Pride and Prejudice Blog #6

After reading Pride and Prejudice, I believe that Jane Austen intended for her readers to interpret the first line of her novel with a sense of satire. If Jane meant it literally, she would not involve characters with such differing opinions and views on society as she did. This is clear because she specifically stated that "a man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife" (5), rather than saying that all men seek to be married. She then introduces her readers to two examples of very fortunate men, but makes their personalities very different. If she had intended to give her readers the impression that she was serious in when saying her opening line, she would form these two men to be perfect examples of what she stated. They, in fact, are not. Mr. Darcy, for example, does not go out to flirt with women whom he deems suitable for marriage, as one would think a man "in want of a wife" (5) would do. He tends to keep to himself and come off somewhat cold. In the end of the novel, both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley end up marrying, but that does not mean that Jane Austen meant that literally all men of fortune search for a wife. The only part of that opening statement that I believe was meant to be taken literally was when she stated that "it is a truth universally acknowledged" (5). By saying this, Jane wanted her readers to understand the magnitude of that society's view on the importance of marriage. Marriage in that society was, in fact, seen with that much importance, leaving only the rest of her statement to be meant satirically. Not only is the rest of this statement said with satire, but it also contains a strong use of hyperbole, exaggerating that all wealthy men fervently search for wives, only to prove that to be false throughout the rest of the story.