As a bland, older, middle class woman, she must marry anyone who can fully support her. At the age of 27, she settles down with the distasteful man, Mr. Collins. “Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachments to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her husband,” is an example of how odious Mr. Collins is, but because he has money, is tolerated (Austen 83). Being in the lower middle class, Charlotte needed to separate from her parents support to a husband’s. The sad part about Charlotte’s situation is that she married for love, not money. She simply states to Elizabeth: “‘I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state” (Austen 85). Having grown up knowing she must marry, Charlotte does not seem upset, but relieved at the marriage. Many women were required to marry for money in order to support themselves and their
As a bland, older, middle class woman, she must marry anyone who can fully support her. At the age of 27, she settles down with the distasteful man, Mr. Collins. “Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachments to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her husband,” is an example of how odious Mr. Collins is, but because he has money, is tolerated (Austen 83). Being in the lower middle class, Charlotte needed to separate from her parents support to a husband’s. The sad part about Charlotte’s situation is that she married for love, not money. She simply states to Elizabeth: “‘I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state” (Austen 85). Having grown up knowing she must marry, Charlotte does not seem upset, but relieved at the marriage. Many women were required to marry for money in order to support themselves and their