Self Knowledge and Happiness in Pride and Prejudice Essay

Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen is centred on characters that either gain self awareness and knowledge or possess none at all. Happiness is found even when one has no understanding of selfhood but the most happy and satisfied people in the novel are those who have self knowledge. People that possess self knowledge understand their strengths and weaknesses and characters that gain self knowledge are able to decipher these characteristics and act upon them. As marriage was seen as a great achievement for women in their society, happiness in Pride and Prejudice relates to whether one is happy or unhappy in their marriage. Lydia, Mr WIckham and Lady Catherine de Bourg have no self awareness and are unhappy in the novel. The†¦show more content†¦Mr Collins wanted to marry one of the Bennet girls because they were his cousins and he was entailed to receive the property. He has no knowledge of himself and this is evident when his proposal of marriage to Elizabeth is refused. Mr Collins did not particularly care who his wife was, he just needed to marry because he is an Anglican parish-man and needs a wife for status. He is incapable of contemplating why Elizabeth would refuse his hand when there are so many economical and social benefits of being his wife, â€Å"He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motive his cousin could refuse him†. He was so sure of himself before his rejection that he still cannot contemplate the concept still after Elizabeth has made her refusal quite clear, â€Å"†¦I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on first appli cation, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my suit†. He is happy and feels satisfied in his marriage to Charlotte. Charlotte just simply wants somebody who is able to look after her and provide her with financial stability. â€Å"I ask only for a comfortable home†, Charlotte states and we understand that she is happy within her marriage because she knows what she wants; she doesn’t want love as she is â€Å"not a romantic† and â€Å"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance†. Mrs Bennet also has little if any self awareness and yet she finds happiness. Mrs Bennet is oblivious to her atrocious social behaviour inShow MoreRelatedThe Pursuit of Virtue in Pride and Prejudice Essay1014 Words   |  5 Pages Virtue is truly a complex word - an element of the essence of man - that Jane Austen portrays in her novel â€Å"Pride and Prejudice†. 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