Universally Acknowledged. Not.
Winston Fletcher muses in the Guardian whether women really do want to marry rich men.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged,” Jane Austen famously begins Pride and Prejudice, “that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” In other words, she is saying ironically, prospective wives flock to blokes with lolly. Throughout history this has been one of the constant themes of literature, legends, myths and operas. And for much of history it may have been true - but surely it is codswallop in Britain today. Today it is a lousy cliche that stereotypes - indeed, denigrates - women.
Well! That’s refreshing!
Jane was joking, as Mr. Fletcher pointed out. Remember Maria Bertram–she married probably the richest man of all in the Austen oeuvre–Mr. Rushworth’s twelve thousand trumps you-know-who’s mere ten–and look where it got her: sharing a cottage in the country with the most unpleasant character in the Austen oeuvre. Your lesson, young ladies? Money Doesn’t Solve Everything.
But for the great majority of people, in the broad middle swathe of society, I don’t think their partners’ wealth matters a toss. Or, to be more accurate, there are countless reasons for choosing a partner, and money is one of them - but it is pretty low on the list. Yet the myth survives, and is constantly perpetuated - in the press, in novels, in thrillers, on television: when it comes to getting hitched to a chap, it says, what women want is a filthy rich chap.
Think of all your friends and decide: it’s twaddle, nowadays, isn’t it?
Ah. Bless.
