ABSTRACT
Defifani, Yosefin. 2008. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the early Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yogyakarta: Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Department of Language and Arts Education, English Language Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis discusses Pride and Prejudice, a novel written by Jane Austen. The reason in writing this thesis come from my curiosity to know more deeply about the main character of the novel, Elizabeth Bennet, and Jane Austen’s social criticism implied in the novel. There are two problems that become the focus of this thesis: (1) How is the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, described, and (2) How Austen criticizes the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth Century England through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet. Based on those problems, this study aims to describe the main character of the novel and to analyze Jane Austen’s criticism on the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century of England through the main character.
The data gathering method that I used to achieve the aims of the study is library study. The Sociocultural – Historical Approach is used for the analysis of the data. The primary data of this thesis were taken from the novel, Pride and Prejudice. Meanwhile, the secondary data used to answer the problems above were taken from some relevant and supporting references and also from internet sources. When necessary, quotations and statements from certain experts were also picked up to clarify some important ideas.
Based on the result of the analysis, there are two conclusions which can be drawn. First, Elizabeth Bennet is described as a beautiful woman with her intelligent face and attractive manners. She has a great affection for her family, particularly her oldest sister, Jane. She is a determined and outspoken woman who likes to be honest and has her own opinion about everything. The second result is I found out there are many values and messages Jane Austen wants to express through Elizabeth’s character. Jane Austen tries to criticize the marriage motivation in British society in the early nineteenth century which is based on money and social status. Jane Austen expresses her view of the ideal motivation of marriage through the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
Beside the suggestion for possible future researchers on Pride and Prejudice, this thesis also proposes strategies to implement teaching English by using a novel, particularly in teaching Intensive Reading II.
ABSTRAK
Defifani, Yosefin. 2008. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the early Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas Pride and Prejudice, sebuah novel karya Jane Austen. Alasan penulisan skripsi ini bermula dari keingintahuan saya untuk memahami lebih jauh karakter utama novel ini, Elizabeth Bennet dan kritik sosial Jane Austen yang tersirat dalam novel tersebut. Dua permasalahan menjadi dasar dari penulisan skripsi ini, yaitu: (1) Bagaimanakah Elizabeth Bennet yang menjadi karakter utama digambarkan dan (2) Bagaimanakah Jane Austen mengeritik motivasi perkawinan di Inggris pda awal abad ke sembilan belas, malalui karekter utama, Elizabeth Bennet. Berdasarkan permasalahan tersebut, studi ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan karakter utama di dalam novel dan untuk manganalisa kritikan Jane Austen terhadap motivasi perkawainan di Inggris pada awal abad ke sembilan belas, melalui karakter utama.
Untuk mencapai tujuan dari studi ini, metode yang saya gunakan adalah studi pustaka. Untuk menganalisa data yang ada digunakan pendekatan Sociocultural-Historical. Data utama dari skripsi ini diambil dari novel Pride and Prejudice. Sementara itu, data penunjang yang digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan di atas diambil dari beberapa referensi yang berhubungan dan mendukung dan juga dari akses internet. Jika perlu, kutipan dan kalimat dari beberapa ahli juga disertakan untuk memperjelas beberapa gagasan yang penting.
Berdasarkan hasil analisa, ada dua hal yang dapat disimpulkan. Pertama, Elizabeth Bennet digambarkan sebagai seorang wanita cantik yang memiliki wajah yang cerdas dan sifat yang menarik. Dia mempunyai perhatian yang besar terhadap keluarga terutama kakak perempuannya, Jane. Dia adalah wanita yang keras dan terbuka yang lebih suka bersikap jujur dan memiliki pendapat sendiri tentang semua hal. Kedua, saya menemukan bahwa ada banyak nilai dan pesan yang ingin disampaikan oleh Jane Austen melalui karakter Elizabeth. Jane Austen mencoba mengeritik motivasi perkawinan dalam masyarakat Inggris pada awal abad ke sembilan belas yang didasari oleh uang dan status sosial. Jane Austen menyampaikan pandangannya tentang motivasi perkawinan yang paling ideal melalui perkawinan Mr. Darcy dan Elizabeth Bennet
PAGE OF DEDICATION
Life is like a book;
Everyday has a new page with adventures to tell;
Lesson to learn
and tales of good deeds to remember
.ABSTRACT
Defifani, Yosefin. 2008. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the early Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yogyakarta: Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Department of Language and Arts Education, English Language Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis discusses Pride and Prejudice, a novel written by Jane Austen. The reason in writing this thesis come from my curiosity to know more deeply about the main character of the novel, Elizabeth Bennet, and Jane Austen’s social criticism implied in the novel. There are two problems that become the focus of this thesis: (1) How is the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, described, and (2) How Austen criticizes the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth Century England through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet. Based on those problems, this study aims to describe the main character of the novel and to analyze Jane Austen’s criticism on the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century of England through the main character.
The data gathering method that I used to achieve the aims of the study is library study. The Sociocultural – Historical Approach is used for the analysis of the data. The primary data of this thesis were taken from the novel, Pride and Prejudice. Meanwhile, the secondary data used to answer the problems above were taken from some relevant and supporting references and also from internet sources. When necessary, quotations and statements from certain experts were also picked up to clarify some important ideas.
Based on the result of the analysis, there are two conclusions which can be drawn. First, Elizabeth Bennet is described as a beautiful woman with her intelligent face and attractive manners. She has a great affection for her family, particularly her oldest sister, Jane. She is a determined and outspoken woman who likes to be honest and has her own opinion about everything. The second result is I found out there are many values and messages Jane Austen wants to express through Elizabeth’s character. Jane Austen tries to criticize the marriage motivation in British society in the early nineteenth century which is based on money and social status. Jane Austen expresses her view of the ideal motivation of marriage through the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
Beside the suggestion for possible future researchers on Pride and Prejudice, this thesis also proposes strategies to implement teaching English by using a novel, particularly in teaching Intensive Reading II.
ABSTRAK
Defifani, Yosefin. 2008. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the early Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas Pride and Prejudice, sebuah novel karya Jane Austen. Alasan penulisan skripsi ini bermula dari keingintahuan saya untuk memahami lebih jauh karakter utama novel ini, Elizabeth Bennet dan kritik sosial Jane Austen yang tersirat dalam novel tersebut. Dua permasalahan menjadi dasar dari penulisan skripsi ini, yaitu: (1) Bagaimanakah Elizabeth Bennet yang menjadi karakter utama digambarkan dan (2) Bagaimanakah Jane Austen mengeritik motivasi perkawinan di Inggris pda awal abad ke sembilan belas, malalui karekter utama, Elizabeth Bennet. Berdasarkan permasalahan tersebut, studi ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan karakter utama di dalam novel dan untuk manganalisa kritikan Jane Austen terhadap motivasi perkawainan di Inggris pada awal abad ke sembilan belas, melalui karakter utama.
Untuk mencapai tujuan dari studi ini, metode yang saya gunakan adalah studi pustaka. Untuk menganalisa data yang ada digunakan pendekatan Sociocultural-Historical. Data utama dari skripsi ini diambil dari novel Pride and Prejudice. Sementara itu, data penunjang yang digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan di atas diambil dari beberapa referensi yang berhubungan dan mendukung dan juga dari akses internet. Jika perlu, kutipan dan kalimat dari beberapa ahli juga disertakan untuk memperjelas beberapa gagasan yang penting.
Berdasarkan hasil analisa, ada dua hal yang dapat disimpulkan. Pertama, Elizabeth Bennet digambarkan sebagai seorang wanita cantik yang memiliki wajah yang cerdas dan sifat yang menarik. Dia mempunyai perhatian yang besar terhadap keluarga terutama kakak perempuannya, Jane. Dia adalah wanita yang keras dan terbuka yang lebih suka bersikap jujur dan memiliki pendapat sendiri tentang semua hal. Kedua, saya menemukan bahwa ada banyak nilai dan pesan yang ingin disampaikan oleh Jane Austen melalui karakter Elizabeth. Jane Austen mencoba mengeritik motivasi perkawinan dalam masyarakat Inggris pada awal abad ke sembilan belas yang didasari oleh uang dan status sosial. Jane Austen menyampaikan pandangannya tentang motivasi perkawinan yang paling ideal melalui perkawinan Mr. Darcy dan Elizabeth Bennet
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank Jesus Christ and Mother Mary who have
blessed and always guided me to finish my thesis. I also realize that there are so many
people who have encouraged and supported me in finishing my thesis.
I give my deep gratitude to Henny Herawati, S. Pd., M. Hum., my sponsor,
who has sincerely spent her precious time not only to read and correct my thesis but
also for her suggestions and comments on my thesis. Without her patience and
supervision, this thesis would never have been completed.
I also would like to thank the secretariat staff of the English Language
Education Study Program and the library staff of Sanata Dharma University and my
great appreciation to all PBI lectures who have taken part in my study.
My special thanks and love are dedicated to my parents, Stephanus Sinju and
Emirensiana for their love, affection, support and prayer; and my only big brother, Erik for taking care of me all this time.
I would like to thank all my classmates for the long friendship, especially
Lidya for her help to correct my grammatical mistakes in this thesis. Special thank to all the Mentari’s friends: Kak Yuke, Novi, Intan, Mbak Prapti, Evi, Ria, Kak
Adri who has always assisted me during the hard times, for his support, understanding, and patience; and his family who has considered me as their own
family.
Finally, I would like to thank all the people who have supported me. Without
their help, I could not have finished this thesis. God bless them all.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PAGE OF TITLE………. i
PAGES OF APPROVAL………... ii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY……….... iv
PAGE OF DEDICATION……… v
ABSTRACT………. vi
ABSTRAK………... vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………. viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS………. x
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background of the Study……….. 1
1.2. Problem Formulation……… 3
1.3. Objectives of the Study………. 3
1.4. Benefits of the Study………. 4
1.5. Definition of Terms………... 4
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1. Review of Related Theories……….. 7
2.1.1.Theories of Character………... 7
2.2. Review on England Society in Regency Period……… 12
2.3. Review on Society’s View on Marriage in the early Nineteenth Century England……….... 13
2.3.1. The Status of Women in England in the early Nineteenth Century……….. 13
2.3.2. Social Classes………..15
2.3.2.1. Aristocratic or the Upper Class………. 16
2.3.2.2. The Middle Class……….. 16
2.3.2.3. The Lower or Working Class………... 17
2.3.3. Materialism……….. 18
2.4. Theoretical Framework………. 19
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY 3.1. Object of the Study……… 21
3.2. Approach of the Study……….. 22
3.3. Method of the Study……….. 23
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS 4.1. The Analysis of the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet…………. 25
4.1.1 Social Character………... 25
4.1.2. Physical Character………... 27
4.2. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the
Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character,
Elizabeth Bennet... 33
4.2.1. Elizabeth Bennet’s View on Marriage Motivation in her Society……….... 35
4.2.2. Jane Austen’s View toward the Motivation of Marriage in her Society……… 41
4.2.3. Jane Austen’s View toward Materialism………. 42
4.2.4. Jane Austen’s View toward Education……… 44
4.2.5. Jane Austen’s View toward Love……… 46
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS 5.1. Conclusion……… 49
5.2. Suggestions………... 51
5.2.1. The Suggestion for the Future Researchers………... 51
5.2.2. The Implementation of the Novel, Pride and Prejudice, in Teaching Intensive Reading II ………... 52
BIBLIOGRAPHY ……….. 55
APPENDICES Appendix 1 Lesson Plan and Material of Teaching Intensive Reading II …… 57
Appendix 2 Summary of Pride and Prejudice ……… 64
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of the background of the study, the objectives of the
study, the problem formulation, benefits of the study, and definition of terms. The
background of the study focuses on the topic of my study. In the objectives of the
study, I give the explanation of the focus of my study. I also give the general
illustration of the problem in the problem formulation and the explanation about the
benefit of this study for me and other researchers.
1.1. Background of the Study
Marriage is a goal of a relationship between man and woman who want to live
together and build a family. Everybody has their own reason why they decide to get
married. For example, because they need a status of their relationship, or because
they really love each other and they want to live together or maybe only for money. It
is better for some people to know the person who will become his wife or her
husband, at least the social status, and education background of the person, before he
or she decides to get married.
Some people think that most marriages are based on physical attraction, financial
security or love and affection; of all these, financial security is the main reason for
secure livelihood and a definite home. The other factor that can become the
motivation to get married is to get better social status.
In our situation, there are some cases that a woman who has good social
background has to find a husband who has better or at least the same social
background. In other words, a marriage should be happened between two persons
who have, at least, the same social background. For some people, a marriage
between man and woman who have different social background will be considered as
breaking the rules of marriage. This case still happens in today life, that we can see,
for some parents or people, reputation and social background are very important in a
marriage life, no matter if they do not love each other. The important point is they can
fulfill all the things needed.
Some people think that it is not a woman’s job to find her wanted husband. That
opinion also can be found in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice in which the
early nineteenth century England society considers a woman should only wait a man
who wants to marry her. Women’s situation was much different from what it is today.
Women did not have autonomy. Their life totally depends on men such as their
fathers, brothers, and husbands or in some cases other male relatives.
Based on the explanation above, I like to see that Elizabeth Bennet who has
different character than other women in that time even her sisters, finds her beloved
man in these society condition. I am also interested in studying the topic about how
the early nineteenth century England through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet.
Jane Austen is well aware of women’s economic and social situation in this
paternalism environment. Some critics see her as a feminist who criticized her own
society. Through her work, Jane Austen, as a member of society, attempts to express
her experiences, knowledge, thoughts, views and ideas about the marriage motivation
in the early nineteenth century England.
1.2. Problem Formulation
In this study, the problems will be formulated as follow:
1. How is the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, described?
2. How Austen criticizes the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth
Century England through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet?
1.3. Objectives of the Study
This study is conducted to find out the answers of the questions that are
formulated in the problem formulation. There are two major objectives in this literary
study. First is to describe the main character, Elizabeth Bennet who is presented in
the novel. Second is to analyze Jane Austen’s criticism on the marriage motivation in
1.4. Benefits of the Study
This study is expected to be useful and to enrich the knowledge of the readers. It
also provides some information about the story, so that the readers can understand the
story easily.
The result of this study is expected to be beneficial for other researchers who are
interested in literary study, especially a novel. This study might provide them useful
information and guidance to make critical judgments.
1.5. Definition of Terms
Before further discussion of novel, some important terms related to the title
should be correctly and completely defined. There are three key terms in the title of
this literary study; they are view, criticism, marriage, motivation, motive and
main. It is actually to avoid the readers’ misunderstanding and confusion in the next discussion.
1. View
Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridge defines view as
“Manner of regarding or considering something, judgment, opinion (2168)”. In
2. Criticism
Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learner (3th edition) defines
Criticism as “the action of expressing disapproval of something or someone”. In this study criticism means expressing disapproval of something.
3. Marriage
Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridge of English Language defines marriage as
“the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to
live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc (879)”.
In this study marriage is a condition in where a man and woman have a legal
commitment to live together as husband and wife.
4. Motivation
Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learner (3th edition) defines
motivation as “what causes you want to do something”. In this study motivation is something that makes someone wants to do an action.
5. Motive
Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learner (3th edition) defines as
“the reason for doing something”. In this study motive means someone’s reason
6. Main
Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learner (3th edition) defines as
“the most important one of several similar things in a particular situation”. In this
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
In this chapter, I will discuss four parts or subtitles, namely Review of Related
Theories, Review on England Society in Regency Period, Review on Society’s View
on Marriage in the early nineteenth Century England and the last is Theoretical
Framework. Review of Related Theories contains the theories or the approaches that
are relevant with this study. Review on Society’s View on Marriage in the early
nineteenth Century England contains the society’s view of the status of women, the
social class, and the materialism in England in early nineteenth century. In the
Theoretical Framework, I will discuss or explain the contribution of the theories and
review to solve the problem in my study.
2.1 Review of Related Theories
In this study, I use some theories to support her analysis. They are theory of
character, the theory of characterization which is used to describe the characteristics
of the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, in order to find her marriage reason, and the
theory of critical approaches.
2.1.1. Theories of Character
According to Abrams in his A Glossary of Literary Terms defines the
readers as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in
what they say-the dialogue-and by what they do-the action (20).
E.M Foster in his Aspect of the Novel (1974) classifies the character into two
kinds: flat and round characters. A Flat character is the character which is simple and
does not change or in other words they always stay the same. It means that they
always behave and talk in the same way, so it makes the character become easily
predicted. On the other hand, a round character is the one who can make the readers
surprised because of his or her action. This is very complex character because they
often change.
According to Ian Milligan in The Novel in English, there are two kinds of
characters based on their role in a story, namely as Major and Minor characters (155).
The major character is the character who becomes the focus in the story from the
beginning until the end, and it plays the important role in clarifying the theme of the
story. In other word, if we understand the major character of the story, we also
understand the theme of the story. The minor characters are those who appear in a
certain setting and just necessarily become the background of the major characters. In
other word, their role in the story is less important than the major character is.
Holman and Harmon in their A Handbook to Literature classified characters
into Static and Dynamic characters. A static character is one who changes little or
does not change at all. The pattern of action reveals the character rather than showing
very often changes or is modified by actions and experiences and one objective of the
work in which the character appears is to reveal the consequences of these actions
(83).
2.1.2. Theories of Characterization
Holman and Harmon in their A Handbook to Literature define
characterization as “The creation of imaginary person. Even though they are created
imaginatively, they are seen to be real and exist for the readers or audience as lifelike
(81).”
There are three fundamental methods of characterization in fiction. First, the
explicit presentation of the character by the author through direct exposition
illustrated by the action. Second, the presentation of the character in action of the
expectation that the reader will be able to deduce the attributes of the actor from the
actions. The last is the representation from within a character of the impact of the
actions and emotions on the character’s inner beauty, with the expectation that the
reader will come to a clear understanding of the attributes of the character
M.J Murphy distinguishes nine ways of how an author reveals the characters’
personalities and traits to the readers (161–173). First is Personal Description. In the
personal description, the author can describe a person’s appearance, such as face,
body and clothes. It is very important because it gives clues to the character. Second,
through the eyes and opinion of another. Third is Speech where the author can give
some clues to the character through what a person says when he or she speaks in a
conversation or puts forward an opinion. Forth, Past life. The author can give the
reader a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character by letting the
reader learn about that person’s past life. The fifth is Conversation with others. The
author can give the reader clues to a person‘s character through the conversation of
other people and the things they say about him or her. Sixth is Reaction. In this case,
the author gives us a clue to a person’s character by permitting us know how that
person reacts to various situation and events. Next is Thoughts. The author can give
the readers direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about because what is in the
person’s mind and what he or she feels are reflected on his or her character. Then,
Direct comment. The author can give comment on a person’s character directly. The last is Mannerism. The author can describe a person’s mannerism, habits or
peculiarities that may also tell you about his or her character.
2.1.3. Critical Approaches
Rohrberger and Woods in their book Reading and Writing about Literature
mention five kinds of critical approach (1–15). They are the Formalist approach, the
Biographical approach, the Socio-cultural- historical approach, the Mythopoeic
Critics who use The Formalist approach concentrate on the whole of the
literary works because each of the esthetic part contributes a harmony to the complete
work as a whole. Critics, who use The Biographical approach to judge literary work
need to understand the important knowledge of the author’s personal life. A better
understanding could be facilitated by some useful information taken from the
biography of the writer and the biographical provision itself. To understand The
Socio-cultural- historical approach we need some assertions as references such as socio, cultural and historical background. According to Rohrberger and Woods, those
assertions are based on; firstly, literature is not created in a vacuum, secondly,
literature form significant ideas to the culture that produced it. Critics, who use the
Mythopoeic approach to judge literary works, attempt to find particular recurrent patterns of human thought, which are considered sharing the same universal belief to
certain community mind. The Psychological approach involves various theories of
psychology to explain the characters’ personality in a story. Each character’s
behavior could be referred to the psychology of human being.
Each approach which is described above has its values and limitations. The
important task that has to the readers and the analyst done is to choose the best
approach or approaches that suit for their appreciation on a certain piece of literature.
In this study, the writer employs the socio-cultural approach to judge the novel by
2.2. Review on England Society in Regency Period
Pride and Prejudice took place in England in the early nineteenth, during a time
known as the Regency period. The term refers to England’s ruler between 1810 and
1820 (defined by Donald A. Low as 1800-1830 and by Venetia Murray as
1788-1820) when George IV served as regent to substitute his father, George III who
suffered from serious mentally ill.
The Regency period is sometimes called the age of elegance. By the early
nineteenth, the industrial revolution had been in full swing for several decades and
was transforming English society. Technology made commerce and manufacturing
more efficient and profitable. As a result, many middle-class business owners and
professionals became wealthy. The newly rich displayed their wealth in large country
homes with landscaped ground, fine carriages, and elegant fashions.
The upwardly mobile middle-class generally gave little thought to what was
going on outside their world. The economic system that had made them prosperous,
however, had left others struggling to survive. In the age of industrialism, work that
had previously been done manually was now being done by machines, so it created
unemployment. The country was living near starvation in which a situation that
2.3. Review on Society’s View on Marriage in the early Nineteenth Century England
Since this thesis is going to study how Jane Austen criticizes the marriage
motivation in the early nineteenth Century England, a review on society’s view on
marriage in the early nineteenthis needed. So, it is necessary to know the cultural and
historical background of the society, especially the society’s view toward the status of
women, social classes and materialism of the early nineteenth century in England,
which have a close relation to marriage.
2.3.1 The Status of Women in England in the early Nineteenth Century
In early nineteenth century of England, women were not regarded as whole
individuals in the society. Women at that time were considered to be the second class
people after men and their position were limited only at home to control the
household. They even could not go to the world of business and talk about social
problem such as politics, trade and technology. Women could never become better
until their position was improved and until the laws were made more just, as well as
until a wide field were opened for women (Wollstonecraft 530-534).
People in England believed in paternalism, which considered women less
important than men. The consequence of this system was that women could not
bequeath their family name to their children and they had no right of inheriting the
In the nineteenth century, few middle-class women could choose not to marry
or to marry simply for love. In Jane Austen’s time, there was no real way for young
women of the genteel classes to strike out on their own independent. A woman of the
genteel class would be respected when she had a thorough knowledge of music,
singing, playing the piano, drawing, dancing and speak a little French and Italian. The
purpose of such accomplishments, that we consider as the ladylike arts, was often
only to attract a husband. Reciting well-known poems, embroidering, and painting
designs on the tables were other “accomplishments” for young ladies. Because their
adult lives would be spent in the domestic sphere, a well-rounded education was not
considered essential for girls. Girls seldom received the systematic education as their
brothers did.
Education in the early nineteenth century England was not equal, not between
the sexes neither the classes. A lady’s education was taken, almost entirely, at home.
There were boarding schools, but no university, and the studies were very different.
Women were not allowed to attend the institutionalized rags on the
educational ladder. Profession, the universities and the politics were not open to
women. Only few occupations were open to them and these occupations were not
highly respected (being a governess or a live-in teacher for the daughter of a family),
and did not generally well paid and have very good working conditions. A few
middle-class women earn money by writing, as Jane Austen did, but they seldom
marrying for it or inheriting it. By tradition, property and money were passed down
through the male side of the family. For most women, marriage was the only path to
the financial security or as “the only honorable provision for well-educated young
women of small fortune”. Only a rather small number of women could be called
professionals.
Margareth Kirkham, in David Greg’s The Jane Austen Handbook says that
unmarried women also had to live with their families, or with family-approved
protectors (154-156). When a young woman left her family without their approval,
such as running away to marry a disapproved husband or entering into illicit
relationship, it was a symptom of a radical break and this situation was always very
serious
It can be concluded that the status of women in the early nineteenth century
England was that the social position of women was lower than men. Women could
improve their position only by learning many things to reach the quality of women in
the early nineteenth century England.
2.3.2. Social Classes
“True” marriages were connected to social status in Jane Austen’s time. It was
like a business contract, joining and strengthening families, wealth and status,
providing heirs and giving women financial security. Marriage partners were often
achieve a higher status as a result of the marriage regardless of from family he or she
came.
Generally, there were three social classes in England society, namely the
aristocratic or upper class, the middle and the lower or working class. Beside those
three main classes, there were still many subclasses which were hold their own status
in social order.
2.3.2.1. Aristocratic or The Upper Class
The upper or aristocratic class was the richest class that had the big influence
upon the economic, politic, military and intellectual policy. A prosperous English
family or the upper class people spent more than $ 10,000 a year. They spent their
income on ten servants: a man servant, a cook, a kitchen maid, two housemaids, a
serving maid, a governess, a gardener, a coachman and a stable boy. Social parties
and balls were held often and dancing was a favorite pastime among most upper-class
men and women. Spending on food was also great because the dinner party was this
class’s favorite social occasion.
2.3.2.2. The Middle Class
The next-highest class was the middle. The middle class was divided into
three subclasses. They were upper-middle class, middle-middle class and
business families from banking, industry, and large commerce. The larger number of
servant was very important indicator of wealth and standing for the middle. The sign
of real wealth in a middle class household was a male servant; two or three were
mark opulence (Hill 847). The middle classes were closely united by a certain
lifestyle. Food was the largest item of the household budget. Those food and servants
absorbed about a half of the income. They usually would settle the dinner party once
a month (Hill 849-850).
Below the wealthy upper middle class was much larger, much less wealthy
and increasingly diversified middle class. Here one found the moderately successful
industrialist and merchants, as well as profession in law and medicine. This was
middle-middle class, solid and quite comfortable but lack of great wealth (Hill 848).
Below the middle-middle class was the lower-middle class who were
composed mainly of independent shopkeepers, small trades and tiny manufactures.
The lower-middle class expanded modestly in size with economic development.
Industrialization also expanded and diversified the lower-middle class.
2.3.2.3. The Lower or Working Class
The last was the working class. This working class divided into two
subclasses. They were the upper working class and the lower working class. The
upper working class which was composed mainly people whose livelihood depended
class had and who had levels of livings and education. They were usually recent
migrants who were come from rural areas to the city.
The popular employment for the lower working class was domestic service.
Domestic service was hard work at low pay with limited personal independence. For
the full-time general maid in a lower-middle class family, there was an unending
routine of babysitting, shopping, cooking and cleaning (Hill 852-854). Domestic
servants worked seven days a week, twelve hours at least each day because they were
expected to work hard to support themselves (Landow 1).
2.3.3. Materialism
The economic life changed constantly and rapidly since Industrial Revolution
in 1760. It did not only bring the advantages, but also the disadvantages to England
society. Generally, the disadvantages were recent arrivals from agricultural area
where they had driven off the land. They kept trying to be able to support their living
even though they had to be servants and laborers in factories, workshops, mines and
miles. Unfortunately, since human laborers were replaced with machines, their lives
were become more depressing because they lost their job and income which
supported their lives. Only the upper and middle classes had benefited material
wealth. It means that the sense of prosperity was not shared by all the people.
This inequality was very apparent in London. The upper class wanted to gain
by other people, especially people who had lower status. The high class people
satisfied with their position while the working class merely wanted to gain money in
order to improve and support their financial life. This condition also influenced upon
the society’s view toward the reasons of marriage. Their view of the reasons of
marriage mostly based on the economical factors and it based on the most profitable
one. In England, this opinion is supported by the paternalism system in their society.
It is so, because there is a rule that any property that a woman possess before her
marriage automatically become her husband’s unless it was settle on her. There were
many unhappy women lost all what they have because of this rule of marriage, and
when their property and money were gone, their husband would leave them.
2.4. Theoretical Framework
This study is conducted to find the answers of the problems stated in the problem
formulation. I use some theories to answer those problems. For the first problem, I
use the theories of character and characterization. The theory proposed by Abrams
helps the writer to understand the meaning of character. The types of character stated
by Foster, Milligan, Holman and Harmon help to classify the character that will be
discussed in this study. The theory of characterization by Holman and Harmon gives
the definition of characterization and three fundamental method of characterization.
Then, Murphy’s theory is used to find out about the characterization. It is necessary
Since this study deals with the social and culture literary work, I apply the theory
of Socio-cultural approach from Mary Rorhberger and Samuel H. Wood. The theory
would help me understand the social life and culture of the main character.
Beside those theories, the writer also uses some information about marriage life
in the early nineteenth century of England. It examines the status of women and the
social class condition in England in the early nineteenth century. It can help me to
understand the society condition and women’s position in that time, and understand
how the writer of the novel criticizes the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter consists of three main parts namely, Object of the Study,
Approach of the Study and Method of the Study. Object of the Study concerns with
the object or data of the study in the literary work that I analyzed. Approach of the
study contains the approach used in analyzing the work. Method of the Study
describes the way or the procedure taken in analyzing the work.
3.1. Object of the Study
The title of the novel analyzed in this study is Pride and Prejudice by Jane
Austen. Jane Austen began to write the novel which original title was First
Impression in October of 1796 and finished it by August of the following year; she
was then twenty-one years old. Her father submitted it to a London publisher the
following year, but the publisher rejected it without ever having seen the manuscript.
It was accepted for publication and was presented to the world on 28 January 1813
during the Regency period. It was published by T. Egerton and Whitehall. After her
success with Sense and Sensibility in 1811, Jane Austen began to rewrite Pride and
Prejudice, which is recognized as her greatest achievement; it was quickly reprinted
in that time. Pride and Prejudice has always been Austen’s most popular novel and
the largest ever poll for the "UK's Best-Loved Book" in which Pride and Prejudice
came second, behind The Lord of the Rings. In popular culture, Pride and Prejudice
has been adapted in a great number of film and television series, varying greatly in its
faithfulness to the original. This is the story of sparkling, irrepressible heroine,
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, a very rich and seemingly rude man. Pride and
Prejudice is a novel about how a man changes his manners and a woman changes her
mind.
3.2. Approach of the Study
A certain approach is needed to analyze a work because the way we use to view
the work is based on the approach. In her book Approach to Literature, Barbara
Garlick says “there is no studying a subject without having an approach to it” (1-7).
I decide to employ the Socio-cultural approach in analyzing the novel in this
study because the approach puts the work of literature as the product of civilization.
This approach helps me to understand the social life and culture of the character,
specially the main character Elizabeth Bennet, who becomes the focus of this study
also the society situation in the Regency period of England.
The Socio-cultural approach is important because some novels will lose their
value if the readers do not know and understand the society and culture background
of the novel. It means, to analyze and criticize the characters’ marriage motivations in
nineteenth century England and culture of English marriage in the early nineteenth
century.
3.3. Method of the Study
This study uses library research as a method in gathering the data. Since it
conducts a library research, I use some sources to support her analysis. The writer
uses Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice as the primary source. Beside Pride and
Prejudice, the writer also uses some books such as Reading and Writing about
Literature by Rohrberger and Woods, M.J Murphy’s book about how an author
reveals the characters’ personalities and traits to the readers and internet access as the
secondary source.
This study also concerns about the steps that I took in doing the analysis, so that
I am able to obtain the solution for the problems formulated in this study. There were
some steps that I had done. First, I started to read Pride and Prejudice, as the primary
source in this study, for several times in order to have good understanding of the
content of the novel, and to focus on the problems that I would analyze in this study.
Second, I made a summary and took some notes of the points, such as the comments
from the author and from the other characters, which had relationship with the
formulated problems. Third, I read other references such as the books that already
have mentioned above and some books that were found in the library. I also did
characters’ marriage motivation to find the marriage motivation in Pride and
Prejudice. I looked closely at the characters’ marriage motivation, first, through Jane
Austen’s personal descriptions that describe her character in the novel. Second,
through the conversations with others, because those can give the readers clues to a
character’s thought and others’ opinion about the character. Third is through the
direct reaction of what a person is thinking about. Forth is through the author’s direct
comment on the characters. Fifth is through the thought, because what a character
feels and thinks reflect on his or her characters. Sixth is through mannerisms that may
also tell us about the characters. And the last, I revealed Jane Austen’s view on
marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century England through Elizabeth
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This part concerns the analysis which is divided into two parts of discussion.
The first discussion is the analysis on the character of Elizabeth Bennet as the main
character of the novel through her actions, speech, the author’s comment, and from
opinion of other character. The next discussion is the analysis of Jane Austen’s
criticism on marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century England through the
main character, Elizabeth Bennet.
4.1. The Analysis of the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet.
The character analysis of Elizabeth Bennet will be divided into three parts; they
are social, physical and psychological character.
4.1.1. Social Character
Elizabeth Bennet is the second of the five daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.
She is an upper middle class girl. Elizabeth is the most logical and intelligent of the
five Bennet sisters, and that makes her become her father’s favorite and the lovely
daughter of him. Her father has a positive value about her personality which he
considers different from her sisters’. He says that:“…they are all silly and ignorant
She has a great affection for her eldest sister, Jane, particularly related with
her feeling toward Mr. Bingley. She also cares about her younger sister, Lydia, and
her close friend, Charlotte Lucas. Elizabeth must confront her society’s
class-consciousness, especially with her family’s growing relationship with the wellborn
Bingleys and their friends, Mr. Darcy, and also Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
One reason why Elizabeth proves to be a very interesting character is her
close friendship with her older sister, Jane. Due to their constant contact, they are
able to tell each other’s moods with great ease, especially Elizabeth. When Jane
returns from seeing Bingley, Elizabeth instantly reads her feeling, so it means that
they spend a lot of time in each other’s company.
Elizabeth obviously cares deeply about Jane, because when the later becomes
ill while at Netherfield, Elizabeth takes it upon herself to walk three miles through the
mud to visit Jane:
“I shall be very fit to see Jane – which is all I want.”
“Is this a hint to me Lizzy,” said her father, “to send for the horses?”
“No, indeed. I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing, when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner” (31).
She mostly stays by Jane’s bedside during the visit, preferring her company to
the superciliousness of Miss Bingley and Hurst. Jane becomes very fond of Mr.
Bingley and she is quite upset when she hears of his departure. It is only Elizabeth
4.1.2. Physical Character
There is no physical appearance of Elizabeth Bennet which is directly
described by the author. Jane Austen gives the physical description of Elizabeth
Bennet mostly from opinion of other character, such as her mother, Mr. Bingley, and
Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth Bennet is described as a beautiful woman with her intelligent face
and attractive manners; but not for her mother. According to her mother, Elizabeth is
not so pretty as her sister, Jane. It can be seen from her mother comment on her: “….
Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half as handsome as
Jane, nor half so good humored as Lydia.”…(5). Although Elizabeth is not as pretty
as Jane, she becomes her father’s number one daughter because of her thought and
intelligence.
For Mr. Fitzwilliam, a wealthy gentleman, the master of Pemberley, and the
nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Elizabeth is not quite pretty to attract him, but
not for Bingley. He considers that Elizabeth is pretty too and probably very
agreeable. It can be seen in their conversation when Mr. Bingley offers his help to
introduce his friend, Darcy, to Elizabeth:
“…! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you”.
Though Darcy is intelligent and honest, his excess of pride causes him to look
down on his social inferiors. But after several meetings, Elizabeth becomes an object
of Mr. Darcy’s interest. He begins to admire her. It can be seen through what he
thinks about Elizabeth:
Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticize. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friend that she had hardly a good feature in her face, that he began to find it what rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. Though he had detected with a critical eye more that one failure of perfect symmetry in pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness (22).
On the surface, Elizabeth is just ordinary but she possesses qualities which
make her attractive in a traditional way. Elizabeth is not a fashionable woman and not
as beautiful as Jane but Darcy shows his interest with her especially because her
expressive eyes: “I have been mediating on the very great pleasure which a pair of
fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow” (26). He loves Elizabeth not
because of her physical appearance but because of her intelligence. She has attractive
manners and she shows her strong character. She is endowed with certain graces and
talent, but not unusually gifted; she is appealing without being exquisite.
4.1.3. Psychological Character
There are some psychological characters that can be found in Elizabeth
opinion of other characters, she is described as an intelligent woman, outspoken and
determined person.
Intelligent
Elizabeth is the most intelligent and quick-witted in the Bennet family.
Elizabeth realizes that she must take responsibility for her own education because she
can not look to either of her parents for advice, and she must ultimately depend on
her own experience, instincts, and judgments. In the course of the conversation
between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth, we also learn more about the neglectfulness
of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in fulfilling their duties as parents:
“No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without governess! – I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.”
…
“Then who taught you? Who attended to you? Without governess you must have been neglected.”
“Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wishes to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encourage to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle certainly might” (162-3).
Although Lady Catherine is quite rude in her manner of criticism, it is true
that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet took no care to see that her daughters received a good
education. While this lack of support from their parents seems to have been overcome
by the diligence and self-motivation of Jane and Elizabeth, it seems doubtful that the
Elizabeth sometimes has a right view about people. For example, she
painfully recognizes the inappropriate behavior of most of her family, particularly her
youngest sister, Lidya, who has eloped with Mr. Wickham. She already tells her
father about her fear but her father ignores it. Elizabeth’s intelligence is revealed in
her manner, her way of thinking and how she speaks to other characters. When Lady
Catherine criticizes Elizabeth over her piano playing, she listens with all the
forbearance of civility. Also, when Darcy proposed to her for the first time, she was
able to conjure up a polite refusal of his impolite offer. Elizabeth demonstrates that
she has great restrain even under tremendous pressure.
Outspoken
This character makes Elizabeth more interesting. She likes to be honest about
everything. But sometimes her sharp tongue and tendency to make hasty judgments
often lead her astray. It can be seen when she refuses Mr. Darcy marriage proposal
because she is very angry when she knows that Mr. Darcy is the man who destroys
the happiness of her sister, Jane:
This character also appears when Collins’ family and Elizabeth were invited
by Lady Catherine to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. In that meeting
Lady Catherine tries to find out the background of Elizabeth family. It can be seen as
follow:
“ – The younger ones out before the elder are married! – Your younger sisters must be very young?”
“Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really, ma’am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. – The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! – I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind.”
…
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence” (163-4).
Determined
Elizabeth has her own opinion about marriage. She is not such a woman who
wants to get married only for financial reason. Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collin’s marriage
proposal though he will inherit the Longbourn. She thinks that marriage is not the
only honorable provision for a well-educated woman without wealth, but not for
Charlotte Lucas, her friend. In the beginning, she has the same view with Elizabeth
concern with marriage, but when she accepts Mr. Collin’s proposal she violates her
principle, integrity and throws away her talents by marrying Mr. Collins, a conceited,
ever sacrifice her intelligence and good sense to material comfort. She considered
that it was humiliating. It can be seen from what Elizabeth thinks about Charlotte :
She always felt that Charlotte’s opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when call into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating pictures! – And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen (122).
Elizabeth Bennet’s most interesting characteristic is her independence and
self-sufficiency that finally have made Darcy fall in love with her. She acts decisively
by giving her firm opinion. Her opinion and act show her determination and firmness.
It can be seen from her discussion with Darcy about pride, as follow:
“I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without it disguise.”
…
“And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody” (54-5).
She never changes her mind even in the great emotional pressure. She is so
quite and calm, stands up to Mr. Bennet over Collins’ proposal. It can be seen from
her rejection of Mr. Collins’ proposal, as follow:
“You are too hasty, Sir,” she cried. “You forgot that I have made no answer. Let me do it without further loss of time. Accept my thanks for the compliment you are paying me. I am sensible of the honor of your proposal, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise that decline them” (103).
And also from:
forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me as elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart” (105).
From this, we can see that Jane Austen has managed to create her ideal woman
in Elizabeth. Her strength and intelligence are qualities that make her become
respectable and admirable to any man and woman, but the fact that she possesses a
softer, feminine side makes her genuinely attractive in the eyes of the reader, and
helps us to have better appreciation on her other qualities. This ideal woman can
decide the motivation of marriage based on a harmonious balance between reason and
emotion. With these attributes, we can say that such a character is the finest product
of her civilization.
4.2. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet.
Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen to share her attitudes on the
importance of marriage. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in
possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (3). The first sentence of the
novel Pride and Prejudice highlights the importance of marriage within the world of
the novel. The sentence suggests that the sole purpose of marriage was to increase the
characters social and financial ranking. The character of Elizabeth Bennet does not fit
Elizabeth Bennet is a literary device used by Jane Austen to represent her values
and attitudes on the important of marrying for love. Elizabeth is a free-spirited
individual who differs substantially from the other female characters of the novel.
Elizabeth refuses to be wed to a man to whom she does not love. Elizabeth, although
often guilty of prejudice attitudes, always acknowledges and learns from her
mistakes.
Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collin’s marriage proposal was revolutionary
landmark in the context of the novel. Mr. Collins was socially desirable; he would
provide Elizabeth a home, respectability and long term stability for the Bennet
family. However, on a personal level, Elizabeth realizes that she could never love
such a man. The marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth reveals the characteristics
which constitutes a successful marriage. One of these characteristics is that love
cannot be brought on by appearance, and must gradually develop between the two
people as they get to know one another. Mr. Darcy was not directly attracted to
Elizabeth and yet when he learns her true personality he admits that. From Darcy not
being directly tempted by Elizabeth, he grows so passionate for her that he believes
his love is strong enough to spend the rest of his life with her. This proves that he
does not love her for his physical desires toward her but instead, he loves her
personality. The relationship between the two characters reveals Austen’s values on
love not being centered around beauty or immediate attraction but rather, knowing
are among the few characters within the novel who marry for love. They are also
among the few characters who find happiness. Austen represented her beliefs on the
importance of marrying for love through Darcy and Elizabeth.
The criticism on marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century England in
this novel can be seen from Elizabeth Bennet’s view on marriage motivation in her
society and Jane Austen’s view toward the reason of marriage in her society and
toward materialism, education and love because those are some aspects that have
relationship with marriage motivation in early nineteenth century of England.
4.2.1. Elizabeth Bennet’s View on Marriage Motivation in her Society
The real emphasis in the novel and in the society of the early nineteenth
century is the need for young women to find a husband in the possession of a good
fortune. The purely economic, utilitarian motive for marriage will come under attack
in the novel, as will, implicitly, the societal constrains which leave many women with
little choice but to marry for the sake of economical survival.
Elizabeth is fully aware of the limited prospects of her family, deferential to
the accepted customs and behavior of the day, and respectful of the social hierarchy,
but not limited by these constrains in her thoughts, feelings, values or behavior.
Socially her highest prospect is to marry a reasonably handsome, financially
comfortable gentleman’s son for whom she can feel some measure of respect,
not money. Money also had little importance for her as an incentive for marriage. For
various reasons Elizabeth and her four sisters operate under a considerable disability
on the marriage market. Elizabeth’s intention is to remain true to her best self by
being guided by her heart and by her good sense. In choosing a husband, she will
remain true to her feeling and her considerable intelligence.
Early in the novel, Elizabeth meets two attractive, eligible young men and
forms an immediate opinion of each, based on their response to her. Fitzwilliam
Darcy, an enormously wealthy feudal lord, offends Elizabeth at the ball by making a
rather disparaging remark about her appearance to his friend in her hearing. It can be
seen as follow:
…, he looked for moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to temp me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men” …(12).
Elizabeth heartily dislikes him and his aloof manner and class-based pride.
She also thinks, not unreasonably, that he dislikes her. This opinion is so firmly
rooted that she fails to notice when his attitude towards her begins to change. Her
prejudice blinds her to the reality of his developing passion for her. The other hand,
Elizabeth is very much attracted to George Wickham, a charming, handsome young
man, who at social gatherings singles Elizabeth out among all the young women who
friendly, open manner. She even wonders if she is falling in love with him. It can be
seen as follow:
The gentlemen did approach; and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of reasonable admiration.
…
Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, ... ( 74).
Her favorable first impression (prejudice) causes her to make excuses for
certain behavior on his part that might be considered questionable. Part of education
of Elizabeth’s feelings comes from learning just how blind she has been to
Wickham’s real character. After the explanation from Mr. Darcy through his letter for
her, it turns out that he is a completely immoral, mercenary, irresponsible and
dishonest scoundrel.
Elizabeth’s first marriage proposal comes from Mr. Collins, who is a
completely fool. It is appropriate for Mr. Collins to marry and that he wants to marry
one of the Miss Bennets in order to lessen the difficulty of the entailment of the
estate. It can be seen in his statement below:
Mr. Collins’ proposal was refused by Elizabeth because beside she does not
love him; Elizabeth thought his proposal itself is delivered in such a way that it seems
more appropriate for a business deal than for a declaration of love. She does not
think that marriage was the only honorable provision for well-educated woman. It can
be seen from Elizabeth’s statement: “…. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. – You
could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world
who would make you so” (104).
Mr. Collins came to town to buy a wife. When Elizabeth refuses him, he goes
next door, where Charlotte, who is quite intelligent, but not very pretty or lively,
takes the one chance she has for marriage. Although Elizabeth and Charlotte are very
close, they have different view about marriage. It can be seen from Charlotte view
about marriage:
“…. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life” (22).
Elizabeth simply laughs at Charlotte’s comments and tells her: “You make me
laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would
never act in this way yourself” (22). Elizabeth’s judgment about Charlotte is wrong.
Charlotte accepts Mr. Collins’ marriage proposal. Elizabeth is very unhappy about
By marrying Mr. Collins, a conceited, narrow-minded and pompous fool man, she
throws away her talents. She had not thought that her friend would ever sacrifice her
intelligence and good sense to material comfort. It can be seen from Elizabeth’s
reflection:
She always felt that Charlotte’s opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Colins, was a most humiliating picture! (122).
Darcy and Elizabeth are amongst the few characters within the novel that
finally marry for love. Darcy’s first marriage proposal was refused by Elizabeth.
Darcy thinks his proposal to her will be accepted because of their relative positions
and fortunes but he is wrong because Elizabeth is never interested in Darcy’s social
status or his wealth. She has some reasons to do refusal. First, the arrogant manner of
his proposal; second, his actions to separate Bingley and Jane; and third, is his actions
toward Wickham. It can be seen as follow:
“ From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manner, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feeling of others, were such as to form that groundwork of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry” (190).
After the refusal, Darcy tries to explain, through a letter, what is actually
