Essay Sample about Pride and Prejudice: Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley

Individuals are often influenced by the opinions and thoughts of others that are relevant to society’s expectations. Jane Austen, the author of Pride and Prejudice writes about how society has influenced and caused conflict in the relationship between Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet. These two characters go through a story of many challenges but in the end, they overcome those challenges by listening to their hearts and not the opinions of others in society. In Pride and Prejudice Austen uses Jane Bennet’s relationship with Mr. Bingley to criticize the impact of Regency Society on love.

During the Regency Era, it was rare in society for people of two different classes to be married. Bingley being part of the wealthy side of England was pressured to abandon his developed relationship with Jane due to the pressure of society. Once Jane and Mr. Bingley's relationship was more public and became more serious Mr. Darcy was pressuring Bingley to essentially “break up” with Jane. The reason he did this was because of her family's reputation and how it would affect Mr. Bingley’s place in society. During the first few moments that Mr. Bingley and Jane are acquainted with each other Jane catches Mr. Bingley's eye, and says that she was “the only creature in the room who he asked for a second [dance]” (Austen 9). Austen makes it known that Mr. Bingley was interested in Jane even from the first moments they met. This scene represents dramatic irony. Jane does not know that Mr. Bingley is as interested in her as she is in him. Austen changes Mr. Bingley's feelings for the approval of society and the importance of his sister's opinions and thoughts are. Austen shows that the influence of others can temporarily impact the decisions people make based on society’s rules. 

Mr. Bingley expresses his thoughts about Jane to his sister, Caroline who is strict to the rules of society. Jane Bingley pressures her brother into thinking that Jane is not fit for their family or society because of her family. Caroline's point is that with Jane’s “mother and father, and [with] such low connections,… [she’s] afraid there’s no chance” of the couple to be married or continue their relationship (Austen 20). Their relationship deals with the pressure of the theme of social status and the issue of marriage during the Regency Era. Jane Bingley is an influential person who tries to boss her brother around for the betterment of their family and social standing. Even though she temporarily persuades her brother into ending the relationship he has, he knows that his love with Jane is true so he makes his way back to her. Austen shows that Mr. Bingley’s relationship is seen as unfit for the Regency Era and for the society that he is living in. 

Mr. Bingley’s feelings for Jane were genuine so he went back to Jane after leaving her for the approval of society. After Mr. Bingley realized his feelings for Jane were not something he should abandon, he went back to her. His relationship and feelings for Jane were real as he describes her as "the most beautiful creature [he] ever beheld" (Austen 13). Mr. Bingley judges Jane through the theme of prejudice and the influence of others but in his heart, he knows that he truly does love her. Mr. Bingley shows that he was temporarily influenced by others which affected his relationships but he disregarded others' thoughts and opinions and made his own. Austen demonstrates that not everyone during the Regency Era fits the standards of their place in society but branches out for what they believe in that is right. 

Ultimately, Austin uses Charles Bingley to show society’s influence on relationships based on love. Specifically, Austen uses this relationship to not show the idealistic relationship during the Regency Society but to show that people can be together but must overcome and disregard the opinions of others. During this time, different wealth statuses were not seen as a proper couple. With that being said Cathrine his younger sister did not want her brother marrying someone less than them in societal rank. With the same opinion, Mr. Darcy was also against their relationship due to her family’s reputation and how it would negatively affect Mr. Bingley’s place in society. But, love overcomes society's opinions and Mr. Bingley and Jane end up in a relationship. Society has overall become more open to different people and their backgrounds, which has opened up the world to love the people without judgment.