Individual vs. Society: Intro Paragraph

Marriage is idealized as a harmonious, lasting bond between two lovers.  In Pride and Prejudice, Austen uses miserable marriages such as the Bennett's to question weather this idealized concept of marriage truly exists in society.  Through marriages, Austen is able to reveal weather a character acts upon his/her own interest, or by normative pressures of society.  There are both beneficial and detrimental effects that people must face by acting either by individual motives or society's influences.  While people who act based on their individual motives are more likely to end up living a happier life, they must suffer the consequence of being isolated from the majority of society. People who act based on society's influences achieve the opposite result and are more likely to be accepted by society and have a stable lifestyle, but they risk the possibility of not acquiring happiness.  Although I believe that keeping true to oneself and attaining happiness is the most important principle one should follow, people should try to take a middle path, like Jane, and keep their individuality while not being completely isolated from society.