文学类 英语毕业论文.doc

AbstractPride and prejudice is Jane Austins great work, discussing the different marriages and love. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen comments that marriage in her time is a financial contract, where love is strictly a matter of chance. This is clearly evident from the very first line of the novel: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”To Regency-era writer Jane Austen, a perfect marriage meant having it all - love and money. She rejects the marriage based on wealth and stresses the element of emotion in a marriage. As this did not happen often in reality, her novels appeased with happy endings.Key Words: Love; marriage; property; social statusTable of contentsAbstract11. Introduction42. The Background52.1 The Background of that time52.2 The Background of Jane Austin53. Four Marriages in Pride and Prejudice73.1 Collins and Charlottes Marriage83.2 Lydia and Wickhams Marriage93.3 Jane and Mr. Bingleys Marriage103.4 Darcy and Elizabeths Marriage114. The Different Understanding about Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice134.1 The Marriage Based on Same Interests134.2 The Marriage Based on Vanity and Carelessness134.3 The Marriage Based on Money or Benefit144.4 The Marriage Based on True Love165. Jane Austins Concept about Love and Marriage216. Conclusion217. Acknowledgements228. Bibliography231. IntroductionPride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of early 19th-century England. Elizabeth is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman, living near the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, near London.Though the story's setting is characteristically turn-of-the-19th-century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of 'most loved books' such as The Big Read. It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen's memorable characters or themes. To date, the book has sold some 20 million copies worldwide.2. The Background2.1 The Background of that time19th century England had serious social problems from the heyday of Royalty and Nobility. One of the most significant of these was the tendency to marry for money. A person sought a partner based on the dowry receivable and their allowance. This process went both ways: a beautiful woman might be able to snag a rich husband, or a charring and handsome man could woo a rich young girl. In these marriages, money was the only consideration. Love was left out, with the thought that it would develop as the years went by.2.2 The Background of Jane AustinJane Austen (16 December 1775 18 July 1817) was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived her entire life as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fringes of the English gentry. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading. The steadfast support of her family was critical to her development as a professional writer. Her artistic apprenticeship lasted from her teenage years until she was about 35 years old. During this period, she experimented with various literary forms, including the epistolary novel which she tried then abandoned, and wrote and extensively revised three major novels and began a fourth. Austen's works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century realism. However, her marriage is like a blank paper in her 42 years real lifetime. Going through the finest time, but eventually without meeting a comfortable partner, she gives up her love. Going through the sweet and bitter feeling which helps her to write the great work Pride and Prejudice.3. Four Marriages in Pride and Prejudice3.1 Collins and Charlottes MarriageIn Pride and Prejudice, the first part is the marriage of Charlotte and Collins, their marriage is lucky and natural. They get married without any expectation. Charlotte is William Lucass daughter, who is the neighbor of Lizzy Bennet. She has not got married even until she is 26 years old. William Collins, aged twenty-five, is Mr. Bennet's clergyman cousin and, as Mr. Bennet has no son, heir to his estate. Austen described him as "not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society." Informed that the eldest daughter Jane has a boyfriend, he aims at the second daughter Elizabeth Bennet in spite for his aunts interesting sake, and Elizabeth has been tired of him. Eventually, she refuses him with sharp tongue. But Collins quickly finds comfort from Charlotte who desires to get love from a male and believes marriage is the elegant way for a girl with some education, and then they get married as quickly as the lightning. Such marriage without love is too practical, so it is a kind of superficial marriage without happiness.3.2 Lydia and Wickhams MarriageThe second marriage is between Bennets third daughter Lydia and Wickham, the son of the housekeeper. Superficially charming, he rapidly forms a friendship with Elizabeth Bennet, prompting remarks upon his suitability as a potential husband. He spreads numerous tales about the wrongs Darcy has done to him, coloring the popular perception of the other man in local society. It is eventually revealed that these tales are distortions, and that Darcy was the wronged man in their acquaintance. Lydia Bennet is the youngest Bennet sister, aged fifteen when the novel begins. She is repeatedly described as frivolous and headstrong. Her main activity in life is socializing, especially flirting with the military officers stationed in the nearby town of Meryton. She dominates her older sister Kitty and is supported in the family by her mother. Originally George Wickham is well-treated by the family and the friends. However, he comes down in the world because of his misbehavior. He gets into debt. So, he wants to get money and become rich and change his social status through marriage. For his purpose, he entices Lydia and gets her love easily, because she is young, innocent and vainglorious, and loves to go ease and hates to work hard, and is spoilt by her mother. Getting love and praise of a boy is her dream. So when Wickham wants to reach his aimgetting wealth by love and exalts her beauty hypocritically, she forgets who she is and feels she is the most beautiful and happiest girl in the world. Their love does not get the permission from the parents, and then they elope. When Elizabeth hears the news, she believes that he does not love her but the wealth of her family. The marriage is admitted on the condition of Darcy's help. Their marriage is considered to be a scandal in Bennetts family. But Mrs. Bennet is not disgraceful to this marriage. This marriage is one without love. They dont the real meaning of marriage, they only want to satisfy their aspiration. So this is a kind of impromptu love and marriage without true love and responsibility. 3.3 Jane and Mr. Bingleys MarriageThe third marriage is of the eldest daughter Jane and Mr. Bingley. Bingley is a friend of Darcy. Charles Bingleys wealth was recent, and he is seeking a permanent home. He rents the Netherfield estate near Longbourn when the novel opens. Twenty-two years old at the start of the novel, handsome, good-natured, and wealthy, he is contrasted with his friend Darcy as being less intelligent but kinder and more charming and hence more popular in Meryton. He lacks resolve and is easily influenced by others. Jane Bennet is the eldest Bennet sister. Twenty-two years old when the novel begins, she is considered the most beautiful young lady in the neighborhood. Her character is contrasted with Elizabeth's as sweeter, shyer, and equally sensible, but not as clever; her most notable trait is a desire to see only the good in others. The marriage of the able man- Bingley and the beautiful girl-Jane is ideal in most peoples eyes. At last, the lovers get married as the misunderstanding between Elizabeth and Darcy has been solved.3.4 Darcy and Elizabeths MarriageThe fourth marriage is the main theme of the works. That is Darcy and Elizabeths marriage. The reader sees the unfolding plot and the other characters mostly from her viewpoint. The second of the Bennet daughters at twenty years old, she is intelligent, lively, attractive, and witty, but with a tendency to judge on first impressions and perhaps to be a little selective of the evidence upon which she bases her judgments. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is tTwenty-eight years old and unmarried, Darcy is the wealthy owner of the famous family estate of Pemberley in Derbyshire. Handsome, tall, and intelligent, but not convivial, his aloof decorum and moral rectitude are seen by many as an excessive pride and concern for social status. He makes a poor impression on strangers, such as the gentry of Meryton, but is valued by those who know him well. At the beginning, Elizabeth rejects the pursuer-Darcy, because she does not like him, even looks down upon him though Darcy loves her very much. In Elizabeths eyes, he is arrogant and unreasonable because he is rich and has high social status. Realizing that, Darcy begins to get rid of those bad habits quietly to crate her taste and get good impression and love of her. Because of Darcys perfect behavior and good education, Elizabeth gradually eliminates the bias on Darcy. Then they spontaneously fall in love. So when Darcys second suitor is sent to Elizabeth, Elizabeth readily agree with, and they get married and have happy family lives.4. The Different Understanding about Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice4.1 The Marriage Based on Same InterestsBolobbyist, a politician, at the end of the 18th century, said that upbringing was more important than law, because it could promote moral, help to realize moral or ruin moral. Thus it could be concluded that upbringing played very important role in life at that time. On the first ball organized by Mr. Bingley in the Niger Park, Jane-the eldest daughter of the Bonnets is favored by the host. But the reserved personality and the standardized qualities make her feelings show nothing, so she almost loses Bingley, which is also caused by her nest-of-kins lap sad conducts. For example, Mrs. Bennet often gives comments on the marriage in public, especially the benefits of the marriage, which almost frightens Bingley away. This good marriage based on a favorite of mutual good impression and true love nearly evaporates. Fortunately, the loves get married by experiencing twists.4.2 The Marriage Based on Vanity and CarelessnessLydia is impulsive, credulous and blindly following. She is pursuing love and thinking about how to get love from a male. She is stiffened with the style of an officer called Wickham. She elopes with him because of an impulse. They spend money without restraint, and they are unable to make ends meet. For sake of Elizabeth, Darcy gave them a sum of money to let them get out of difficulties. At the same time, this swindler prepares to climb another woman for a sum of money.Bennet couple is another example for this kind of marriage. Mr. Bennet covets the youth and beauty and is attracted and gets married with a narrow-minded young and beautiful woman lacking intelligence. Not long after the marriage, he puts an end to his love and affection, the mutual respect and trust between the couple has gone. The expectation to have a harmonious and well-being family has evaporated. Clearly, this couples marriage is unfortunate caused by rashness and vanity.4.3 The Marriage Based on Money or BenefitAlthough Mrs. Bennet has been described as a comedy character in the work gaining a lot of sarcasm and derision, her universally acknowledged truthall the wealthy bachelors want to marry a lady, has been proved to be truth which proves another fact that it's the wealth and the number of the wealth that decides the fate of life and marriage. Charlotte knows that the marriage without property would eventually move toward disappointment and suffering. Even if the couple loves each other deeply at first, when Collins, known as a social climber, is rejected by Elizabeth, he immediately turns to fall in love with Miss Charlotte. Although Collins is an inborn fool, his love could not move the heart of a woman, Charlotte accepts him, because her purpose is to get married. Almost all the girls born in a poor family without good education always regard marriage as the only decent way, although marriage might not necessarily bring happiness to them. She manages to arrange one of the most reliable way by marriage, thus she would not be exposed to the cold temperatures and suffer hunger in the future. She now gets a storage room.Charlotte is like a rodman catching a fairly plump fishCollins. But if he doesnt meet a setback from Elizabeth, and the encouragement of Charlotte, I am afraid that he would not be so willing to propose marriage to Charlotte. The man like Bentley who has fairly numerable money need a beautiful wife, the poor man needs a wife with a huge wealth, like Wickham; It was lucky for Charlotte that she could gain the marriage with Collins although their marriage is not happy at all.In these marriages, it was quite interesting that the women without property really get married with those rich bachelors. However, the happiness brought by marriage to them has not accompanied the husband. In marriage, money is very important. Austin objects such marriage simply based on money. Collins is the heir of Bennet family; he doesnt know what love is. He would state some of the inappropriate remarks at any time. Charlotte gets married for money. Eventually she gets nothing more than a rich man, though she has economic security. She doesnt care about her husband's accompanying and love. She encourages him to clean up the garden more. She sets his living-room in the small house absent of even a small number of sunshine. When her husband makes gaffe in front of their friends, she ignores and turns a deaf ear. Such arrangement for the story is a perfect irony for” the truth universally acknowledged” at the beginning of the novel. The author expresses great sympathy to the