In Pride and Prejudice, Austen illustrates the differences of true love and love for riches through the different relationships of the characters.
1. True Love
a. Jane and Bingley
i. Although Mrs. Bennet wants Jane to marry Bingley for money, Jane indicates real feelings toward him.
ii. Although Miss Bingley has tried to discourage her, Jane doesn’t hate Bingley.
2. Love for Riches (false love)
a. Collins and Charlotte
i. Marriage was just for show and money
3. Random Relationships
a. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet
i. Leaning more to true love.
1. Mr. Bennet stays with his wife although she is annoying.
b. Darcy and Eliza
i. Love-hate relationship currently
In Pride and Prejudice, Austen shows how pride and prejudice affects the relationship between the different and similar social classes.
1. Miss Bingley relationship to the Bennets
a. Despises them since they are not rich
b. Tries to ruin relationship between Jane and Mr. Bingley
c. Jealous of Eliza for Darcy’s attention
2. Darcy relationship with Eliza
a. Darcy at first is a snob to Eliza
b. Later on tries to flirt with her
i. Fails because of their first encounter being terrible
c. There is an awkwardness between them due to his first impression of being a proud rich man
Jane Austen emphasizes the blindness caused by pride through the actions of Mrs. Bennet and Miss Bingley.
1. Mrs. Bennet
a. Doesn’t realize how foolish she looks as she talks to others at the ball
b. Ignores her own daughters’ feelings and pushes her own desires on them.
2. Miss Bingley
a. Tries to manipulate the feelings of others to cause strife among the others
b. Thinks she is better than Eliza and tries to ‘steal’ Darcy away
i. Backfires in which Darcy pays more attention to Eliza
