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International Journal Of Language, Literature And Culture(IJLLC)

Marriage and Social Structure in Pride and Prejudice: A Critical Synthesis

Moaz Omer Mohammed Omer , Yassir Elgailani Ahmed Yousif


International Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (IJLLC), Vol-6,Issue-2, March - April 2026, Pages 8-13, 10.22161/ijllc.6.2.2

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Article Info: Received: 30 Jan 2026, Received in revised form: 03Mar 2026, Accepted: 09Mar 2026, Available online: 13 Mar 2026

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Marriage in Pride and Prejudice is not only a love story ending rather it is a social system that is shaped by class and money. It is also shaped by gender expectations and moral values. In the world created by Jane Austen, marriage decides a woman's future and controls the social position and economic security of women. Marriage is connected with inheritance laws and property issues. This article uses modern critics to explain this idea. It argues that Austen shows many models of marriage. Some marriages are based on money. Some marriages are based on convenience. Others are based on respect and understanding. Through these examples ,Austen criticizes the society of early nineteenth-century England and shows how women depend on marriage for survival and protection. Charlotte Lucas marries for stability. Elizabeth Bennet refuses marriage without respect. These different choices show social pressure and it shows moral growth. Companionate marriage slowly appears in the novel. It emphasizes equality and mutual respect between partners. In this way the novel changes the traditional marriage plot. It is not only a romantic ending. It became a subtle social criticism. Marriage functions as a mirror of society's values and inequalities.

marriage, social position, economic security, respect and understanding, survival and protection, social pressure

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