Jane Austen was born in 1775 in Hampshire. Her father was a vicar and she had six brothers and a sister. At the age of sixteen she started writing humorous novels. In 1813 she published 'Pride and Prejudice'. She never got married and she died in 1817 at the age of forty-two. Jane Austen thought that the situation that should be written about is 'two or three families living together in a country village'. She never wrote about environments she did not know about and only wrote about gentry like herself. That is why the characters in 'Pride and Prejudice' are middle class people, like landowners, vicars, and officers. She does not mention servants much.

Marriage in Jane Austen's society marriage is the status all the women strive to achieve. Money and looks are essential for a good marriage, youthfulness also counts. If a woman never got married, because of lacking money or looks, she would go and live with a married sister or brother. If she did not have any brothers or sisters to live with, she would become a governess.

'Pride and Prejudice's'first sentence, 'It is a truth u

Their marriage was not a happy settled one. They were always in debt, and Lydia often writes to her sisters, Jane and Elizabeth, asking them for money. They were always moving from house to house, and they stay for very long periods with the Bingley's, so much that even kind Mr Bingley thinks of telling them to move on.

Mr and Mrs Bennet have been married for twenty-three years, but they do not really communicate with each other. They have five unmarried daughters. Mr Bennet has a good sense of humour and likes to tease his wife. He pretends not to understand her. He makes outrageous statements that his wife believes. He does not demonstrate any affection towards his wife and is tired of the way she behaves. Mrs Bennet does not get upset when she is the object of her husband's sarcasm and is not intelligent enough to discriminate between important and trival information. When she is frustrated she complains about her nerves. Mrs Bennet does not understand Mr Bennet, and whilst Mrs Bennet's aim in life is to get her daughters married to rich men, Mr Bennet is not interested in family affairs and does not seem to think much of his daughters, or girls in general. 'They are all silly and ignorant like other girls.' Jane Austen tells us his favourite daughter is Elizabeth. 'I must throw a good word for my Lizzy.'

Lydia is an irresponsible, immature girl, who likes to flirt about, and is insensitive to other people's feelings. 'She had high animal spirits', 'which the attentions of the officers', 'had increased into assurance'. She is described as being 'a stout, well grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good humoured countenance'. Wickham is an ambitious man. He loves money. He first had tried to elope with Darcy's sister, Georgina, who inherited 30000. Then he started paying much attention to Miss King, a young lady who had inherited a fortune.

They first meet at the Meryton Assembly. Mr Bingley is a young man of large fortune, from the north of England, who is going to rent Netherfield Park. He goes to the Merryton Assembly to meet the people of town. The Bennets attend. Mr Bingley shows a lively interest in Jane and dances with her twice. Jane also likes Mr Bingley but does not show it much. This makes Darcy think that Jane is indifferent to Bingley, and is only interested on Bingley's fortune. He makes Bingley go away on a business trip and when Jane goes to stay with her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners, she goes and visits the Bingleys. She only sees the Bingley sisters, who never tell Mr Bingley about her being in London, so she doesn't have any news from Bingley. After a long time the Bingleys, along with Darcy, return to Netherfield. They visit the Bennets and Mr Bingley still seems to be interested in Jane. Finally he proposes and is accepted.

Mr Collins is introduced to Charlotte by the Bennets. They first talk at the Netherfield Ball. At that time Mr Collins was paying attention to Elizabeth. Charlotte 'helps' her friend. 'She owed her greatest relief, Miss Lucas, who often joined them and good naturally engaged Mr Collins' conversation to herself.' The day Mr Collins proposes Charlotte is there. She overhears all the conversation and how Mr Collins withdraws his offer of marriage. She deliberately stays in the room and is pretending to look out of the window. The Bennets are invited to dine at the Lucases. Elizabeth is grateful to Charlotte for keeping Mr Collins company. Charlotte is really out to get Mr Collins, 'its object was nothing less, tan to secure her from any return of Mr Collins addresses, by engaging them towards herself'. The next day Mr Collins goes to Lucas Lodge. Charlotte perceives him from an upper window and instantly sets out to meet him accidentally in the lane. Mr Collins proposes to Charlotte who immediately accepts.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 3669
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page double spaced)