傲慢与偏见毕业论文

傲慢与偏见毕业论文 毕业论文 论《傲慢与偏见》的爱情观与婚姻观 准考证号: 学生姓名: 于红恩 指导老师:熊伟 . 2012年2月 I Analysis on Love and Marriage in《Pride and Prejudice》 Dong Leilei Tutor: Xiong Wei February 2012 II 摘 要 《傲慢与偏见》是奥斯汀最受欢迎的小说，她以一种温和、幽默的方式表达了对爱情和婚姻的看法。在她眼中经济状况、学识和得体的举止也是决定人们婚姻状况的重要因素。小说通过对四种不同婚姻和爱情的描写，解析和探讨，充分体现了作者的爱情和婚姻观:那就是恋爱婚姻与财产和社会地位相互关联，但恋爱婚姻不能仅取决于财产和社会地位,正确的婚姻应当建立在相互爱慕、相互尊重的基础上。她既反对为钱而结婚，也反对轻率结婚，强调婚姻中感情因素的重要性。 关键词:爱情; 婚姻; 金钱; 社会地位 III Abstract Pride and prejudice is the most popular novel written by Jane Austen. It expressed the view of love and marriage in a mildly humorous way. In her opinion, these are very important factors that the economic situation, knowledge and decent behavior to determine peoples marriage. From the description of four marriages, Austen has showed her opinion clearly: love and marriage is closely associated with property and society, however, love and marriage can not only be decided by the property and social status. An ideal marriage should be based on mutual affection and respect. She rejects the marriage based on wealth and stresses the element of emotion in a marriage. Key Words: Love; marriage; property; social status IV Contents I. Introduction.......................................................................................1 1.1Jane Austen and her Pride and Prejudice...................................................7 II The four marriages and the revealed concept of love and marriage.............................................................................8 2.1 The concept of love and marriage in the society at that time................................8 2.2 Four marriages in Pride and Prejudice...................................................................9 2.2.1 Mr. Collins and Charlotte's Marriage.................................................................9 2.2.2 Lydia and Wickham’s Marriage.........................................................................9 2.2.3 Jane and Mr. Bingley’s Marriage......................................................................10 2.2.4 Darcy and Elizabeth’s Marriage........................................................................10 III Jane Austen’s View of Marriage ..................................................11 3.1 Character is important than appearance ..............................................................11 3.2 Money is dear, love is dearer…………………………………………………… 3.3 Love is the base of marriage …………………………………………………. IV Practical significance ……………………………………………. V. Conclusion…………………………………………………………. V I Introduction Pride and Prejudice, the book about commonplace things and ordinary people, is one of Jane Austen’s famous books, being the representative of realistic literature. In portrays, with special sensitive characteristic of female writers, the life and ideas of middle class who live in countryside. This novel makes an analysis of human nature and then stick up readers to think over social relations. This novel takes young people’s marriage as the thread and it covers the inheritance of fortune, woman’s social status, ethics and custom. Being the masterpiece of Jane Austen, it comes to the extensive favor of literary lovers and experts at the same time. This paper makes an analysis of four marriages in Pride and Prejudice and discusses the deep outlook for their love and marriage in the light of social back ground at the time. 1.1 Jane Austen and her Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen (1775-1817) was born in Hampshire, a country priest family located in Hants, the village of Kingston, Sidemen in north England. She was a beautiful, talented middle class woman with extraordinary temperament and good cultivation. Her six novels,Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Manshifeierde Manor, Emma, Persuasion all describe more than marriage. 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. In this great book, the author amply demonstrates her point about love and marriage. Therefore, in order to analyze these points of views, we should firstly start from her great work. “At that time, according to the social conditions in Britain, a good marriage for a young woman was critical. This phenomenon was closely associated with the British society and the status of women in the society. In the 19th century, women were not well respected compared with the ones in the present I society. There was no equality between woman and man. Women were considered to be inferior to men in terms of intelligence and capacity. The central life of women was forced to be staying at home; their roles were to deal with the family affairs, such as taking care of the children and serving for the husband.” (Zhu Hong 1995:34) People naturally thought that women should be submissive to their husbands. The virtues of women were patient and deferent. They must recognize their inherent inferiority to men, so they must restrict their abilities without conditions. “Although the status of women was slow, few of them expressed dissatisfaction about their own destiny.”(Li Yinhe, 1997:41) At that time, many middle-class young women had three solutions: getting married, staying at home as old maids or working as the family female teachers. The income of family female teacher was very low, and the status was low as well. It was very difficult for them to change or swap out of this status, no one would like to be a maid forever, therefore, in terms of young women, especially those who don’t have enough properties, to get married was the only way for them to gain respect, stability and social status. Austen fully critiqued some bad phenomenon in her work pride and prejudice, taking some perfect points about marriage and love to demonstrate her own view on love and marriage. Walter Scott thus praised her: “That young lady has a talent for describing the involvement and feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with. The big bow-wow strain I can do myself , like any now going ; but the exquisite touch which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment , is denied to me . What a pity such a gifted creature died so early! ”. II II The four marriages and the revealed concept of love and marriage 2.1 The concept of love and marriage in the society at that time The stories show the ordinary lives, feelings of the ordinary people. They were linked up in a harmonious order under the author’s meticulous concepts. The work mainly describes four marriages. Two are the main and assisted by the other two assistant marriages. “Darcy and Elizabeth’s love and marriage is the main theme of this work. After undergoing many setbacks, Darcy’s arrogance and Elizabeth’s prejudice eventually eliminates, the lovers finally get married. The marriage of Elizabeth’s sister Jane and Darcy’s friend Bingley is another clue. They deeply love each other, but they are multi—blocked, after their departure, Jane misses Bingley very much. The two marriages reflects the another point of view in positive way that marriage should be based on true love, which is the ideal marry in the author’s opinion. The stories seem to be the ordinary lives, feelings and persons linked up in a harmonious order under the others meticulous concepts. However, the marriage between Charlotte and Collins is a negative example .With the marriage between Lydia and Wickham, which help to make the plots 2more tortuous and richer.” (Zhu Hong, 1985:12) 2.2 Four marriages in Pride and Prejudice 2.2.1 Mr. Collins and Charlotte’s Marriage The relationship between Mr. Collins and Charlotte is based on economics rather then on love. After having been refused by Elizabeth, Mr. Collins quickly marries Charlotte, who is absolutely one type of woman that needs to marry a man she is not in love with simply in order to gain financial security. Collins was a foolish and vulgar man who never possesses his own conception of love; he intends to get marriage merely because it was the particular advice and recommendation of III Lady Catherine. The combination of Collins and Charlotte reflect that “Truth universally acknowledged” is “a woman without property must be in want of a husband with a good fortune”. Century conception of the value of love, at that time, marriage was regarded as a market place to exchange upward class mobility and financial support. In order to achieve the goal of marriage, females are good at transforming themselves into commodities by displaying their appearances and accomplishments to appeal to male gazers. Women were encouraged by the social value of performing manners of femininity to win husbands. It is money influenced their love value orientation. 2.2.2 Lydia and Wickham’s Marriage The second marriage is between Bennett’s third daughter Lydia and Wickham, the son of the housekeeper. Originally he 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, marriage is also a way to approach the talents, he is a man without any responsibility. He does nothing except assailing a woman with obscenities. In his opinion, love is only recreation. 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 aim,getting 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 their love is false, Wickham would not marry Lydia, because she is no charming and has nothing to attract him, 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 Bennett’s family. But Mrs. Bennet is not disgraceful to this marriage. When Collins gets the news, of course, he is very angry and reacts to the marriage to revenge his early failure of proposal to her. This marriage is one without IV love. They don’t the real meaning of marriage, they only want to satisfy their love and responsibility. Such couple only seek having had the experience but not everlasting and unchanging. Of course, such kind of marriage is doomed to be a tragedy. 2.2.3 Jane and Mr. Bingley’s Marriage The third marriage is of the eldest daughter Jane and Mr. Bingley. Bingley is a friend of Darcy. Bingley’s sister loves Darcy very much. She wants Bingley to get married with Darcy’s sister Georgiana, because she wants to get love from Darcy by this way, which also reflects the selfishness the sister. The marriage of the able man- Bingley and the beautiful girl-Jane is ideal in most people’s eyes. Of course, the couple meets many setbacks, such as the misunderstanding of Darcy and Bingley’s selfish sister. At last, the lovers get married as the misunderstanding between Elizabeth and Darcy has been solved. 2. 2.4 Darcy and Elizabeth’s Marriage The fourth marriage is the main theme of the works. That is Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage. 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 Elizabeth’s 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 Darcy’s perfect behavior and good education, Elizabeth gradually eliminates the bias on Darcy. Then they spontaneously fall in love. So when Darcy’s second suitor is sent to Elizabeth, Elizabeth readily agree with, and they get married and have happy family lives. V III Jane Austen’s View of Marriage Jane Austen’s view of marriage: “it’s a mistake that in order to obtain property, money and status to get marriage, but marriage does not take into account the factors mentioned above is also a mistake” (Allen. Walter, 1958:22). So, she has married for money against the also opposed to the marriage as a trifling matter. She stressed the importance of the ideal of marriage, and to the feelings of both men and women as the cornerstone of the conclusion of an ideal marriage. Love and marriage is closely associated with property and society, however, love and marriage can not only be decided by the property and social status. An ideal marriage should be based on mutual affection and respect. She rejects the marriage based on wealth and stresses the element of emotion in a marriage. 3.1 Character is important than appearance Austen believes that the person’s character is more important than appearance in the matter of a happy marriage. She indicated such a philosophy of love in a letter which is to her niece Fanny Knight: “His social status, family, friends and the most important is his character ... Every aspect of his character is fully explained whether he was worthy of your love.” we should pay more attention to the characters’ mutual respect and moral recognition, if you only emphasis on beauty and appearance the marriage will soon be degenerated. Austen’s this concept are fully reflected in Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Bennet was greedy for the youth and beauty of Gardiner, but her poor intelligence, narrow-minded, ignorant and incompetent, and temperamental personality made his deep and sincere affection for his wife was soon over after marriage. Pride and Prejudice takes the Gardiner couple’s marriage as a typical example. Mr. Gardiner has a refined taste conversation, while his wife is also quite match with him. Reflected in the novel is the warmth between them and the true feelings in clear-cut family relations. In the novel, the importance of character has also been fully reflected in the combination of Jane and Bingley. Jane looks beautiful, VI good-natured, gentle and passionate, elegant and refined. Bingley is a gentle and pleasant man with gentlemanly manners. Bingley falls in love with Jane, because she has a good character match with her appearance. Mr. Bennett summed up the similarity of two characters: “Your characters are very similar; you are all willing to accommodate each other when you meet some unhappy things.” Elizabeth firmly believes: “Jane’s well-being will be able to achieve because of Jane’s good temper, it could not be better any longer. This is the basis for happiness, and both of their characters and interests are also very similar.” The actress Elizabeth and the actor Darcy in the novel have a lot of common in the character. First of all, both of them are extremely self-love, Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice is obvious. Darcy’s pride is on the basis of his indomitable character, as he hurt Elizabeth verbally, causing her prejudice because of Elizabeth’s self-love. Then she shows prejudice to Darcy. In his first marriage proposal to Elizabeth, there is still existing inner contradiction in his mind: “Aren’t you expect me to be rejoicing for your humble relatives? Do you think if I climb on the social status of those far less of my relatives, but we feel fortunate to do?” These sentences provoked Elizabeth’s anger and refused Mr. Darcy’s marriage propose. Secondly, both Elizabeth and Darcy have two characters--independent personality and the ability of judgment. Elizabeth’s independent personality and the ability of judgment can be reflected that she dares to ignore her mother’s pressure to refuse to marry Collins. From Darcy’s initial arrogance, to overcome its own shortcomings, as well as their consistent behavior of the reflection and the second marriage proposal, Darcy’s independent personality and the ability of judgment can not be neglected. In addition, both of them match with each other in intelligence. Their clever and witty dialogues in the Netherfield and Rosing Manor only can enjoy and interpreted by themselves. Darcy’s words summed up the similarity: “Both of us are reluctant to perform in front of strangers.” They have common in character and mutual appreciation, it is the most solid foundation that they can go into the marriage hall and toward a rational happiness. 3.2 Money is dear, love is dearer VII In the Victorian novel, money is the almighty. Austen’s novel is no exception. To some extent, Austen and the actress lead in choosing their husband, give much attention to money. Because there was no right to inherit property for woman, in order to obtain financial security, it's only through marriage and the ways to achieve this goal. Thus, at the time the marriage market, money has its importance. Such as: to capture in a mystery novel begins with “it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” The implication is those married women are not property of the husband-bit propertied. However, Austen's own marriage stick to it and she believes that love is the most basic conditions for marriage. 3.3 Love is the base of marriage Austin’s love and marriage view can be seen everywhere in pride and prejudice. Collins believes that he has a good house, an objective of income and the relationship between the De Bourg, Elizabeth is no reason to refuse his proposal. Elizabeth’s reason for the categorically rejected is no feeling. Elizabeth and Darcy’s harmonious union is a microcosm of a perfect marriage for Austin. Darcy well-born and chic, there are 10,000 pounds per year of income; his presence attracted the attention of women. But Darcy is arrogant, selfish and looked down on Elizabeth’s family and relatives, he tried every means can not be to win her heart “you were the last man in the world I could ever marry.” That is to say that her first fancy was emotional not money. As this time it categorically rejected, Darcy has a fundamental change in attitude. When Elizabeth and Darcy meet again in Pemberley, Darcy is different from previous. Elizabeth was heard from the housekeeper that Darcy’s good humor and elegant manners. This makes her very surprised and moved. Elizabeth then realized that Darcy has been in his mind, she also recognized that only they two have most appeals in the thoughts, feelings and interests. She told Jane the mind of “He still love me, we have good discussions. Maybe I used love him but I did not realized.” The combination of Darcy and Elizabeth went through a long and VIII tortuous process, they have mutual understanding and mutual respect, there is love between them, and all this constitutes the most solid of their marriage. IX IV Practical significance Austen has a bit of modern spirit. Her perspective for love and marriage surpasses the limit of her time, so what she wanted to deliver is familiar with us living today. “Her works have own high criticism in the 20th century and her readers are increasing as time goes by. The authoress depicted the daily life in the serene and picturesque English country, which indicates the realistic content in the romantic background. More significantly, her point wisely that reason and emotion are equally essential to happiness. ” (Sampson George) A perfect balance is what we are tried to seek. And this view is not only realistic but also idealistic, because pure romance is unlikely to last in the real world as much as a perfect balance so hard to meet. Hence, such a combination in the autocross’s mind leaves much we can dwell on, which may be the reason why so many people are enchanted with the masterpiece during two hundred years or so. “Austen’s era has passed, but people seeking a better marriage requirement have not changed and more intense, the view of marriage in Pride and Prejudice is not completely divorced from our actual and brings some enlightenment to the modern man. At the beginning of 2005, British BBC4 in the reader's survey also proved this point: in British society, the greatest impact in women literature and the first one is Pride and Prejudice. ” (Monaghan, David) By description and discussion of the four marriages in the novel, we can see that Austen fully expresses her views on love and marriage: “marriage and property and social status are interconnected. But marriage could not only depend on the property and the social status. The happy marriage should be based on the mutual respect, mutual admiration.” She objects the marriage for money and opposes the thoughtless marriage, but stresses the importance of emotional factors. Austen’s views on marriage and love are also suitable for our real social. We youth should make right marriage and love views to orient our lives. X V Conclusion By description and discussion of the four marriages in the novel, we can see that Austen gives her own matrimonial value: when people consider marriage, they should not ignore the effect of love and sentiment, although the effect of economic status is very important. Only when two persons love each other and maintain lofty morals, can they get a happy marriage. The marriage based on social position and money can’t bring happy life. Aimless marriage and love are impracticable. Austen’s views on marriage and love are also suitable for our real social. Money cannot buy true love, morality is very important when people are considering love and marriage! We youth should make right marriage and love views to orient our lives. XI Works cited Allen. Walter. The English Novel. New York: Pelican Books. 1958 Austen. Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Walton Street: Oxford University Press. 1970 BU.Ya-Yun. Irony in Pride and prejudice. 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