What are Jane Austen's personal beliefs regarding what makes a person happy in life?
Austen conveys much more than just what makes a person content through the characters she chooses to portray as 'happy'. Through the happy couples and people in the novel, she explains the importance of money, rank, marriage and respect in both her opinion and society. How a character reacts to their stance in society gives the reader a clear image of their personality, and between the lines, tells us Austen's own view on what gives a person true peace.
Though, to the unobservant eye, one may conclude the Austen is against Charlotte Lucas' decision to marry Mr Collins. However, what she implies during the course of the novel conveys a different opinion. Quotes such as Charlotte going in 'with her eyes open', or marrying solely 'for worldly gain', imply that Charlotte's decision was one she very consciously made. She knew before agreeing to Mr Collins that he was not her intellectual equal, or even a person she could remotely esteem. Yet, with the prospect of either dying an old maid, with her immediate family as her only companions, or marrying Collins and having her children to love and raise, she very willingly chooses the latter. Through the empowering ability to choose her fate, Charlotte adapts to life at Rosing's Park, and finds true happiness through this power. Such modern, enlightened concepts are not often seen in Austen's writing, and instead of revealing the 'closet feminist' within Austen, conveys her belief in decision equalling power.
Austen gives several warnings regarding marital affairs through the various relationships characters have with their spouses. She seems to firmly believe that intellectual equality and financial security are the key factors in a marriage- if both of these factors aren't present, the marriage will fail. When asking why Mr and Mrs Bennet's marriage is so unhealthy, the fundamental deciding factor is the difference in their intellects. This same fundamental difference can be seen between Wyckham and Lydia. Wyckham has proven his intelligence and cunning when seeking revenge on Darcy through Elizabeth, while Lydia is portrayed as a foolish flirt of a girl, who has no subtlety in her character. Therefore, Austen describes their attachment as disappointing from the moment it was spawned, and will undoubtedly only lead to heartbreak and loneliness for both parties involved. Later on in the novel, Austen also mentions the couple's money problems, with Lydia even resorting to asking Lizzy and Darcy for money. Austen clearly conveys her thoughts on marriage through the relationships between couples in her novels; a fact which is very true in 'Pride and Prejudice'.
Similarly, in 'The King's Speech', Hooper has a very specific opinion on what makes a person happy. Many factors are at play in a person's happiness: marriage, wealth, status and family life all have a part in how content a person may be, and Hooper makes his case to us in a very well-rounded, level-headed fashion throughout the course of the text.
Contrastingly to Austen, Hooper seems to believe that money and wealth is a source of discontent to family life. When Bertie gains more wealth by becoming king, he becomes more distanced from his children, who no longer know how to treat him. However, Lionel's family situation seems to be the ideal to work towards; with no barrier between him and his boys, their enchanting games together and support for each other show how happy the Logues are. Hooper is trying to convey to his audience that money is not a factor in happiness, and that a person can be truly content without a shilling to their name.
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