She had always felt that Charlotte’s opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage.
– Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 22. Elizabeth is shocked that her friend Charlotte Lucas is engaged to be married to Mr. Collins. While they didn’t quite share the same views on marriage, the horrified Elizabeth never believed that Charlotte would sacrifice all her better feelings for financial security and status. Elizabeth’s own strong sense of integrity would never allow her to sell out her values in the same way Charlotte has done. Elizabeth has a more romantic and idealized view of marriage being about love and mutual respect.