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Money and Marriage——The matrimonial value orientation in Pride and Prejudice |
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时间：2009-8-8 16:59:05 来源：不详
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d by marriage. But he found, in reply to this question, that Wickham still cherish the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage in some other county. Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof against the temptation of immediate relief.
They met several times, for there was much to be discussed. Wickham, of course, wanted more than he could get, but at length was reduced to be reasonable.”(17)
Wickham’s marrying Lydia finally calms down the dissatisfaction in the society, and for that, Mrs. Bennet is in great joy.
In marriage, money is considered as the factor of extreme importance, not only to daughters, but also to younger sons. Let’s have a close look at the conversation between the respectable Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth:
“… Now, seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose, or procuring anything you had a fancy for?”
“These are home questions — and perhaps I can not say that I have experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from the want of money. Younger sons can not marry where they like.”
“Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often do.”
“Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money.”(18)
Now let’s turn to the protagonist of the novel, Elizabeth Bennets. She is intelligent, vivacious, humorous, perceptive and quick-witted, and she has a strong sense of personality and dignity. She despises her mother’s dreadful mentality and unbearably vulgar and also her younger sisters’ flirtatiousness and dissoluteness, but is never ashamed of her amiable uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner just because of their profession as merchants. She firmly refuses Mr. Collins’ proposal, against her mother’s expectation, because she does not and will never love him, and declines Mr. Darcy resolutely, for his expressing his love to her arrogantly and impertinently. She does not knuckle under the snobbish Miss Bingley, and is neither overbearing nor cringing to Mrs. de Bourgh and her domineeringness. When the latter shows her intention to intervene her freedom of marrying Darcy or not, she takes on diamond-cut-diamond and never compromised. She finally marries Darcy and her marriage is considered as an ideal one, for it consists of money and love. Leaving aside her true love for Darcy, then, what role does money play in her process of chasing after marriage?
She once holds good feelings on Wickham, considering him to be the&上一页 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] ... 下一页 >>
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