Pride and Prejudice Task 2 - Charlotte Lucas

How important a character is Charlotte Lucas?

Write a paragraph in response, clearly arguing your point of view. In developing your thesis, compare her with Elizabeth and Jane. How is the reader positioned through this comparison? Consider ideas, attitudes and values in your response. Post to your blog by Wednesday.

In Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, the character of Charlotte Lucas is very important as she representative of society’s view on love and marriage during the Victorian era, and thus provides a counterpoint for readers on Elizabeth and Jane’s approaches to marriage. Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s best friend, is introduced as a "sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven" (p. 19). She does not consider herself romantic, and thus, when she is presented with the opportunity to finally marry, Charlotte accepts without hesitation – despite her being married to the unpleasant Mr Collins – because it would provide her with security. This is made clear when Charlotte is said to have accepted Mr Collins ‘solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment’ (p. 120). Through her decision to marry Mr Collins, Charlotte provides readers with the reasons why many women married – which included financial security rather than love or affection. Thus, Charlotte’s views on love and marriage contrast with those of Elizabeth, highlighting the fact that Elizabeth’s belief that marriage should be based on love, was not a view held by society during the Victorian era. Charlotte also provides a corollary to Jane's approach to marriage. Where Jane is quiet and shy, Charlotte sets out to find herself a husband by securing Lizzy ‘from any return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards herself’ (p. 119). It is Charlotte’s view that women should make their feelings and intentions clear, rather than allowing love to dictate a relationship – as Elizabeth suggests throughout the novel. Charlotte’s character is crucial in allowing readers to understand society’s expectations at the time of Pride and Prejudice, and thus enables readers to understand that Elizabeth and Jane had very unconventional views on, and approaches to marriage.