Money and Marriage----The matrimonial value orientation in Pride and Prejudice
[Abstract] Pride and prejudice, the most popular of Jane Austen¡¯s novels, deals with the five Bennet Sisters and their search for suitable husbands. It is read widely all over the world and was written in 1813. That specific history time decided that people at that time took money more seriously. Marriage, a specific relationship, is also based on money. In this paper, the marriage cases of most characters in the book we taken as typical to analyze how money influenced their matrimonial value orientation. We all know that love is the basis of marriage, but at that time, a good economic situation is necessary.
[Key words] Pride and prejudice, marriage, money
First published in 1813, Pride and prejudice is a very 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. A gentle but witty satire of courtship an marriage, tells the story of how the young ladies choose their husbands. Through analyzing the marriage of various characters, it reveals the effect of the economic status in people¡¯s marriage, life and destin

Marriage was therefore a security for a happy life since there was nothing like the social security, old age pensions of health insurances we are provided with today.

Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly an hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to it. Mr. Bingley intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to it. Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and sometimes made choice of his country; but as he was now provided with a good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to purchase.¡±

¡°Her home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms.¡± ¡°When Mr. Collins could be forgotten , there was really a great air of comfort throughout¡­¡±

Mr. Bennet is the embodiment of the second part of the rule. Her marriage was based on the principal of financial gain, and she desires her daughters to be the same. She was able to attract Mr. Bennet, a seemingly sensible and self-controlling man, by keeping her mouth shut and smiling a lot. Basically stated, she entered their marriage under false pretences. She had no real love for him only a desire for financial gain. Every action taken by her in the novel is directly intended to undermine her daughters¡¯ marriages, guiding them toward financial gain. She is furious when Elizabeth turns down Collins, as her marriage to him would mean the estate would stay in the family. She found Darcy rather unpleasant, but would have been furious if Elizabeth had told her that she had turned Darcy¡¯s marriage proposal down.