Jane and Bingley: Great Success

"In spite of his being a lover, Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity, to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding and super-excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself." (P. 328, III-xiii)

Finally, Austen has given light to the secret of successful relationships. After showing us a couple (pun definitely intended) of romantic failures, Austen reveals that the secret to success seems to lie in a "general similarity of feeling and taste" between the two lovers. We can see that, while Jane and Bingley can keep each other engaged and interested for hours, neither of the two failed couples can claim such ease of coexistence. Lydia and Wickham, despite their early infatuation, fail to connect on such a basic letter, and while Lydia clings to Wickham, "his affection for her soon sunk into indifference," as his fickle tastes lead him to tire of the woman with whom he has only a shallow connection with (367). Even Charlotte, now Mrs. Collins, feels the consequences of unsound love, as she is constantly being embarrassed by her nerdish husband, who is constantly raving about Lady Catherine De Bourgh. The nature of Jane and Bingley's relationship proves their likelihood of success, as the surprising longevity of Bingley and Jane's affection despite prolonged separation ensures their love is not simply infatuation, while their obvious social compatibility heads off the possibility of their relationship going the way of Collins.