Understanding Elizabeth and Lydia in Pride and Prejudice
Why does Elizabeth think Wickham marries Lydia, and what are Lydia's reasons for getting married so young?
Final answer:
Elizabeth thinks Wickham marries Lydia due to Lydia's lack of judgment and her flippant nature, while Lydia's reasons for marrying young stem from a desire for excitement and social advancement, reflecting societal influences of the time.
Explanation:
Elizabeth Bennet believes Wickham marries Lydia primarily due to Lydia's lack of better judgment and her frivolous nature, which made her an easy prey for Wickham's unscrupulous ways. Lydia marries so young because of her impetuous and thoughtless disposition, prioritizing immediate gratification and romantic excitement over prudent judgment.
In the context of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, the driving forces behind Lydia's early marriage are her desire for adventure and to enhance her social status by being married, instead of understanding the full commitment that marriage involves.
Social and historical context also explains why young women often married early; typically, between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. They were seen as more sexually pure and easier to control. High-ranking women brought dowries into their marriages, which provided them with some leverage and protection from their families, while lower-class women depended on their husbands to improve their status.
Ultimately, Lydia's actions reflect these societal influences, with her rash decision to elope with Wickham indicating a desire for independence and a misunderstanding of the gravity of marriage.
Why do you think Lydia's desire for excitement and social advancement led her to marrying young in Pride and Prejudice? Lydia's desire for excitement and social advancement in Pride and Prejudice led her to marry young because she valued immediate gratification and romantic thrill over long-term consequences and societal norms. Her impulsive nature and yearning for adventure blinded her to the seriousness of marriage, ultimately resulting in a disastrous elopement with Wickham.