Agreed but I think "The best marriage is one where the spouses respect each other and the man is able to provide a comfortable and secure economic life for the woman." wasn't like, a counter-cultural ideal, while the author of the post has Jane set up in opposition to her societies ideal of what a marriage should be. She was willing to reject the certainty of Bingley for a chance at something better, but I also think Elizabeth would have rejected a poor suitor who she did feel respect for. She wouldn't have married a farmer like Robert Martin for instance.

Edit: And even on risk, the big risk is that if Elizabeth's dad dies the family would have to live on Mrs. Bennet's income of just 200 pounds a year, which to put in perspective was about what Jane Austen's father made as a clergyman when she was born, though he would go on to make more money later in life. It wouldn't be poverty and still put them in the upper few percent of English people at the time.

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mft_ 3 days ago | parent [-]

I think it’s strongly implied that Lizzy would have married someone poor that she loved and respected.

	▲	neaden 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		She doesn't even talk to any poor people though. Her father is the richest man in town, there are no farmers, tradesmen, or clerks that she even speaks to in the book let alone someone who is actually part of the bottom 90% of England's economy at the time. Even with Wickham when they first meet and she likes him, she flirts with him but knows nothing serious can ever happen since he doesn't have enough money and knows he will want to marry an heiress. In chapter 26 her aunt cautions her against falling in love with Wickham and she assures her aunt that while she enjoys his company she doesn't view him as marriage material.