Money holds a significant role within the plot and development of the major characters within Pride and Prejudice, as well as shaping the novel as a whole. Throughout the novel the theme of love is heavily linked with money but seems to be of less importance when discussing it along with money, this is shown within the opening paragraph of Pride and Prejudice: " It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife". (Austen, 2006, P3).
Austen's use of the words 'good fortune' projects the importance of money within a relationship between men and women. By mentioning both marriage and money within the opening paragraph the reader is given the impression of what the two main themes could possibly be and also the significance money may hold over love. Mrs. Bennet plays a major link between love and money, this is particularly evident when her purpose is set out within the opening chapter as the novel, "The business of her life was to get her daughters married". (P5) But Mrs. Bennet's intentions for who her daughters may marry where to be someone of a higher social class, "A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls". (P4) This extract shows that Mrs. Bennet is not concerned if her daughters marry for love as long as they marry someone with a good financial status. .
The use of money within Pride and Prejudice has large influence over how characters are initially viewed by other characters, and when most characters are introduced their financial status is stated, "Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room "of his having ten thousand a year". (P10) This influence has a substantial effect on people falling in love with each other and whom they will marry; this is particularly evident between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy and also Mr.
