TheEconomicInfluenceonBourgeoisMarriagesinPrideandPrejudice

王俊美

【Abstract】Jane Austen （1775-1817） is one of the greatest realistic novelists in the history of British literature in the 19th century.In Pride and Prejudice，the author describes the British country through several marriages with various characteristics against the social background in the 19th century.Love is the spiritual core of marriage while the economic element inevitably becomes the material basis.

Introduction

From ancient times，natural feelings and material foundation are two measurements for people to select mates in marriages.So on the subject of marriage，people have to face the conflict between ideal and reality.We have always embraced the ideal marriages based on love，which is reflected in countless classics.Pride and Prejudice is a work of realism with rational color，different from other works on love and marriage，trying to portray several relationships related to feelings and economic factors.

Chapter One Social Background and Womens Social Status in the 19th Century

There existed a system called entailed estate in the UK in the 19th century.It stated and ruled that as long as there were brothers or cousins in a family，women as daughters had no rights to inherit.In addition to husbands absolute possession and control of properties mentioned above，women were always in a subject position.Money，at that time in British society played a huge role in marriages，because ladies needed to rely on their fathers money to get protection，therefore these women had to succumb to the will of their parents about marriages.

Chapter Two Marriages Mainly Facilited by Economic Factors

Properties were mainly inherited and controlled by men in the 19th century，while women had low social status and no source of livelihood with limited dowry as their properties.The quality of womens life in the future was decided by the success of their marriages and only money could make sure that women would enjoy carefree and affluent life.Therefore，the aspire to marriage was a pursuit of a sense of security for many women.To find a husband with properties could give women the sense of security in a glorious way.Although some women did not love their husbands，it was more likely to be accepted by individuals，families and the whole society.Charlotte and Mrs.Bennet were exactly those women mentioned above，whose marriages were mainly influenced by economic factors.

Chapter Three Marriages for True Love Based on Economic Foundation

The process of turning prejudice to love between Elizabeth and Darcy reflects her cognitive self-awareness which is a kind of female consciousness.Jane and Bingley were really falling in love with each other the first time they met.But the important role money plays in the marriages of two couples can be seen easily.There was true love between Elizabeth and Darcy，but Darcys ten-thousand-pound income a year was an important economic factor attracting Elizabeth and her families.Mr.Bingley had one-hundred-thousand-pound heritage and four-to-five-thousand-pound annual income，which made him very popular in the marriage market.When he just settled down in Netherfield，women in the neighborhood all regarded him as a deserved fortune for their young daughters，including Mrs.Bennet.Therefore，although the essence of marriages between Elizabeth and Darcy as well as Jane and Bingley were based on true love，economic factors had an inevitable influence on them.

Conclusion

In the novel，Austen describes a variety of marriages： Bingley and Jane，Darcy and Elizabeth，Mr.and Mrs.Bennet，Charlotte and Collins.Characters in the novel hold various views on marriages due to different status，but the emphasis on economic factors is a common point.In Austens age，Britain was famous for its alliances between love and money.It was a reality that only the perfect combination of the two factors could lead to a happy and everlasting marriage，and emphasis on just one side might cause misfortune.

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