I think that anyone who takes that line literally is probably new to literature.

Casual readers often make the mistake of taking the line literally. Critics and scholars don’t. Their standard view is that the line is ironic: It means the opposite of what it says. A well-off single man is not seeking a wife, but in his neighbors’ eyes, he “must” or has to be seeking one, because they need him to be.
Are We All Wrong About The First Line Of ‘Pride and Prejudice’?
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Janice Harayda
Michelle Teheux
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Aug 22, 2023
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I think that anyone who takes that line literally is probably new to literature.
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Written by Michelle Teheux
15.9K Followers
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Lover of literature. Former newspaper editor. Fascinated by everything. Contact: michelleteheux@gmail.com. To buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/michelleteheux
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