How About We Get To Know Each Other First

Case 1 Mr. and Mrs. Bennett:

-Married for twenty three years: "Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character."

-Five daughters, the youngest "not being sixteen."

- Could be considered a successful marriage but, as Miss Elizabeth Bennett pondered: "Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown."

Case 2 Mr. and Mrs. Collins:

- Mr. Collins asks for Elizabeth's hand in marriage.

- "Within three days", he's already engaged with Charlotte. Her explanation? "I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state."

- Marry now or never. Oh, the power of low self esteem.

Case 3 Mr. Bingley and Ms. Jane:

- From the very first ball in which they danced, they were expected to marry.

-Both Charlotte and Darcy feel Jane doesn't have the same strong feelings as Bingley. Elizabeth comes to her defense and says her sister is shy and has trouble expressing her feelings.

- They are separated in the winter. We see no "I don't care how crazy this is, let's look for my long lost love" behavior from either side.

- Mr. Bennett comes back. They get engaged.

Case 4 Mr. Darcy and Ms. Elizabeth:

-Ms. Elizabeth describes him as "the last man she would marry."

-Out of nowhere, Mr. Darcy, not only declares his love for her, but also asks for her hand in marriage.

-Ms. Elizabeth rejects him, but they later meet again and spend time together. They actually get to know each other.

- Elizabeth realized she loves Mr. Darcy and they get engaged.

Case 5 Mr. Whickham and Ms. Bennett:

- ABSOLUTELY PURE NONSENSE

Nothing more needs to be said.

Case 1: Blame it on Mr. Bennett's young soul.

Case 2: Blame it on Mr. Collins' hurt pride and Charlotte's low self esteem.

Case 3: Blame it on Mr. Bingles single and wealthy position and Jane's beauty.

Case 4: Blame it on Elizabeth's intelligence.

Case 5: Blame it on Mr. Wickham's money problem and Lydia's stupidity.

Love is what you let yourself believe in. If you get married with the first man that winks at you, and you truly believe he's the man of your dreams, so be it. But just because you're happy now, it doesn't mean you'll be happy in forty years. Yes, you can get a divorce but that's just a synonym for failing. So how about you actually meet the person you're going to spend the rest of your time with? There's a slight chance that the marriage doesn't work and your "soul mate" turns out to be the biggest mistake of your life but hey, what's life without risks? Just make sure the risks you take, are actually worth taking.