Love has many elements that compose it, starting with liking the other person. It is clear that there has to exist certain like between these two persons for love to exist. The desire to be with the other person has to exist. There are other components of love that don't directly affect love but have a great deal of influence in them. Money and power are things that even though people say don't matter they do. According to Austen: "But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it" (pg 26). In this case they are referring to people who have a lower level of power as well as less money than them. This fact brings up criticism from the family and friends of Mr. Bingley. I don't think that a person should be judged for their money and power in that way, but in that time it was normal to marry with a person with similar wealth and power.
People may say that today love has changed in many ways. It is true that now the strictness of marriage became more flexible but money still plays a major role. People say that the marrying for money and power doesn't exist anymore, but I am sure that a father will not let his daughter marry a man who will not be able to provide financial stability to her.
In Pride and Prejudice another kind of love appears. The love where the money matters less appears when according to Austen: "They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign" (pg. 20). The love expressed by Austen in this quotation differs to the other love in many ways. This love doesn't need money for it to exist. This love relies only on the want to be with another person. Money can't replace the ensigns of the soldiers in these girls' minds, showing true love.
I think it is interesting how love differs within the novel. The parents consider a marriage worthy if the husband has lots of money because it will improve their social status and income. The daughters are more concerned with the personality of their future husband, because they, unlike the parents, will have to live with him. The question I have is whether the parents are being selfish, or if the reason they want their daughter's husband to be rich is because it will be good for the daughter.
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