In addition to the first answer, Charlotte represents the typical plain country lady from Austen's time period. These women were raised with the goal of obtaining a husband who could not only provide security for his bride but who also--in many cases (such as the Bennet family's situation)--could provide support for the woman's family, especially if her family did not have an immediate male heir. While all aristocratic women such as Lady Catherine's daughter and Miss Bingley were also "required" to make suitable matches, their family's security and well-being didn't rely so heavily on their marriage match.
Charlotte specifically views finding and "securing" a suitable husband as a job because she believes it is her duty and that she is not quite good enough for anything else. She serves as a foil character to the independent, forward-thinking Lizzy.
No comments:
Post a Comment