the essence

                        -for example, Charlotte doesn’t want to “die an old maid”

-Marriage is not about love, it is about survival and obligation

                        -explain Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennets relationship

                        -their relationship shows the impact that this type of obligatory

                         marriage has on one another

                        -Charlotte and Mr. Collins weren’t really in love

Second Paragraph Topic Sentence:

In the patriarchal society that Austen illustrates, the man is the dominant figure who leaves little room for the women’s opinion.

-Male dominance in marriage

            -Patriarchal society where women are in a certain way “required” to

             submit to the male and the male is the dominate figure

            -The male controls the female in all aspects of life including socially,

             politically, and economically

            -The male leads the family and does the dirty work where the woman

             is expected to stay in the household and do the “housekeeping” work

            -Since women do the household chores, they can not compete with the

             man

            -The women would take the mans name

Next Few Paragraphs:

Today’s marriage

Third Paragraph Topic Sentence:

On the other hand, today’s marriages are generally centered on physical and emotional connections.            

-Intentions of marriage

-Most people get married and have families but it is not an expectation

            -Divorce is an option

            -Happiness is more important than obligation

            -Cheating

            -There are all different types of couples

-Couples that marry outside of their socioeconomic status

-Couples that marry the same sex

-Couples that are inter-racial

            -Some people have families but they don’t marry

            -Commitment issues-commitments now a days sometimes means nothing

            -Children-birth control, choice of abortions

Fourth Paragraph Topic Sentence:

Modern marriages tend to create partnership in which each partner works together and shares mutual interests.

-Gender roles           

-Roles based on sex are becoming less defined

            -Many women work to provide for themselves

            -Today is more of a partnership in which both are equal

            -There’s not always a dominant figure

            -Women are moving more away from domestic jobs

            -Both men and women work and have equal rights

Conclusion:

           

Austen’s point about love

Austen satirizes the conventions of love and marriage in the early 1800’s to show the follies and intentions of marriage.