Pride and Prejudice Theme of Love

In Pride and Prejudice, love is not a necessary component of marriage. In fact, most of the marriages we see are not based on love, but instead either on lust that quickly fades or on economic necessity. In this novel, romantic love is a privilege that most people have to do without and something that most people do not expect to find. At the same time, because love is a union between empathetic minds, it is shown to be a completely special emotion that is available only for intelligent, mature adults – it's the crowning achievement in the building of character.

1. When does Darcy begin to love Elizabeth?
2. There are at least two marriages of convenience made during the course of the novel (Charlotte and Mr. Collins, Lydia and Wickham). Do we get a sense that everyone assumes love will eventually develop? Why or why not?
3. Which characters think that love is a necessary part of adult life? Which don't? What does that say about them?

Even though Elizabeth finds in Pemberley a confirmation of everything good and true in Darcy's character, she is also very much swayed by its wealth and privilege.

The Bennet children, even Jane and Elizabeth, are doomed to repeat the mistakes of their parents when it comes to their long-term relationships.