A preliminary analysis of view of love and marriage in Pride and Prejudice

【Abstract】：Pride and Prejudice is a famous masterpiece of Jane Austen.In the novel， she skillfully narrated five views of marriage and love， which constitute main parts of the whole body. The uppermost clue is the complicated love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy， by which Austin expressed her distinct and unusual love and marriage philosophy. That is， ideal and perfect love and marriage ought to integrate affection， material， morality and sense. She exhibits a particular feminist tendency which is classified as Enlightenment Feminist. We state that the realistic love and marriage view makes sense in contemporary society.

【Keywords】： Pride and Prejudice; views of love and marriage; Enlightenment Feminist

1.The purpose and Significance of The Study

Pride and Prejudice is a masterpiece of Jane Austen，who depicted five types of marriage and love. In this way we will learn some knowledge about British integral background of the period.And it will do good to lead and equip modern people with correct and positive love values.

2. Five views of love and marriage in the famous novel.

2.1 Traditional Secular View of Love and Marriage between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet

Among the five marriage patterns given in Pride and Prejudice， matrimony between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet is beyond expectations of modern readers.Mr. Bennet is a mixture of quick parts， bitter humor， connotation and willfulness， and his wisdom and intelligence makes himself impressive. The so-called view of love and marriage is to exchange and get interests and benefits among the parties.

2.2 Traditional Mutually Beneficial Love and Marriage Between Charlotte Lucas and WilliamCollins.

Mr. Collins gives his reasons for marring female. ”First， that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances （like myself） to set an example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly， that I am convinced that it will add very greatly to happiness; and thirdly—which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier， that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have honor of calling patroness.” （Jane Austen; 2008） In the matter of 3 reasons Mr. Collins presented， we can make a clear mind that the man was a little vulgar， snobbish， self-important and ignore the match he was begging.Their marriage involves no love at all. Engles regarded this kind of marriage as “the rudest prostitutes.”（Engles， 1996：69） Their marriage is zero.

2.3 Transitional Happy Love and Marriage Between Jane and Bingley

Jane embodies nearly all the gracious female virtues recommended by the particular society. Her virtue is established on “mutable prejudices，” ”seldom attains to her greatness of mind， so that becoming the slave of her feelings.（Wollstonecraft， 2001：99） she is easy to be subjugated by others.” Jane is a little innocent and naive. She is lucky to meet Mr.Bingley and falls in love with him truly. Mr. Bingley is handsome and gentleman-like. He had an enjoyable visage， and easy， unaffected manners. He is attracted by Jane and falls in love with her too. He once said：” She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld.”（Jane Austen; 2008）Their marriage is happy.

2.4 Ideal Love and Marriage Between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy

Elizabeth is a heroine in the Pride and Prejudice. “She shares same moral nature and moral status as men， and exercise the same responsibility of their own conduct”（Kirkham， 1883：84） Lizzy is lively， active， quick-witted and has a prominent and almost vertical front. “He looked for a moment at Elizabeth， till catching her eye， he withdrew his own.” （Jane Austen; 2008）Mr. Darcy is almost an ideal and perfect man who is extremely wealthy in the novel except his a little improper， proud arrogant manners in his debut which are proved as a misunderstanding. He seems to be “so high and so conceited”（Austen， 1991：10） but the fact is not like that. Their marriage is ideal.

2.5 Sexual Driven Love and Marriage Between Lydia and Wickham

Lydia is a little frivolous， ill-mannered， a typical example of women’s lacking proper education in the society. Wickham looks like handsome， good-looking， friendly male. His wicked nature is proved by his elopement with Lydia.Their after-marriage life is described this way：“They were always moving from place to place in quest of cheap situation， and always spent more than they ought. His affection for her soon sunk into indifference. Hers lasted a little longer.”

4.Potential of an ideal love and marriage.

First， more often than not， economic conditions and love keep in touch with each other. The former are most likely to be an precondition for the later. Abundant wealth is of help to provide a nutrient-rich hotbed for developing melody of love.

Second， right marriage is where husband and wife can seek agreements while shelving differences. More inclusive we are， more smooth our life will become.

Third， the most significant and crucial component should be true feelings to each other. We shall marry with someone because we love them.

Notes

1.Enlightenment Feminist： In the 18th century， the Europe was still in a period of "feminism which is regarded as the enlightenment feminism. The people who devote to enlightenment feminism is enlightenment feminist.

References

Morrison Robert，（2005） Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. A Sourcebook， London： Rutledge

Cecil， David. 1979 A Portrait of Jane Austen. New York： Hill and Wang

Engles， Fairish. On the origin of the Family， Private Ownership and the Nation，1996， translated by Chinese Central Government Translation Center. People’s Press.

Austen， Jane.2008. Pride and Prejudice. Beijing： Central Compilation and Translation Press.

Wollstonecraft， Mary. 2001. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. New York： Random House， Inc.

Zhu Gong， 2001.Twentieth Century Western Critical Theories. Shanghai： Shanghai Language Education Press.