In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, what do the scenes of weddings, parties, and other social occasions reveal about the values of the...

Social occasions, such as weddings, balls, and parties
demonstrate how the characters and their society value class distinctions, wealth, and
the strict rules of social decorum.

We see the importance of class
being alluded to as Elizabeth's marriage to Darcy grows closer. The narrator shows Darcy
becoming accustomed to Elizabeth's working-class relations. The narrator also mentions
that while Darcy grew to like Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, he would always think of Mrs.
Philips as vulgar, and that is because, like her sister, Mrs. Bennet, she does act
without decorum, and is a shameless gossip (Ch. 18, Vol. 3).

We see
that the characters value wealth through several interactions at a few parties. For
instance, when Mr. Collins accompanies the Bennets for dinner and cards at the
Philipses, Mr. Collins is struck by the size of their apartment and their furniture.  He
comments that he almost feels like he is  in the "small summer breakfast parlour at
Rosings" (Ch. 16, Vol.1). He means it as a compliment because Rosings is very grand. The
fact that he dwells on Rosings so much as to compare his surroundings to it, shows just
how much he values wealth.

We also see just how much the characters
value rules of social conduct, or decorum through social gatherings, especially at the
Netherfield ball. Mr. Collins embarrasses his cousins greatly by breaching the rules of
decorum. He takes the liberty of introducing himself to Darcy, just because he knows
that Darcy is Lady Catherine's nephew. This is a great social faux pas.  One never
introduced one's self in those days in society; one always asked for an introduction.
Seeing how disturbed the characters are by breaches of social conduct shows us how much
the characters value decorum.