The first line of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen reads:
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
As the first line notes, the novel is a story of romance and follows the life of Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist. This first line suggests all single men who also happen to be rich should pursue marriage. Clearly, this line leaves out the female perspective on the relationship between wealth, marriage and societal expectations of the two, but the novel further explores such topics.
Jane Austen penned Pride & Prejudice in 1813. The novel remains popular, as many people continue to read it in classrooms and beyond.