【英语论文】《傲慢与偏见》中的婚姻（英文）

Marriages in Pride and Prejudice傲慢与偏见中的婚姻Thesis: This paper intends to give a short summary to the seven marriages in Pride and Prejudice and to discuss three main factors that affect marriage in the eighteenth century. It concludes that a happy and strong marriage must be based on mutual feelings, understanding, and respect. Love is the source for the happiness of marriage.Keywords: Marriage Love Property Personality摘要: 本文对傲慢与偏见中的七起婚姻进行了简单概述, 并讨论了十八世纪对婚姻影响的三个主要因素.通过复述和讨论,表明了作者的婚姻观:快乐坚实的婚姻必须建立在婚姻双方共同的感受, 理解和尊重的基础之上.爱情是婚姻幸福的根源.关键词:婚姻 爱情 财富 个性Outline:.Introduction. Seven Marriages in the NovelElizabeth and DarcyJane and BingleyLydia and Wickham,Charlotte Lucas and CollinsMr. and Mrs. Bennetthe Gardiners the Lucases. Factors Affecting a Marriage Most1. Love2. Property3. Personality. Conclusion论文提纲:.介绍.小说中七种婚姻的简单概述伊丽莎白与达西的婚姻吉英与彬格莱的婚姻丽蒂亚和韦克翰的婚姻夏绿蒂和柯林斯的婚婚班纳特太太和先生的婚姻加笛纳太太和先生的婚姻卢卡斯太太和先生的婚姻. 影响婚姻最主要的几个因素1. 爱情2. 财富3. 个性. 结论.IntroductionJane Austen (17751818) is one of the greatest and best loving novelists in English literature, and one of the most important writers in the English realistic novels. Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, is considered her masterpiece that marked as one of the best novels in English literature. In this novel, Austen describes a narrow range of society: a quiet, wealthy, middle class circle in country surroundings that she knew from her own experience. Austen tells us a story that follows the love of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwillan Darcy, both of whom are romantic and intelligent. For a long time, they are forced to give up their personal pride and prejudice before they can enter into a happy marriage together. And at the end of this story, they constitute a successful marriage. But, Pride and Prejudice reveals more than Elizabeth and Darcys love story. The central role, marriage, is discussed in the famous opening line of this novel. It is truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering the neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters. ( P.1 )Stephen Kern states that the sweeping public aspect of Austens confident generalization and the vigorous forward movement of her sentence underscored the ineluctability of the truth in her time: That there can be no desirable goal for love other than marriage.( Kern Stephen, 1992: 366) Ian Milligan believes that the famous opening sentence almost wearily sets out the terms of the conventional bargain to be struck between the parties involved. (Milligan Ian, 1987: 81) He also says that sexual need and sexual attractiveness are brought into balance with the need for financial security and social position. It is taken for granted that the men and women concerned will belong to a well-defined spectrum of society. (Milligan Ian, 1987: 81) Woolf holds the similar opinion that it is remarkable to what an extent the plots and characters are dominated by questions of money. (Woolf Leonard, 1942: 39)And what factors could affect a good marriage What are the elements of marriage In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen presents seven different marriages to indicate that a happy and strong marriage takes time to build and must be based on mutual feelings, understanding, and respect; hasty marriage based on superficial qualities will not last long and will lead to unhappiness. This paper intends to look into seven marriages in the novel and to discuss three main factors that affect marriage in the eighteenth century. At the end of this paper, it tries to form a deeper idea of the marriage. Seven Marriages in the NovelThere are seven different marriages presented in this novel. These seven marriages contrast each other to reveal Jane Austens opinions and thoughts on the subject of marriage.1. Elizabeth and DarcyIt is clear that Jane Austen does not believe falling in love at the first sight, and she writes about the difficulties two people have to overcome before they open their love and get married. Elizabeth and Darcy have to understand and overcome their own pride and prejudice before they can appreciate each other. On their first meeting, the two major characters make a bad start. They do not fall in love at the first sight. On the contrary, the rich and handsome Darcy is too proud to lower himself, and offends the lively and intelligent girl Elizabeth. When he thinks he is rich and owns a large estate in Derbyshire, he says: She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me. ( P.8 ) At the same time, Elizabeth dislikes him and his arrogant manner and class-based pride. This dislike is increased by the rumor given to her by George Wickham, an officer in the regiment stationed at Meryton. He suffers the unjust treatment at Darcys hands. Later when Darcy effectively breaks up Bingley from her loving sister Jane, the prejudice of Elizabeth is further strengthened. On the other hand, Darcy is so proud of his social class that he is prejudiced against the Bennet familys improper manner and connections to the working class (Elizabeths aunts and uncles). Later, after a series of events, Darcy does have a strong sense of honor and virtue, and he begins to fall in love with Elizabeth. At last, he proposes with great condescension. Thinking that Darcy dislikes her, Elizabeth dose not really notice when Darcys attitude toward her begins to change. In fact her prejudice blinds her to the reality of his developing passion for her. Elizabeth angrily refuses Darcy who is so sad. Later Darcy writes a letter to Elizabeth to explain his feelings. After reading this letter, Elizabeths view towards him begins to change, and she realizes that she has badly misunderstood some of his behavior. Her feelings change even more when she knows Darcy has played an important role in settling the affairs of her run-away sister Lydia. When Darcy proposes again, Elizabeth accepts. And for their true love, the pride has been weakened and prejudice disappeared.The marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth reveals the importance of getting to know each other before their marriage. The series of events they both experienced gave them the opportunity to understand each other and the time to build their mutual understanding. Thus, we can find a significant factor to a successful marriage: love cannot be brought on by appearances, and it must be fostered gradually between two people as they get to know each other. It indicates that a happy and strong marriage takes time to build and must be based on mutual feelings, understanding, and respect. 2. Jane and BingleyThis is a parallel love story. The marriage between Jane Bennet and Bingle is also an example of successful marriage. Elizabeths sister Jane is the eldest in the family. Beautiful, good-tempered, sweet, amiable, and modest, she is universally well-liked. She refuses to judge anyone badly. Mr. Bingley, much like Jane, is an amiable and good-tempered person. He is not concerned with class differences, and Janes poor family connections cannot stop him from falling in love with Jane. Jane Austen expresses her opinion of this through Elizabeth in the novel,Really believed all his Bingley expectations of felicity to be rationally founded, because they had for basis the excellent understanding, and super- excellent disposition of Jane, and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself. ( P.308 ) However, unlike Darcy and Elizabeth, there is a flaw in their relationship both characters are too innocent and too good-hearted to act heavily against the external force that may attempt to separate them. Bingley is too easily influenced. For example, under the influence of Mr. Darcy, Bingley begins to doubt Janes affection to him, and he leaves her without saying good-bye. Later, when all misunderstanding is explained, he comes back to Jane at Darcys assistance. Bingleys indecisive character determines that his happiness is controlled by others. As to Jane, she never thinks ill for any body and she shows her warm sympathetic feelings in an easy manner. Her character is vividly showed in many parts of the novel. And no doubt that Janes father says, Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income ( P.309 )This type of marriage is based on good foundations. They are attracted at once, and have the chance to have similar, easy dispositions. Just like Darcy and Elizabeths marriage, they enjoy their mutual feelings and understanding. And they also list the necessary qualities for a good marriage according their marriage: Understanding each others character, good disposition of the partners, similarity in feeling and taste, and also a lot of money.3. Lydia and WickhamObviously, Lydia and Wickhams marriage is an example of a bad marriage. Lydia Bennet, the youngest of the Bennet daughters, is devoted to a life of dancing, fashions, gossips and flirting. Wickham is an officer in the regiment stationed at Meryton. Wickham is quickly judged to be a perfectly good and amiable man because of his friendliness and the ease of his manners. However, he is mean and wicked. A curious degree of sexual attraction often goes with a lively, unreliable disposition, which may either be somewhat superficial but perfectly well-meaning, or driven by circumstance which it has not the strength to withstand, become that of a scoundrel. (Douglas Bush, 1956: 591) He elopes with Lydia with no intention of marrying her and is just only made to do so by Darcys intervention. Lydia also does not take into consideration her marriage, the personality of her husband, or the prospects of their marriage. Therefore, their marriage is based on appearance and youthful impulse. Once these qualities can no longer be seen by each other, and once strong relationship slowly fades away, problems rise as a result. As in the novel, Lydia and Wickhams marriage gradually disintegrates; Lydia becomes a regular visitor at her two elder sisters homes when her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath ( P.344 )Through their relationship, we can see they are a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue and affection for her soon sunk into indifference; her lasted a little longer. (Nash Geoffrey, 1989: 61) In their marriage, Jane Austen shows that hasty marriage based on superficial qualities quickly withers and leads to unhappiness.4. Charlotte Lucas and CollinsThe marriage between Mr. Collins and Charlotte is based on money rather than on love or appearance. It was a common practice for women to marry a husband to save themselves from singleness or to gain financial security in 19th century England. Charlotte, who is twenty-seven and plain-looking, is scared of being an old maid, so she does not have a high view of marriage. She tells Elizabeth: Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance ( P.19 ) and she has few hopes of happiness in marriage. She marries for security and social status only, I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr.Collins character, connections, and situation in life. ( P.113 ) Collins is a silly, shallow, self-satisfied and awkward person. He wants a wife only because its time for him to settle and Lady Catherine has advised him to marry. His feelings are totally not real. Elizabeth is most disappointed because she knows Charlotte could not be really happy with such a husband.In this novel, Jane Austen writes this type of marriage to show that women who submit themselves to this type of marriage will have to suffer in sad silence as Charlotte does, When Mr.Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not un seldom,Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear. ( P.139 ) Charlotte is a sad casualty of the marriage market. Such hasty marriage would surly lead to unhappiness.5. Mr. and Mrs. BennetIn contrast to Elizabeth, her father, Mr. Bennet, is an example of living with ones mistakes. Mr. Bennet had married a woman he found sexually attractive without realizing she was an unintelligent woman. When he was courting Mrs. Bennet, her beauty blinded him from her silliness. Consequently,he had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem and confidence, had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown ( P.209 )Mrs. Bennets main interest in life is to find suitable husbands for her five daughters, while Mr. Bennet would like to isolate himself from his family and find refugee in his library or in mocking his wife. Mr. Bennet also can be considered as an irresponsible father because he lacks of attention towards his family and he encourages his younger daughters to elope with Wickham. So from every point of view, their marriage is a failure. By this example Austen shows that it is necessary to use good judgment to select a spouse, otherwise the two people will lose respect for each other. (Walton Street,1970:186 )6. The Gardiners The Gardiners are the family with whom the Bennets are particularly close. Jane Austen doesnt present a detailed description of their marriage life, merely mentioning their characters. Mr. Gandiner is a sensible, gentleman- like man, greatly superior to his sister (Mrs. Bennet) as well by nature as education. ( P.125 )He earns his money by working, and he puts himself in a lower social class than the people who live off the interest of their land. In this novel, Mr. Gardiner is one of those people whom Austen describes as a natural aristocrat, and whom Darcy comes to like after he overcomes his class prejudice. Mrs. Gardiner is an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and a great favorite with all her Longbourn niece. ( P.125 ) In this novel, Mrs. Gardiner acts a mother to Elizabeth and Jane, and her notion of marriage greatly affects Elizabeths mind. She helps them much on marriage. And also she attempts to help Lydia see why her elopement with Wickham was wrong, even if Lydia is completely beyond reason. In this novel, the primary role of the couple is to show Darcy that Elizabeth has some sensible relatives. Their marriage also shows necessary qualities for a good marriage.7. The LucasesSir William Lucas has risen by trade and been knighted, by nature inoffensive, friendly and obliging. ( P.14 ) He is a friend of the Bennet family. Although he is civil, his conversation is limited to empty observations and descriptions of his presentation, while Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be valuable neighbor to Mrs. Bennet. ( P.14 ) She enjoys her short-lived triumph when Charlotte marries Mr. Collins and she can thus consider about the possibility to be the mistress of Longbourn. (Nash: 1989: 52).And again, Jane Austen does not give a much detailed description of The Lucases marriage, merely mentioning them. As we can see from Charlotte Lucass marriage, they do not pay much attention to managing their daughters marriage. They seem to be very glad when they hear the news of Charlottes marrying with Collins. They do not know much about Collins, and they are really not too much interested to know Charlottes happiness with him. Whatever their marriage is, their attitude to marriage is hasty and undesirable. Factors Affecting a Marriage MostIn this novel, Jane Austen, by describing seven different marriages, expressed her viewpoint. To sum up, there are three main factors that affect marriage in the eighteenth century.LoveIn Jane Austens novel, the theme of love and marriage makes her as a different writer with romanticism. Once an anonymous reader comments love in this novel as follows, Love is holding hands in the street, and marriage is holding arguments in the street. Love is a universal feeling, and it can make you happy but often it hurts, but loves only special when you give it to someone who is really worth it.In the novel, with regard to marriage, unlike Charlotte, Elizabeth chooses to remain true love to her best by her heart and her own good sense. She believes that marriage should be based on mutual understanding and feelings. Some readers may think that Elizabeth does not really love Mr. Darcy, only Mr. Darcy loves her. Its not quite so. Jane Austen seems to appreciate Elizabeths feelings to Darcy because gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection. ( P.214 ) On the visit of Pemberley, as Elizabeth stood before the canvas, a more gentle sensation ( P.226 ) arises. When she met Darcy unexpectedly and walked with him, all that in her mind was whether she was still dear to him. ( P.223 ) After Lydias run- away, when Darcy had got the news and left the room, Elizabeth recalled their mutual experience and hoped that they could continue their mutual feelings. All these, as well as Elizabeths later inner struggle to Darcy indicate that she really loves Darcy. Therefore, her marriage is founded on her own feelings, affection and understanding.As a result, the relationship between Jane and Bingley is undoubtedly true love. Jane Austen suggests that love is an important factor to a successful marriage. Marriages that lack of true love are destined to have a bad result. In this novel, Lydia and Wickhams relationship is an unsuccessful marriage. Therefore, Jane Austen implies her theme through Janes words, do anything rather than marry without affection. ( P.332 )2. PropertyProperty in a marriage is the subject matter of the whole novel, and it plays an important role in marriage at that time. In the seven different marriages, there are mainly three types of marriage in the novel: the happy marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy, sexual attraction of Lydia and Wickham and economic agreement of Charlotte and Collins. All these marriages involve money. The happy marriage is partly based on property, and Lydias marriage is especially affected by money.In the novel, Jane Austen uses number words to suggest money. For example, Bingley has an income of between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds a year, while Darcy has an income of 10,000 pounds a year. And the women in 18th century in Britain lawfully owned nothing. The only way to financial security for many women of that time was to marry to a richer man. It seems that this novel considers marriage as a market, and the female as marketable. Charlotte is just an example in the marriage market where personal attractions are weighed against financial considerations. Marriage had always been her object; it was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune. ( P.111 )According to common sense, people who regard marriage as a matter of arranging an equal alliance between families cannot at the same time see it as a romantic thing between two individuals. This is not always the case in this novel. We can find some examples of such conflict. Darcy knows that marriage with Elizabeth Bennet would not be an equal alliance from his point of view, and he spends a long time in making up his mind, but eventually he comes down on the side of romance, In vain have I struggled, It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed! ( P.168 ) Mr. Bennet is worried when he knows Elizabeth has accepted Darcys Proposal, I know your disposition. Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor re