What contexts and values of her times does Jane Austen examine in Pride and Prejudice?

Some contexts of her time that Jane Austen examines in
Pride and Prejudice are the military, farm laborers, and estate
wills. Austen is unique in that she does not discuss externals directly, either in terms
of descriptions or social contexts. She does however allude to or indirectly infer some.
The presence of the Regiment in Meryton alludes to England's military involvements.
Pride and Prejudice was written between 1796 and 1798. In most
immediate proximity to the writing period, England signed a treaty in 1795,, which was
ratified in 1797, with the United States guaranteeing that England would remove its
regiments from the US Northwest territory. In 1796, General Bonaparte led the victory
against Austria; though England was not involved, this was nonetheless part of the
military context of the times.

Regarding farm laborers,
when Elizabeth visits Rosings, it is made quite clear that Lady de Bourgh takes an
active interest in overseeing the running of her estate and the lives of her farm
laborers. Darcy's housekeeper alludes to the same overseership of farm laborers when she
says,

"He is
the best landlord, and the best master," said [Mrs. Reynolds], "... There is not one of
his tenants or servants but what will give him a good
name."

Property laws, and
particularly entailment of estates away from the female line, are alluded to through the
presence and role of Mr. Collins, who would have married one of the Bennet girls in
order to keep the property in the Bennet family.

Values
that Austen examines are contained with her themes: love and marriage; pride and
prejudice; wealth and prestige; middle class wealth. Love and marriage are examined
through every major character from the ill-behaved, scandalous Lydia, Wickham and Mrs.
Younge to the practical and ridiculous Charlotte and Mr. Collins to the proud and
prejudiced Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. For example, Austen examines the necessary link
between love, marriage and society when Colonel Fitzwilliam informs Elizabeth that his
position in life depends upon his marrying a wealthy upper class woman because he is a
penniless earl’s second son who, as such, cannot inherit lands, title, or wealth. Austen
examines the relationship between love, social standing, independence, and marriage
through Charlotte's decision to marry Collins for independence and position without any
love being involved--good will stands in the stead of love in Charlotte's attachment to
Collins.

Wealth and prestige follow the examination of love
and marriage in Austen's novel. The issue enters  into every relationship and problem.
For example, Bingley is worthy of a marriage with a gentleman's daughter because his
father was successful enough at a trade to be significant wealthy to give his children
lives of privileged independence. He thus came to represent the newly risen wealthy
middle class. The Gardiners further represent the connection between wealth and
prestige. Gardiner is a tradesman; Elizabeth scorns to think of Darcy or the Bingleys
enduring a relationship with such an individual:

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Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man,
... [They] would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and
within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well-bred and
agreeable.

Yet, after Darcy's
change in inner character, it is with Gardiner's help that he rescues Lydia, thus
emphasizing a newly begun re-evaluation of wealth and social
prestige.