first body paragraph

           Throughout history and across most cultures, men have held the power in relationships over women; Austen demonstrates the effects of male power in marriage choice, a truth that still holds today. Male and female behavior at balls in Pride and Prejudice shows that men choose whom to dance with, and women gain status based on being chosen. After the novel’s first ball, Mrs. Bennet summarizes the evening for her husband: “Mr. Bingley … danced with [Jane] twice… she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas” (Austen 10). Mrs. Bennet continues with a complete list of every woman Mr. Bingley danced with, and the importance given to his choices, the order and frequency of the dance partners, all show his power of choice and the women’s dependence on being chosen. It is not just only at the balls that men hold all the power of decisions; this power is just a symbol of the more important choice men make, whom to marry. Even Mr. Collins, who is much less wealthy, attractive, and respected than Bingley, exercises the choice of selecting his wife. He first chooses Elizabeth, telling her that “Almost as soon as I entered the house I singled you out as the companion of my future” (Austen 75). Collins’ poor social skills explain his cluelessness about Elizabeth’s lack of interest in him, but his assumption that it is his choice to make and hers to accept is not considered offensive to anyone but Elizabeth. The fact Elizabeth declines him is very unusual in the context of the novel, and only serves to show how nonconformist and exceptional Elizabeth is. When he next chooses Charlotte, and she accepts as if she has been saved, it is again only Elizabeth who is shocked; the other characters’ reactions all show that they believe it to be normal for the man to choose a wife as if he is shopping for a new pair of shoes.