Pride and Prejudice 10

               The scandal regarding Lydia and Mr. Wickham strongly highlights the priorities and expectations of the time. Upon first reading about their scandalous runaway, I immediately thought the characters were worried for young Lydia's safety from Wickam's scheming ways. However, I came to realize that their worry was nearly entirely stemmed from reputation. Her having not yet married Wickham before their adventurous escape is the prime reason for stress, for if word was to get out of her impropriety and foolishness, Lydia's reputation, and thus her ability to marry later in life, would be entirely terminated. Along with her own, the reputation of the Bennet family would be equally at stake, and they would be looked down upon by society forevermore. Thus, news of the marriage to take place between Lydia and Wickham comes as a great relief. Mrs. Bennet becomes the most exited of them all. Elizabeth notes the disconnect and so sudden transition between dissaproval towards Lydia to rejoicing of her marriage: "'How strange this is! And for this we are to be thankful. That they should marry, small as is their chance of happiness, and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice!'" (258). The clear priority in the Bennet household and in society at the time is to prevent scandal from permanently ruining reputation, even if it means marriage to a man known to have scheming and manipulative tendencies.