浅谈《傲慢与偏见》中的婚姻观_开题报告

Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen’s great masterpiece, although it described only life in pieces between middle class and upper class in Britain in the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century, however it is the love and marriage in the prevailing society in miniature. Jane Austen described four different marriages of different young men and women: the combination of wicked Wickham and empty-minded Lydia results in a indiscreet marriage; the combination of vulgar Collins and mediocre Charlotte results in a barren marriage; the combination of meek Bingley and mild Jane results in an almost missed marriage; the combination of introspective Darcy and sensible Elizabeth results in a happy marriage. She presented readers the view of marriage in the prevailing social through her unique female perspective, like the sentence “It is truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Meanwhile, it also revealed the ideal marriage life in her mind between the words. The view of marriage in this novel had been discussed and analyzed by many experts and scholars as of now, and the eternal topic had been constantly probed by many writers in various literary works in different ways. Since although two centuries have passed, Jane Austen's view of marriage is still applicable to our social today, it's worthy of our deep think. We should be in the correct attitude toward love and marriage as a guide of our lives.

As for the analysis of marriage in Pride and Prejudice, many scholars keep on the following two aspects: Firstly, love and money. Secondly, sensibility and rationality. The analysis which puts particular emphasis on love and money deems that love and money are important to achieving the marriage, both of them are indispensable! But love is more important to achieve a happy marriage by comparison! It is wrong to marry purely for lust, money, and social status, and it is also stupid to marry without considering the above factors. A happy marriage is based on a sincere love, without love there is no marriage; And wealth is the basis of marriage life, without such a foundation, sincere love will be precarious. Just Like the heroine of this novel, to some extent, she values money when choosing marriage object as well. Because the money is quite important in the “marriage market” at that time. In other words, the author Jane Austen, in face of her own marriage, not only pursuing spiritual love, but also pursuing the love which can guarantee material life.

However, the analysis according to sensibility and rationality deems that the author against the marriage which is a combination purely for money as well as the indiscreet marriage lack of rationality. Not only the view of marriage that only love is the highest from the sensibility, but also the view of marriage that   emphasis on guarantee material life from the rationality is advisable. Only when the two factors combined perfectly can help people to achieve a good love and happy marriage. In real life, there is no shortage of people in order to pursue the so-called love to take risks, so that get themselves and others in trouble, the marriage will be doomed to go to misfortune depart from the control of rationality but sensibility left purely. The ones who have a love affair using perceptual thinking just like the people in romantic dramas, treat love as more important than the other things, for love at all costs, due to the lack of rational thinking, the consequences will be unsatisfactory; However, for the too sensible   ones who would not give all for love when in love, so this kind of love is boring, too real, too harsh and apathy, the love that using this thinking is not convincing, either.

Form the two aspects above, in sum, there is still some imperfections left. Why did Darcy and Elizabeth not come together in the beginning but experienced several twists and turns in spite of there is true love for each other and have the above conditions? Why did Bingley and Jane almost missing regretfully without Darcy and Elizabeth’s help in spite of they have true love for each other and also have the conditions needed, even they have more perfect personality compared with the hero and heroine? Throughout the whole novel, there is a factor that runs through, as natural as blood flows in the human body, but it has not been mentioned, that is the self-examination and improvement for personal character. Love using pure perceptual thinking will eventually bring misfortune, rational thinking can solve such misfortune in a certain extent, but will pay a heavy price. Only improving morality constantly in the process of self-examination, could balance sensibility and rationality, drive ones’ own life, and ultimately bring happy life for themselves and others. 

II．Outline

1. Introduction

1.1. Social background of Jane Austen

1.2. Social background of Pride and Prejudice

2. Love and Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

2.1. The combination of wicked Wickham and empty-minded Lydia results in a indiscreet marriage

2.2. The combination of vulgar Collins and mediocre Charlotte results in a barren marriage

2.3. The combination of meek Bingley and mild Jane results in an almost missed marriage

2.4. The combination of introspective Darcy and sensible Elizabeth results in a happy marriage

3. Conclusion

III．References

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