The Impact of Money on Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

郅丽霞

【Abstract】Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen has been read widely all over the world. Through the comparison of marriages in Pride and Prejudice， it is obvious that money plays an important role in marriage and it is money that determines peoples marital orientation.

【Key words】Pride and Prejudice； Money； Marriage

1. Introduction

Jane Austen is one of the greatest realistic novelists in English literature. Her work Pride and Prejudice mainly talks about matters of love， marriage and family life of country gentlemen and fair ladies in Britain in the 18th century. Through the comparison of these marriages， we can see the views of marriage in the upper middle class， “it is not sensible to marry for money， but it is silly to marry without money.”The marriages in Pride and Prejudice are deeply influenced by money. It is money that decides peoples marital orientation.

2. The Importance of Money

In Pride and Prejudice， it is a world of living competition in which all depend on economic basis. “Incomes are openly discussed in all of Austens novels” To make it clearer that money is very important in Pride and Prejudice， Mr. Collins words after Elizabeth refusing his proposal can be taken as proof： “...Your portion is unhappily so small， that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications.” This shows that money talks louder than a persons love and qualification.

3. The Impact of Money on Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice shows us that the nature of marriage is the combination of money and benefit. People have to depend on marriage to change their ways of life or maintain their own relatively good situation.

3.1 Women Marrying Men for Money

Womens position is determined by social economic development in Pride and Prejudice. Marriage is directly related to single women. So women have to ensure their living by means of marriage. The first sentence in Pride and Prejudice declares： It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. It shows not only the single man wants a wife but the poor young woman needs a husband， especially wealthy one. The Bonnets daughters are taken as the typical characters to test the truth. When Mrs. Bonnet hears Mr. Bingley has a property of nearly one hundred thousand pounds， though she has not even seen him， she takes him as the rightful property for her daughters. The intended marriage mentioning here obviously concerns no love but only financial condition and subsistence.

3.2 Men Marrying Women for Money

Mens marriage choices are also constrained by financial need and men without fortune cant choose marriage freely. Colonel Fitzwilliam is the youngest son of a count. Since he cant inherit his familys fortune and title， he has to marry someone with a large fortune of at least 50，000 pounds whom even he doesnt love. He frankly tells Elizabeth that he cant disregard money in his marriage. Even Mr. Darcy， though he neednt marry a lady with property since he is in great wealth， he does experience longtime and fierce struggle in the process of accepting Elizabeth for her social position.

3.3 Happy Marriage Based on Money and Love

In Pride and Prejudice， Elizabeth and Darcy arent equal both in social position and fortune. But they get married in the end. What they attract each other are their own personalities though money also plays an important role in their marriage.

The marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy is considered as an ideal one， for it consisting of money as well as love. Leaving aside her true love for Darcy， money plays an important role in the process of chasing after marriage. Elizabeth cannot accept Collins because there is no love between them， or Wickham since he has no property. Elizabeth refuses Darcys first offer but later on， she feels regretful. When she sees Darcys Park， her feeling is changed. “She felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something！”Obviously there is a sort of pleasant sensation about property. when her sister asks her how long she has loved Darcy and she answers， “I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley.”Though she is joking， it somewhat reflects her feeling of pursuing money and property.

4. Conclusion

In Pride and Prejudice， Austen puts marriages into all kinds of social and economic relationships from beginning to end， which exposes the serious truth that money is extremely important in marriage. It is money that determines peoples marriage.

References：

[1]Helen Lefroy.Jane Austen[M].London：Oxford University Press，1966.

[2]Edward，Copeland & Juliet McMaster.The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen[M].London：Cambridge University Press，2003.

[3]Austen Jane.Pride and Prejudice[M].上海：世界图书出版公司，2006.