Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a classic known for its humor and complex characters. The famous first sentence of the book, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife," begins to set up all of the major themes of money, status, and marrying well that are prevalent in 19th-century England. The Bennet family, particularly Elizabeth Bennet, a smart and strong-willed heroine, is the subject of Austen’s commentary on the societal imperative for women to marry well and thereby have a stable income.
The title itself is quite meaningful, as it first indicates the character flaws that drive much of the conflict in this novel, namely Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice. In fact, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, being a rich and high-ranking person, first of all shows a haughty character, thereby being very superior by virtue of his class. Elizabeth, having been offended by his initial lack of warmth, as well as having been misled by the deceiving Mr. Wickham, very quickly showed prejudice against him.
Traces the story of each as they navigate these weaknesses. Darcy needs to lower his pride to appreciate the value of Elizabeth’s inferior standing, though she must see the strength of his superior qualities.
Austen employs irony and satire liberally to point out the absurdities of the class structure. Personages like the obsequious Mr. Collins and the imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh symbolize the hard and silly aspects of class consciousness. The sojourn at Darcy’s grand estate, Pemberley, is an important defining instance in which the splendor of the property and the favorable reports of his servants compel Elizabeth to revise her earlier opinion and realize the truth of Darcy’s goodness.
In the final analysis, the novel promotes love marriages, couples like Jane and Bingley, and Elizabeth and Darcy, who have successful marriages because of love, in contrast to couples who marry for convenience (Charlotte Collins and Mr. Collins) or those who are full of passion but irresponsible (Lydia and Wickham).
What kind of marriage does Jane Austen appear to prize the most, according to the conclusion of the novel?
- (a)Marriage contracts entered into by reason of romantic love alone
- (b)Marriages for convenience and connections to family
- (c)Based on mutual respect, love, and understanding in marriage
- (d)Marriages based solely on financial security
Answer
Why
Correct — C. The conclusion says: 'In the final analysis, the novel promotes love marriages, couples like Jane and Bingley, and Elizabeth and Darcy, who have successful marriages because of love'.
But not love alone: it sets them against 'those who are full of passion but irresponsible (Lydia and Wickham)'.
And the model couple grow into respect: 'Darcy needs to lower his pride', 'though she must see the strength of his superior qualities'. Love with mutual respect and understanding → option (c).
Why the others are wrong
- (a)Marriage contracts entered into by reason of romantic love alone — Alone is the trap. The passage rejects couples 'full of passion but irresponsible (Lydia and Wickham)', so feeling without judgment is not what it prizes.
- (b)Marriages for convenience and connections to family — Convenience is what the passage sets the love marriages against: 'couples who marry for convenience (Charlotte Collins and Mr. Collins)'.
- (d)Marriages based solely on financial security — Financial security is the social pressure Austen comments on, 'the societal imperative for women to marry well and thereby have a stable income', not what the conclusion promotes.
Concept
A question on what an author prizes is answered from the passage's conclusion and what it is set against. The final paragraph weighs three kinds of marriage: for love (praised), for convenience (contrasted) and for passion without responsibility (contrasted).
The best option includes love but does not rest on love alone. The passage's account of Darcy and Elizabeth, each learning to value the other, supplies the respect and understanding.
The conclusion's own word is love. Respect and understanding are not stated there; they come from the passage's account of Darcy lowering his pride and Elizabeth seeing his qualities. That inference is what separates the keyed option from love alone.
Key facts
- The passage says the novel 'promotes love marriages', citing Jane and Bingley, and Elizabeth and Darcy.
- It contrasts them with Charlotte and Mr. Collins, who marry for convenience.
- It also contrasts them with Lydia and Wickham, 'full of passion but irresponsible'.
Study next
Common traps
- Choosing 'romantic love alone' because the passage says love marriages — it also rejects passion without responsibility
- Choosing financial security because the first paragraph mentions a stable income — that is the pressure Austen comments on, not her ideal
On the same passage, 19 Jan 2026, 11:00 AM, English Q.28 has an option sunk by the same kind of absolute word: 'purely comic relief' with 'no other significance'.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.