Jane Austen Research Paper
Essay, Custom Research Paper: Marriage in Jane Austen's Works
Marriage in Austen's works is far from being mere union of two hearts, and each character involved is more or less concerned about such factors as wealth and social status, since they are part of a middle-class community in which comfort and happiness largely depend on material conditions. Marriage, in this sense, is not the simple advanced relation between a man and a woman, but "means a complete engagement between the marrying couple and society--that is, it means not only 'feelings' but 'property' as well. In many cases, marriage is even used as a tool to gain or secure personal and family interests, and sometimes Austen has completely taken romance out of the affair with her …show more content…
In one of her letters to her niece Fanny Knight, who, faced with a gentleman's courtship, had asked for her advice, Austen wrote, " I shall... entreat you not to commit yourself farther and not to think of accepting him unless you really do like him. Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without Affection; ...". It plainly and directly shows her view of marriage. Moreover, her preference to marriage for love has been repeatedly reflected in her earlier works. In Sense and Sensibility, despite the shortage of material support, Edward and Elinor make an engagement and in the end lead a contented and cheerful married life. By contrast, the matrimony between Robert and Luncy, the union of good fortune and charming features, is characterized by " the frequent domestic disagreements" In Pride and Prejudice, money is no object for Bingley and Darcy and therefore marriage for love is achieved with much less concern about material factors. Being faithful to the heart Jane and Bingley manage to enter into the state of matrimony after a long time of separation. The story between Darcy and Elizabeth is more dramatic for their trudge from conflict to comprehension, and it is their mutual affection that helps to destroy one;s pride and the other's prejudice-the main barrier of their union. Besides, in reality, Austen sticked to her principle in marriage. It is believed that once she accepted the proposal from the young heir of a Hampshire family but changed her mind the next day. She had chance to get well married, and she rejected it perhaps because she, as she had said to her niece, did not " really like him." With clear perception toward and high expectation of marriage, she stayed single in the whole
Marriage in Austen's works is far from being mere union of two hearts, and each character involved is more or less concerned about such factors as wealth and social status, since they are part of a middle-class community in which comfort and happiness largely depend on material conditions. Marriage, in this sense, is not the simple advanced relation between a man and a woman, but "means a complete engagement between the marrying couple and society--that is, it means not only 'feelings' but 'property' as well. In many cases, marriage is even used as a tool to gain or secure personal and family interests, and sometimes Austen has completely taken romance out of the affair with her …show more content…
In one of her letters to her niece Fanny Knight, who, faced with a gentleman's courtship, had asked for her advice, Austen wrote, " I shall... entreat you not to commit yourself farther and not to think of accepting him unless you really do like him. Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without Affection; ...". It plainly and directly shows her view of marriage. Moreover, her preference to marriage for love has been repeatedly reflected in her earlier works. In Sense and Sensibility, despite the shortage of material support, Edward and Elinor make an engagement and in the end lead a contented and cheerful married life. By contrast, the matrimony between Robert and Luncy, the union of good fortune and charming features, is characterized by " the frequent domestic disagreements" In Pride and Prejudice, money is no object for Bingley and Darcy and therefore marriage for love is achieved with much less concern about material factors. Being faithful to the heart Jane and Bingley manage to enter into the state of matrimony after a long time of separation. The story between Darcy and Elizabeth is more dramatic for their trudge from conflict to comprehension, and it is their mutual affection that helps to destroy one;s pride and the other's prejudice-the main barrier of their union. Besides, in reality, Austen sticked to her principle in marriage. It is believed that once she accepted the proposal from the young heir of a Hampshire family but changed her mind the next day. She had chance to get well married, and she rejected it perhaps because she, as she had said to her niece, did not " really like him." With clear perception toward and high expectation of marriage, she stayed single in the whole