An Analysis of Factors Influencing Marriage in Pride and Prejudice1.doc

分析傲慢与偏见中婚姻的影响要素An Analysis of Factors Influencing Marriage in Pride and PrejudiceContentsAbstract.1Key words.1I. Introduction.21. Introduction of the novel.22. Introduction of social background.23. Introduction of Austen.2II. Characters Analysis.31. Elizabeth Bennet32. Mr. Darcy.33. Charlotte Lucas.34. Lydia Bennet.35. Jane Bennet4 6. Mr. Bingley.4III. A Comparative Analysis of Four Marriages41. Marriage between Jane and Mr. Bingley.42. Marriage between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.43. Marriage between Mr. Wickham and Lydia.54. Marriage between Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins.5IV. Analysis of Some Essential Factors That Influence Marriage In the Book61. The great impact of money on marriage.62. Love is the foundation of marriage.63. Attraction of personality has great influence on marriage in reality.7IV. Conclusion.9References.9An Analysis of Factors InfluencingMarriage in Pride and PrejudiceAbstract: Pride and Prejudice is a very popular novel written by Jane Austen in 1813. It is read widely all over the world. Some typical marriages in it are taken as classical. That special period of time determined that there were many factors influencing matrimonial values orientations. These factors include money, social positions, desire for romance, lust and pursuing independence and true love. But which matrimonial value is immoral? It was proved obviously in the novel that a happy and steady marriage must be based on mutual feelings, understanding and respect. Hasty marriage acting on impulse and based on superficial qualities will not survive and will lead to inevitable unhappiness. In order to make marriage in this novel understood deeply, in my paper I will analyze the factors that influence matrimonial value orientations according to the four main marriages in this novel.Key words: Pride and Prejudice; matrimonial values; marriage; money; true love; independence摘 要：傲慢与偏见是简爱·奥斯丁写于1813年的著名小说。它畅销全世界。其中的一些不同因素包括金钱，诱惑，独立的个性和对真爱的追求。但是哪中由这些因素决定的婚姻观是正确合理和明智的了？这本小说中明确的证明了幸福和稳定的婚姻必须建立在对方的真实感情以及相互理解和尊重的基础之上。建立在卤莽草率以及个人的欲望等这些浮浅的东西的基础上的婚姻会导致不可避免的不幸福。为了更好的理解这部小说的婚姻观，我的这篇论文将这部小说中影响婚姻的要素进行分析。关键字：傲慢与偏见；婚姻观；金钱；真爱；独立I. Introduction 1. Introduction of the novelPride and Prejudice is the first work from that Chinese can understand Jane Austen. It talks about trivial matters of love, marriage and family life between young men and fair ladies in Britain in the 18th century. The plot of it is how the young ladies choose their husbands. The novel reflects some types of different and typical views that exist in the matters of marriage according to describe four cases of marriages, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jane and Mr. Bingley, Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham and Lydia. The author expressed her own matrimonial value by describing marriage between heroin Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. She opposes marriage that is money-oriented and emphasizes importance of true love.2. Introduction of social background The story of Pride and Prejudice took place in the time of Regency in Britain. At that time, Britain was at the period of transition from the earlier stage of capitalism and the expansion of the rank of rich people, the distinction between social strata was becoming smaller and smaller while money was getting more and more important in peoples mind about social value. A western literature critic once said that: “Even David Ricard (a British economist) had an unlikely clear understanding about the function of money in daily life as Jane Austen had.”3. Introduction of Austen Jane Austen was born in 1765. The social status of the family was not like the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice. It was wealthy but it didnt have the nobility or pride of the upper classes. Since feminism was alive and prospered well in the time she was alive, the novel about young womens courtship and marriage were Jane Austens favorite reading. She wrote three novels before she was twenty-five, although she did not manage to publish them till later. The other women novelist of her time who create and sustained a market for domestic fiction by women and whose attitude towards writing like Austens own became increasingly professional. Some contemporary readers may find the world she describes, in which peoples chief concern is to obtain advantageous marriages. In her era options were limited, and both women and man often marriage for financial considerations. Female writers worked within the similarly narrow genre of romance. Part of Austens reputation rests on how well she integrates observations on the human condition within a convincing love story.II. Characters Analysis Marriage is a very important part in everybodys life. Different attitudes towards marriage and concepts of marriage result in different marriage. Thus, some marriages are happy, some are sweet, some are bitter and some are despicable. Character reflects ones attitude towards love.1. Elizabeth BennetElizabeth Bennet is the second of the five daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth is the most logical and levelheaded of the Bennet daughters, and that makes her fathers favorite. Although Elizabeth is thoughtful, intelligent and practical, she comes to realize that she is just as capable of letting her own feelings get in the way of her good sense as her feather-brained sisters. Elizabeth realizes her grave mistake when she understands that she has greatly misjudged both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham.2. Mr. DarcyMr. Darcy is Bingleys best friend as well as a very wealthy, handsome and proud bachelor. Darcy is viewed as rude and conceited by all the inhabitants of Meryton as well as Elizabeth Bennet. But through a strange course of events, Elizabeth comes to learn that she was wrong about Mr. Darcy, and they fall in love with each other.3. Charlotte Lucas Charlotte Lucas is Elizabeths best friend. After Elizabeth turns down Mr. Collinss marriage offer, Charlotte snaps him up because she wants a simple life and cant imagine that a better offer will come her way. She and Elizabeth remain friends despite Charlottes marriage to the awful Mr. Collins.4. Lydia Bennet Lydia is the youngest Bennet girl, and she is the biggest flirt as well. She chases the soldiers quartered in Meryton and follows along when they move to Brighton. She and Wickham are forced to marry after Lydia runs away with him expecting to become his wife although Wickham has no such plan before Darcy pays him off.5. Jane BennetJane is the Bennets oldest daughter. She is practical like Elizabeth but she is kinder and more understanding. Jane is greatly hurt when Bingley rejects her but she overcomes her pain and the two of them end up together.6. Mr. BingleyMr. Bingley is a wealthy and young bachelor who moves into the Bennets neighborhood and triggers Mr. Bennets schemes to marry Jane off to Bingley. Bingley is a fashionable and kind, but he and Jane dont get together right away because of a misunderstanding.III. A Comparative Analysis of Four MarriagesIn Pride and Prejudice the author described the union of four couples: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jane and Mr. Bingley, Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham and Lydia. Marriage between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is ideal one from the point of the author. Austen makes it clear that this steadfast and rational relationship is desirable.1. Marriage between Jane and Mr. Bingley Jane is the eldest daughters of the Bennets. She is very beautiful, gentle and kind hearted. But she hides her serious attachment to Bingley under her quiet open and cheerful manners. Mr. Bingley is good looking and gentlemanlike, he has modest, easy and polite manners, but he is lack of self-confidence. He does not quietly sure if Jane has attachment to him and Miss. Bingley does not want Jane to be her sister-in-law for her low position and connections. There are many obstacles in the access of their marriage, but the power of love is great. They overreach these obstacles and get together under the help of Elizabeth. Jane and Bingley are so similar that in their marriage life there is no passion or animation just a monotonous existence.2. Marriage between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy Their marriage is the main aspect of the novel and it is the most happiest and successful ideal marriage. The author places all hope on Elizabeth who has a consciousness of resistance and smart mind. Mr. Darcy is a wealthy and handsome and proud bachelor. Darcy is viewed as rude and conceited by all the inhabitants of Meryton as well as Elizabeth Bennet. When he falls in love with Elizabeth, his proposal is refused by her，she also scolds his arrogance forcefully. After that he realizes his deficiencies and makes improvement, she also realizes her mistakes when she understands that she has greatly misjudged both Darcy and Wickham. Their marriage is a much complex state of affairs. Despite their initial feelings for each other, they both achieve shared admirations and respect but this is only accomplished through the painful process of stripping away the misinterpretation and self-deception of the other. Their marriage is rational because they have learned why they love each other.3. Marriage between Mr. Wickham and LydiaMarriage between Mr. Wickham and Lydia is the most fatal of these marriages. Lydia is the youngest Bennet girl, and she is the biggest flirt as well. She chases the soldiers quartered in Meryton and follows along when they move to Brighton. Wickham has a good appearance but he is immoral. She and Wickham are forced to marry after Lydia runs away with him expecting to become his wife although Wickham has no such plan before Darcy pays him off. After they got married, their relationship fades away. Lydia enjoys regular visits to her elder sisters homes and Wickham constantly visits London alone. Their marriage is one of out of desire. In Wickhams eye it is a revenge against Darcy. The marriage between them is based on appearance, superficial attraction and youthful ignorance. As a result of this, both characters appear to be somewhat miserable with the marriage life and constantly try to escape. 4. Marriage between Charlotte Lucas and Mr. CollinsMarriage between Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins is a comical and yet devastating relationship. Mr. Collins travels to the Bennets home with the purpose of taking home a wife. He first lays eyes on Jane and when discovering that she is soon engaged, his attention immediately turns towards Elizabeth. Having proposal been rejected by Elizabeth, his attention is quickly transferred to Charlotte Lucas. Only moments later, he announced the marriage of him to Charlotte. This relationship is very ridiculous. He could not possibly be in love with Charlotte for only a week before he had loved Elizabeth. Charlotte marries to Collins in order to gain financial and social security. Mr. Collins is a intolerable man and Charlotte often finds herself rather embarrassed to be married such a person. She will never have a life of complete happiness. Her rational choice is very similar to the principle (Existence surpasses love) of British women in 18 century. This interesting marriage without love is a typical social matrimonial orientation.IV. Analysis of Some Essential Factors That Influence Marriage in the BookLove is the foundation of marriage. Money and property is the guarantee. Attraction of personality has great influence on marriage in reality.1. The great impact of money on marriageIn Pride and Prejudice, we can always see country, squires and leisure life with balls, walks, picnics, conversations and marriage. But seeing through the surface, there is a world of struggling for existence determined by money. The first sentence of the whole novel proclaims, “It is truth that universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must in want of a wife.” Here, “a good fortune” and “In want of” are two key phrases. “In want of” means it is needed objectively not subjectively. Such kind of wording makes the proposition have more objectivity of “truth”. So we can also say that in Pride and Prejudice, the real “truth universally acknowledged that a woman without possession must be in want of a husband with a good fortune.” Mr. Wickham wants to get ten thousand from Darcy otherwise he will not marry Lydia even though they are in elopement. What about Elizabeth? Leaving aside her true love for Darcy, what role does money play in her process of chasing after marriage? She once holds good feelings on Wickham, considering him to be the most agreeable man she even met. But meanwhile she thinks it too imprudent to fall in love with him, she once says to her aunt Mr. Gradiner: “I will take care of myself and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall not be in love with me if I can prevent it” So when Wickham is engaged with Miss King for her ten-thousand-pound property, she does not feel a little bit sad but free. Another thing is that after she confesses her love for Darcy and their engagement to her elder sister, Jane asks her how long she loved Darcy and she answers: “I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberly.” Through she is joking we can see part of her feeling of pursuing money. These are just some evidence that money and property have great influence on marriage. From the whole novel, there is no marriage that involves no money. Money and property is the guarantee. Marriage without money will not survive.2. Love is the foundation of marriageElizabeth could not accept Collins because there could be no possibility of love between them. Elizabeth opposes her best friend Charlottes marriage to Collins because she only seeks for material enjoyment. Elizabeth possesses the quality of strong reason and keen observation. She has her own attitude towards marriage. She knows that the happy marriage should be based on true love and should choose mate carefully and seriously. Darcy is attracted not only by Elizabeths beautiful appearance but also by her personality even though he experiences long-time and fierce struggles in the process of acceptance of Elizabeth despite for her social position and low connections. He proposes to Elizabeth for his deep love, he says: “In vain have I struggled, it will not do, my feeling will not be repressed