understanding little information, and uncertain temper. Her mind is less difficult to develop when she is discontented. She fancies herself nervous. The business of her life is to get her daughter married; its solace is visiting and news. For example, Mrs. Bennet demands her husband to visit Mr. Bingley. But her husband refuses her requests. She thinks that her husband who has no compassion with her poor nervous. However Mr. Bennet says: “You mistake me, my dear. I have a hight respect for your nerves. They are my old friend. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.”(Jane Austen, 2005:4) When Mr. Bingley dances with Jane over two times, she at once tells others that her daughter will be married with Mr. Bingley. Except these, Mrs. Bennet does not understand why Mr. Bennet’s nephew can inherit their fortune. But she forgives the nephew when she knows that this nephew would like to marries with one daughter of their. These things show that Mrs. Bennet has the poor ideas and simple views. So she is very different from her husband. It result in this marriage is not happiness. In fact, when Mr. Bennet is young, he is appealed by beautiful Mrs. Bennet. After they live life together, he finds his wife is a foolish woman. She does not understand the words of her husband. Under these reasons, Mr. Bennet does not often talks with his wife, and he hates his wife’s simple mind. Dull the short time after they are married, Mr. Bennet’s love is disappearing absolutely. Many times, Mr. Bennet laughs at his wife, but Mrs. Bennet can not understand the ridiculous from her husband. Under these reasons, Mr. Bennet does not often talks with his wife, and he hates his wife’s simple mind. These things have seen by their elder daughters and make some influences to them, especially Elizabeth. And because of these reasons Mr. Bennet makes himself to wallow in the reading and landscapes. ①(李英波, 透过《傲慢与偏见》人物性格谈其婚姻观) He leaves the burden which is education the daughters to her wife. But the ability of his wife is not enough to do it. So, we can make a conclusion that Mrs. Bennet is not a good teacher for her daughters. As this result, the youngest daughter’s marriage is yet unhappy, and it leads to the unsmoothness in marriages of Elizabeth and Jane.
B. Marriage of Jane and Mr. Bingley
At first, let us see the happy marriages. The marriage of Jane and Bingleys is happy. There is no doubt that character of Jane is similar to Bingley. As the eldest daughter of the Bennets’, Jane is a pretty, kindhearted and tender girl. She is a real well-educated girl who is brought up in a good family. Though Jane likes Mr. Bingley, she is not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane units with great strength of feeling, composure of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent. But it gives rise to misunderstanding. Mr. Darcy thinks that Jane’s look and manners are open cheerful and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard and he remains convinced from the evening’s scruting, that though Jane received Bingley’s attentions with pleasure, she does not invite them by any participation of sentiment. And however amiable her temper, her heart is not likely to be easily touched. As the result, Mr. Darcy is responsible for persuading Mr. Bingley to give up this love. Mr. Bingley is extremely agreeable, and to crown the whole. Darcy says: “Bingley has great natural modesty with a stronger dependence on my judgment than on his own.” (Jane Austen, 2005:12) It makes Bingley against returning into Hertfordshire. Except these, the family is another barrier filed for Jane and Bingley. Jane’s family is a big problem for their marriage. It is important issue which will affect this marriage. Mr.
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Darcy says: “The situation of your mother’s family, though objectionable is nothing in comparison of that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly even by your father.” (Jane Austen, 2005:243) It is fact. Firstly, Jane’s family is the middle class of the village, but Bingley is the fortune single. His income is 4,000 pounds every year. They are not equal in the economic foundation. Secondly Mrs. Bennet often has an air of complacency, she makes that Bingley’s attention to Jane has give rise to a general expectation of their marriage. So undisguisedly actions makes Darcy and Miss. Bingley thinks that Jane who wants to married with Bingley for the money and social status. Jane’s sisters are also not well-education, especially Lydia. Lydia has frivolous and unconventional actions, and she is always very stupid girl who has the simple ideas and foolish views as her mother. And Mary has neither genius nor taster; and though vanity has given her application, it has given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner. So she is often impatient for display. For those reason, Darcy and Bingley’s sister neglect the love which Jane gives Bingley. Darcy thinks that Jane is not fit for his friend result from her family. Miss. Bingley doesn’t allow the girl to be her sister-in-law without much money or the outstanding social status. Darcy is really considered for his friend. However, the real aim of Miss. Bingley’s that is hope her brother will married with Darcy’s sister. Her letter for Jane writes: “I really did not think Georgiana Darcy had her equal for beauty, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspire in Louisa and myself, is heightened into something still more interesting from the hope we dare to entertain of her being here after our sister. And my brother admires her greatly already.”(Jane Austen, 2005:148-149) In fact, Miss. Bingley does these for herself. Because of she wants to get married with Darcy. It is easily for herself in evidence if her brother married with Darcy’s sister. So she fights Jane and Jane’s family. From this marriage, we can see that Jane maybe has much money and outstanding social level if she has a good family. And Darcy or Miss. Bingley will attaches importance to her. If Miss. Bingley does not want to be a Darcy’s wife, she maybe really like Jane and agree this marriage.
C. Marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy
Elizabeth and Darcy’s marriage is the main club of this novel. On the surface, their marriage is full of situations. The pride and prejudice of their character makes them argument match point by point. If we read the whole novel, we can see, the real reason which affects their marriage is family too. On the first ball, Mr. Darcy soon draws the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which is in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. He is looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners give disgusts. All of people think that he is very pride and hates him. His words show his pride clearly. Such as, “I certainly shall not. You know how I detested it, unless I was particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters were engaged, and there was not another woman in the room. Whom it would not be punishment to me to stand up with.” (Jane Austen, 2005:12) “It has the advantage also of being me vague amongst the less polished societies of the world. --Every savage can dance.”(Jane Austen, 2005:28) “I can not boast of knowing more than a dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished.”(Jane Austen, 2005:46) Of course, the pride is not error for him. As Charlotte says: “His pride does not offer me so much as pride often does, because there is
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an excuse for it. One can not wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favor, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be pride.”(Jane Austen, 2005:21) But Elizabeth will not like to forgive Darcy at inchoate time. Because she thinks that Darcy injures her pride. Elizabeth is born in the middle class home. She gets middle education, and has the wonderful behavior. She gets appreciation from all the people. ①(郭广田,浅析《傲慢与偏见》中伊丽莎白的性格)Mr. Bennet says: “But Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sister.” (Jane Austen, 2005:3) Mr. Darcy forces to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing, after he has dealings with her. And he begins to find it is rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark and bright eyes. However compares with the aristocrat, Elizabeth’s family is still inferior to other people. Her family members do not have good manners. These things make her feel her inferiority. As this environment of family, Elizabeth has very strong self-esteem, and has the prejudice in her character. ① (郭广田,浅析《傲慢与偏见》中伊丽莎白的性格) We can say that the family is the preserved in her life. But Darcy despises her family at all times and destroys Jane’s love. Besides these, Darcy has been said: “she is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.” (Jane Austen, 2005:12) How pride is he! This word maybe hurts every girl. So does it to Elizabeth. So she refuses the proposal of Darcy, though he is a rich man. Because Mr. Bennet’s marriage effects her deeply, Elizabeth cannot abide his pride and the hate of Darcy which associated with her family. So she deems that Darcy is not fit for herself. Their marriage is not happiness. The family makes Elizabeth has strong self-esteem and prejudice. Darcy’s pride also is given by his family. He says like this: “As a children I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper, I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child) I was spoilt by my parents, who taught good themselves (my father particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and over bearing, to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world, to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own.” (Jane Austen, 2005:451) From these words we can know what makes his pride. At this time, Lydia has elopement with Wickham. With the help of Darcy, Wickham married with Lydia. This thing makes Elizabeth to know Darcy always love her. And she faces all of things and changes her prejudice about Darcy. Other things which come from Darcy’s home also spur their love. Darcy’s aunt takes against to their love. In her views, Elizabeth is a common girl without a good family; say nothing of economic condition, culture levels and social status… Her daughter is real girl who is equal to Darcy. However Elizabeth says: “In marring your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere, he is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we are equal.” (Jane Austen, 2005:435) These things help Darcy to know the mind of Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Darcy are fit for tat due to their family. And they decide marring due to family too. All of things show the family is so importance.
D. The Marriage of Lydia and Wickham
Compared with Jane and Elizabeth, Lydia’s marriage is unhappy. With the development of the story, we can know that wickham is maintain dignified appearances and loafing. But his has personable surface. He is always cheerful and composed and has
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strong charm. The men like him who has the strong power to draw the young ladies who are peacockish and short of knowledge. Unlucky, Lydia is the girl like these Ladies. Wickham wants to have a marriage which could help him become rich man. The marriage is only chance for him. At first, he pursues Darcy’s sister, but he falls in a failure. Then he pursues the Jung, because she has some money. All of things tell us that wickham will never marry a woman without some money. He can not afford it. And what claims has Lydia, what attraction has she beyond youth, health, and good humor that could make him for her sake, forego every chance of benefiting himself by marring well? Lydia only gets 1,000 pound from her home. Obviously Lydia is not perfect wife for wickham. However wickham is very glad to have a girl who can company him when he escapes the gambling debt. ① (李英波, 透过《傲慢与偏见》人物性格谈其婚姻观) Lydia agrees elopement with him due to the love. She never recognizes the fact that is wickham never married her if she is no money. She also does not know that she married with wickham which is not advisability, because he is poor man. And she never thinks that she will thoroughly discredited and takes the shame for the whole family if she does not married with wickham. At last, this thing solves by the Darcy’s help. When they come back, no one but Mrs. Bennet feels happiness and regrets that their stay would be so short and she mad most of the time, by visiting about with her daughter, and having very frequent parties at home. These parties are acceptable to all; to avoid a family circle is even more desirable to such as do think than such as did not. Until here, we can know that Mrs. Benent always pamper Lydia. In the novel, Elizabeth’s world prove it: “she is very young, she had never been taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last half year, nay, for a twelve month, she has been given up to nothing but amusement and vanity. She has been allowed to dispose of her time in most idle and frivolous manner; and to adopt any opinions that came in her way. Since the---shire were first quartered on Meryton, nothing but love, flirtation and officers, have been in her head”(Jane Austen,2005:324) In this novel, Lydia is a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humored countenance; a favorite with her mother. Mr. Bennet also admit that the reason of this things which is family.
E. The Marriage of Charlotte and Collins
There is another marriage in this novel. It is very funny marriage which belong the Charlotte and Collins. In this novel, we can know that Collins is a missionary. He meets a rich woman and gets her help. Mr. Collins is not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education and society; the greatest of an illiterate and miserly father; and think he belongs to one of the universities, he has merely kept the necessary terms without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which his father has brought him up, has given him originally great humility of manner, but it is now a good counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living I retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. His reason of marriage are, firstly, he think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like himself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that he is convinced it will add very greatly to his happiness; and thirdly-which perhaps he ought to have mentioned earlier that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom he has the honor of calling patroness. We could understand why he can changes objects of marriage so quickly. Elizabeth cannot understand what reason makes Charlotte agree this
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foolish marriage. If we see the family of her, we may be know her views. The whole families in short are properly over-joeys on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys are relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte’s dying an old mind. For all of these reasons, we can understand this marriage.
IV.The Conclusion
All of these marriages are affected by the family. If Jane has a good family, her marriage may have fewer obstacles. If there is no influence of the family, there is not the pride and prejudice between Elizabeth and Darcy. If the elopement does not take place in the Elizabeth family, Darcy impossibly helps them, and Elizabeth can not know the love of Darcy. If Darcy’s aunt does not discourage Elizabeth from this marriage, Darcy can not know the mind of Elizabeth. Lydia’s unhappy marriage is also effected by the family. Charlotte is married with Collins due to the family environment too.
These marriages show that the influences of family are so strong. It is a very pivotal factor for the children’s marriages. Jane Austin uses the vivid words to describe this truth, telling us the family is important for children, and actual presents the British conceptions about love and marriage in the 19th century. She makes this novel so charming.
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