"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife"

This quote from Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice is a satirical discuss the social expectations of marriage in the early 19th century. It implies that a single male with a good luck is anticipated to marry, regardless of his own desires or feelings. Austen is recommending that marriage is seen as a status sign and a method to increase one's wealth and social standing. She is likewise highlighting the truth that females are often seen as products, to be obtained and used for monetary gain. The quote is a reminder of the patriarchal society of the time, where females were anticipated to marry for monetary security and men were anticipated to marry for social status. Austen's quote is a suggestion of the significance of marital relationship in the early 19th century and the expectations put on both men and women.