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Character analysis of Jane Austen's pride and prejudice
The character analysis of pride and prejudice
Character analysis of pride and prejudice
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Money and Marriage----The matrimonial value orientation in Pride and Prejudice
[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.
[Key words] Pride and prejudice, money, matrimonial value orientation, marriage
[摘要] 简·奥斯丁的《傲慢与偏见Ӎ
9;写于1813年，一直以来很受欢
4;，并被广泛阅读。特定的历&#
21490;时代决定了那个时候的人ߤ
4;对金钱特别看重，影响波及&#
23130;姻观念。在这篇文章里面ᦁ
2;书中大部分人物的婚姻选择&#
37117;用来作为典型，证实金钱߮
7;现他们的婚姻价值取向。
[关键词] 傲慢与偏见，金钱，婚姻价
540;取向，婚姻观
Introduction
Pride and Prejudice is the most enduringly popular novel written by Jane Austen. It talks about trivial matters of love, marriage and family life between country squires and fair ladies in Britain in the 18th century. The plot is very simple. That is how the young ladies choose their husbands. Someone said that "Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the novel, flatly rejected William Collins' proposal, who is the heir of her father's property and manor, and refused the first proposal from the extremely wealthy nobleman Fitzwilliam Darcy later,"(1) all this makes it clear that Elizabeth "seeks no fame nor fortune, but self-improvement and high mental outlook."(1) It's right. From the view point of Austen, Elizabeth's marriage, who finally marries Darcy, as well as Jane-Bingley's, composing money and love, is the ideal marriage people should after. But in other marriage cases in this novel, we can see that if money and love can't be held together in one marriage, love would always make a concession to money because of the special social background. After reading through the whole book, we will find that money acts as the cause of each plot and the clue of its development. It affects everybody's words and deeds, even Elizabeth Bennet. Tony Tanner once said, "Jane Austen, as well as other authors, is very clear that no feeling could be extremely pure and no motive could be definitely single. But as long as it is possible, we should make it clear that which feeling or motive plays the leading role." (2)
Social Background
The story of Pride and Prejudice took place in the time of the Regency in Britain. At that time, Britain was at the period of transition from the earlier stage of Capitalism to Capitalist Industrialization. In the countryside, the aristocratic family still held great power and right that country squires were likely to fawn upon them.
The romantic era in literature was characterized by many different authors, male and female. Jane Austen was only one of many authors in that era, and one of the longest lasting; through her many novels, she shows various views on love and marriage. In Jane Austen’s critically acclaimed novel, Pride and Prejudice, Austen spares no character, male or female, in her criticism of the understood custom that the only route to happiness was marriage.
...ews of these ideologies. While Elizabeth does accept many of the norms of the period she also challenges the purpose for marriage and has an outspoken mind. Her confident personality doesn’t allow the fact that she has less wealth than many others and is constantly being scorned at to interfere with her happiness. She doesn’t permit the social expectations of her times to hinder her strong beliefs and fate in life. Pride and Prejudice is so vastly different to most other novels during the early 19th century that Jane Austen must have held some very alternative views. The heroine Elizabeth challenges the most social expectations of that time and she ends up the happiest of all the characters. This theme must have opened Romantic readers minds, perhaps to the way society should be and this I believe is why this novel is one of the great classics of English literature.
In Pride and Prejudice, a novel written by Jane Austen, the role of wealth and reputation is a partnership that leads to marriage, but in most (if not all) cases has little to do with love. The most propelling conflict in Pride and Prejudice is, “The morally significant conflict between pride and vanity” (Pride). Vanity is connected to wealth; therefore wealth is a poor choice to consider as opposed to love. The role that reputation and wealth play when it comes to love is limited due to human pride and vanity. “The meaning of “pride” and “prejudice” are related to the central theme of all of Jane Austen’s novels: the limitations of human vision” (Pride).
Pride and Prejudice is a novel anonymously published in 1813 and is based on Jane Austen’s idea of the strict class prejudice and values during the regency period. Jane Austen’s intent of Pride and Prejudice was to respectively satirise the purely economic, utilitarian motives for marriage as well as the societal constraints which leave women with no choice but to marry. In doing so the themes of marriage and class are developed throughout the novel. The modern adaptation, Bride and Prejudice to a large extent minimises and trivialises Jane Austen’s original intent through the altering of societal values, the representation of Mr Collins and his proposal to Elizabeth, and the lose retelling of Mr Wickham’s betrayals in her novel, Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen knowingly stated the problems in society with a particular emphasis on the harshness of the culture towards women. During her time little girls were raised being taught about the dire circumstances of a woman who did not marry well. Little girls were taught to be multi-lingual, artistic, cultured, musically inclined, and other inconsequential skills. These skills were required to make a good match for a wealthy man, which was their only goal in life. This is furthermore expressed, as Sheehan states , “Familial aspirations, coupled with women’s increased dependence on marriage for financial survival, made courtship a central focus of women’s lives” (n.pag.). Society was entirely driven by marriage. Jane Austen noticed this profound truth in the surrounding culture. She wrote what she observed, and Pride and Prejudice is a direct result.
Jane Austen, in her book Pride and Prejudice, constantly explores and analyzes the qualities and characteristics that constitute a “good” marriage in early 19th century England. Many in this time period marry for pragmatic or social motivations, and many vulnerable young girls fall prey to the prospects that a rich man with an estate would offer to her and her family. Although many other girls sacrifice their personal happiness by marrying wealthy men, Elizabeth Bennet is not one of them. Elizabeth Bennet does not get “seduced” by Mr. Darcy’s terrific estate or by his superior social status, nor does she fall prey to the social vices that bind Charlotte and Lydia to their respective husbands. She knows what she wants in a husband and is not going to be influenced out of her wishes by anyone. Elizabeth is an independent woman who makes a good decision in marrying Darcy because she shares a deep emotional connection with him, and also because she has the support of her trusted friends and family.
The novel Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen gives us the reader a very good idea of how she views marriage, as well as society. The theme of marriage is set in the very opening sentence of Pride and Prejudice; "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" (Austen, 1) As Norman Sherry points out, this is Austen's way of implying that 'a single man in possession of a good fortune' is automatically destined to be the object of desire for all unmarried women. The statement opens the subject of the romantic novel; courtship and marriage. The sentence also introduces the issue of what the reasons for marrying are. She implies here that many young women marry for money. The question...
Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice portrays varying attitudes to marriage. "The intricate social network that pervades the novel is one that revolves around the business of marriage". Through her female characters the reader sees the different attitudes to marriage and the reasons that these women have for marrying. These depend on their social status and their personal values. The reader is shown the most prevalent and common view of marriage held by society in Austen's time, and through the heroine, a differing opinion of marriage is explored. We are shown how marriage is viewed by the very wealthy and the values they emphasise in marriage. Through the characterisation of these women and use of irony, Austen has influenced the reader's opinions on the characters attitude about marriage and that of their contemporaries.
True love is not found within the goals of economic survival or societal gains, rather it is found when two individuals unite in marriage because they have a genuine affection for each other. In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen depicts what love in a traditional Victorian era would be defined as. Austen displays love as the center of attention for all of society, along with the influences society has on it. Through various characters, such as Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet, Austen demonstrates how money and status can largely shape love and the idea of who to love. Yet, with the characters of Jane and Bingley, Austen conveys, in the end, that true love results not from economic necessity or societal gains, but from a sincere affection.
The much acclaimed novel, Pride and Prejudice was written during the Regency Period (1790-1820). The Regency period is often overlooked because it is caught in the middle of two prominent time periods: The Georgian/ Baroque period and the Romantic/ Victorian period. Although brief, the Regency period made a lasting impact, because the early nineteenth century produced some of the most significant art and literature pieces of all time. Some of the most iconic symbols of this period include: Jane Austen’s works, most notably Pride and Prejudice, the artwork of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and the scandals of Lord Byron. Other prominent writers Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters grew up during this period. Perhaps known ...
... middle of paper ... ... Jane Austen’s famous novel Pride and Prejudice promotes change in the way the English society during the 19th century viewed marriage. Through the use of conservative characters that were socially accepted in England during this time, Austen provides the reader with necessary details that show how insane these people were.
The much acclaimed novel, Pride and Prejudice was written during the Regency Period (1790-1820). The Regency period is often overlooked because it is caught in the middle of two prominent time periods: The Georgian/ Baroque period and the Romantic/ Victorian period. Although brief, the Regency period made a lasting impact, because the early nineteenth century produced some of the most significant art and literature pieces of all time. Some of the most iconic symbols of this period include: Jane Austen’s works, most notably Pride and Prejudice, the artwork of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and the scandals of Lord Byron. Other prominent writers Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters grew up during this period. Perhaps ...
The Relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice In the 19th century, a controversy arose over what the true foundation and purpose of marriage should be. The basis of this conflict was whether one should let reason or emotion be the guide of their love life and if a balance between the two could be maintained. The relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy in Jane Austen's book Pride and Prejudice depicts such a balance, thus becoming the model for Austen's definition of a perfect couple and for true love. Their relationship is neither solely based on a quest for money on Elizabeth's part, or emotions that blind the couple from all other important aspects of life.
One might find themselves swept away into a world of romance, excitement and refinement, as well as several other illustrations of the 17th century. The storyline is only the beginning of the great elements in this movie; the scenery alone makes it well worth the time invested. The elegance, lifestyle, and romance are what make Pride and Prejudice the movie that it is today. This movie portrays, in an ideal manner, what it would have been like to live in that culture in an ideal manner. Watching this movie gives one an opportunity to travel back to an era much different than
2 Feb. 2010. Moore, Catherine E. “Pride and Prejudice.” Master Revised Second Edition (1996): Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. The Web.