Bingley and Jane Bennet. .
Pride and Prejudice was written in the early Regency Period in England, where social classes where changing and a new class of bourgeoisie where forming, when the middle class where making money in rising industries, threatening the formerly protected state of aristocracy. (Turner-Mobbs, 2009) I think Austen tried to show this breaking down in social class within Pride and Prejudice by using love to try and emerge the social classes, as the Bennett's are known to be of middle class while Darcy and Bingley are both aristocrats. .
Throughout the novel Austen tries to show that money and social class should not determine whom someone should marry, apart from the relationship between Charlotte and Mr. Collins. Where Austen takes a more realist approach to what would of truthfully happened in the 18th Century, when Charlotte marries Mr. Collins for finical support rather than for love, demonstrating the majority of women in this period in time that would have married for money even if they did not love or care for the man. (Sparknotes Editors, 2007) The following quote from Charlotte reflects how most women in the 18th Century would view marriage, "I am not romantic. I ask only for a comfortable home." .
Within Pride and Prejudice I believe Austen pushes the boundaries of that time, showing in my opinion a slightly feminist view, by projecting Elizabeth as a strong independent women who values love over money, showing that love may over power money which in that period of time would not have been seen acceptable. The relationships in Pride and Prejudice are constantly affected by money even though characters such as Mr. Bingley and Jane are in love. When Mr. Bingley leaves Jane without a marriage proposal in the beginning of the novel, it is revealed later that it was because of the influence of Mr. Darcy, "He congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage.