The novel’s final scene is the double wedding of Bennett’s sisters. Elizabeth marries Mr. Darcy, and Jane marries Mr. Bingley. Austen shows the complexity of marriage as a social phenomenon. To her, marriage is a controversial thing. Her reflections upon affairs between two people come to the logical end.
More Information
Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice is a perfect picture of early progressive thought. The book was published in 1813, soon after the French Revolution. Liberalism was on its rise in Europe. But it didn’t really bring changes to women’s position in society. Austen’s novel dared to question the Regent Era’s mentality. The piece serves as an example of early feminism due to its boldness.
Marriage is a central concept in the novel and a ground for reflection. This social ritual affects all the characters’ lines. The path to the union between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy was long enough. In the end we see that a woman deserves happiness and love. The author tries to show marriage isn’t always an act of materialistic concern. It is one of the ways Austen contrasts Lydia with Elizabeth. The latter proves her love to Mr. Darcy. She admits having feelings and let her family know it. Still, it took time for her to accept his proposal. It’s just one side of the story, though.
Notably, double weddings were neither common nor unknown in the Regent Era. The bride’s family was usually responsible for the arrangement. Thus, the Bennett’s had to pay for all that. With the final scene, Austen adds the materialistic aspect to the whole thing. It serves like a reminder of all the previous drama.