簡·奧斯丁《傲慢與偏見》

簡·奧斯丁的《傲慢與偏見》寫于1813年，一直以來很受歡迎，并被廣泛閱讀。特定的歷史時代決定了那個時候的人們對金錢特別看重，影響波及婚姻觀念。在這篇文章里面，書中大部分人物的婚姻選擇都用來作為典型，證實金錢體現他們的婚姻價值取向。

[Abstract] Pride and prejudice is a very popular novel written by Jane Austen and it is read widely all Over the world. It was written in 1813. That specific history time decided that people at that time took money much more seriously， even on their marriage. In this paper， the marriage cases of most characters in the book were taken as typical to analyze how money influenced their matrimonial value orientation.

【關鍵詞】傲慢與偏見；金錢；婚姻價值取向；婚姻觀

[Key words] Pride and prejudice， money， matrimonial value orientation， marriage.

1 Introduction

If a person had obtained money while getting love， she had obtained to British novelist， Jane Austen had six novels to be presented to the public in her life， and the matrimony became her theme for creating without exception. Although beauty could leave good impression on people， possessed independent character and bright moral could produce permanent attraction only. Because of women's special social status at that time， whenever the matrimony was mentioned， the connection between money and family background could not be cut off. Austen affirmed the important status of the money fully in the marriage， but she objected to getting married simply because of money. Furthermore， the marriage must be well-matched with proper family condition and social status. he happy marriage. Austen's matrimonial view was perfect， but she was unable to realize the perfect idea in her heart. Pride And Prejudice was her most favorite works， and the expression of her matrimonial view， too.

2 Love is more important than moneys， though money is valuable.

In the novels of Victorian age， money was omnipotent. Austen's novels were no exception. to some extent， Austen and female protagonist have paid great attention to money when they chose husbands. Because women had no right of inheritance at that time， in order to obtain economical guarantee， only realized this goal through marriage. So the money is very important in marriage. No wonder the first sentence of the whole novel proclaims， “It is a truth universally acknowledged， that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”（1） The meaning is that the only thing a young lady without property could do is to marry a man with a good fortune.

2.1 Money is indispensable condition for matrimony.

In Pride And Prejudice， money becomes one of two main of its plot. Money is always taken as the condition of matrimony.

The only thing a young lady without property could do is to marrying a man with a good fortune. Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony， marriage had always been her object； it was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune， and however uncertain of giving happiness， must be their pleasantest preservative from want.”（2） It is interesting that， in such marriage based on sole and naked money-transaction， the woman without property does marry a single man with a good fortune.

In marriage， money is considered as the factor of extreme importance， not only to daughters， but also to younger sons. However， as the development of Capitalism and the expand of the rank of rich people， the distinction between social strata was becoming smaller and smaller. While money getting more and more important in people's mind about social value. So money is the first condition should be considered for marriage.

2.2 It is wrong to marry just because of money， but it's foolish to ignore money.

Austen's matrimonial interlude is enough to show her view to money. She never accepted her good friend's brother's love--a very rich heir of manor， Hiss Bigg Withe's proposal. But after a sleepless night， Austen went back on this marriage. They knew each other when they were young. The motive for agreeing to the proposal due to the possibility that lived in manor， and had a rich man as her husband. But Mr. Wither's manner was vulgar； he has not any advantage except estate and tall figure. So， although it is unrepeatable to regret the marriage， Austen still insisted on her matrimonial view.

2.3 Love is the foundation-stone of matrimony.

Matrimony can not be achieved without love. Mr.Collins's intention of choosing Elizabeth as his wife is his plan of atonement--for inheriting their father's estate； and he thinks it is an excellent one， full of eligibility and suitableness， and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part. So he takes it for granted that Elizabeth will accept his proposal cheerfully and readily. But Elizabeth says， “It is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them. You could not make me happy and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could make you so.”（3） Mr.Collins thinks he is very rich， and he will be the heir of manor， so it is no reason for Elizabeth to refuse his proposal， he does not anticipate it. According to his thinking， any woman can be his wife. But Elizabeth firmly refuses Mr. Collins's proposal， she is against her mother's expectation， because she does not and never love him.

However， Elizabeth's and Darcy's marriage is an epitome of people one in Austen's mind. Mr. Darcy has ten thousand pounds a year； naturally he becomes the object of courtship for many people. Mr.Darcy who is arrogant， conceited， and selfish and looks down upon Elizabeth's family circle， can not win Elizabeth's favorable impression， even though he use up all ways. Elizabeth even tells Darcy， “You are the last man in the world whom I could ever be persuaded to marry.”（4） That is to say， what Elizabeth cares about most is love rather than money. Darcy's attitude changes entirely after this resolute refusal. He gradually gets rid of those bad habits. So she finally accepts second proposal of perfect-going Darcy， and marries him.

3 There is no story without coincidences.

In a word， Austen made different treatments to four marriages in this novel， which reflected female's different attitudes in middle class， and portrayed the marriage of the society at that time， thus reflected author her selfs matrimonial view： She emphasized that emotion between men and women should be regarded as foundation stone which concluded the ideal marriage， love was a precondition of marriage， the production of marriage was often restricted by a lot of factors， such as people's personality， property， family background and social position.The man can ingratiate woman with all sort of schemes， but woman has to stoop to compromise， and gain the economical safe position with innate beauty. Pride and Prejudice is classical romance standing the test of time， even in this day and age； it still arouses readers' interest as it was published that year.

Reference

[1]Grey.J.David，The Jane Austen Companion[M].New York：Macmilliam Publishing Company，1986.

[2]Maugham.W.Somcrsct，The Art of Fiction：An Introduction to Ten novels and Their Authors[M].New York：Arno Press，1977.

[3]簡·奧斯丁，王科一譯.傲慢與偏見[M]. 上海：上海譯文出版社，1996.

作者簡介

陳薇，女，現為中共河南省睢縣縣委黨校助理講師。研究方向為外語。

作者單位

中共河南省睢縣縣委黨校 河南省睢縣476900