論《傲慢與偏見》婚姻價值取向

[摘要]簡·奧斯丁的《傲慢與偏見》寫于1813年，一直以來很受歡迎，并被廣泛閱讀。特定的歷史時代決定了那個時候的人們對金錢特別看重，影響波及婚姻觀念。在這篇文章里面，書中大部分人物的婚姻選擇都用來作為典型，證實金錢體現他們的婚姻價值取向。

[關鍵詞]傲慢與偏見，金錢，婚姻價值取向，婚姻觀

[Abstract]PrideandprejudiceisaverypopularnovelwrittenbyJaneAustenanditisreadwidelyallovertheworld.Itwaswrittenin1813.Thatspecifichistorytimedecidedthatpeopleatthattimetookmoneymuchmoreseriously,evenontheirmarriage.Inthispaper,themarriagecasesofmostcharactersinthebookweretakenastypicaltoanalyzehowmoneyinfluencedtheirmatrimonialvalueorientation.

[Keywords]Prideandprejudice,money,matrimonialvalueorientation,marriage

Introduction

PrideandPrejudiceisthemostenduringlypopularnovelwrittenbyJaneAusten.Ittalksabouttrivialmattersoflove,marriageandfamilylifebetweencountrysquiresandfairladiesinBritaininthe18thcentury.Theplotisverysimple.Thatishowtheyoungladieschoosetheirhusbands.Someonesaidthat“ElizabethBennet,theprotagonistofthenovel,flatlyrejectedWilliamCollins’proposal,whoistheheirofherfather’spropertyandmanor,andrefusedthefirstproposalfromtheextremelywealthynoblemanFitzwilliamDarcylater,”(1)allthismakesitclearthatElizabeth“seeksnofamenorfortune,butself-improvementandhighmentaloutlook.”(1)It’sright.FromtheviewpointofAusten,Elizabeth’smarriage,whofinallymarriesDarcy,aswellasJane-Bingley’s,composingmoneyandlove,istheidealmarriagepeopleshouldafter.Butinothermarriagecasesinthisnovel,wecanseethatifmoneyandlovecan’tbeheldtogetherinonemarriage,lovewouldalwaysmakeaconcessiontomoneybecauseofthespecialsocialbackground.Afterreadingthroughthewholebook,wewillfindthatmoneyactsasthecauseofeachplotandtheclueofitsdevelopment.Itaffectseverybody’swordsanddeeds,evenElizabethBennet.TonyTanneroncesaid,“JaneAusten,aswellasotherauthors,isveryclearthatnofeelingcouldbeextremelypureandnomotivecouldbedefinitelysingle.Butaslongasitispossible,weshouldmakeitclearthatwhichfeelingormotiveplaystheleadingrole.”(2)

SocialBackground

ThestoryofPrideandPrejudicetookplaceinthetimeoftheRegencyinBritain.Atthattime,BritainwasattheperiodoftransitionfromtheearlierstageofCapitalismtoCapitalistIndustrialization.Inthecountryside,thearistocraticfamilystillheldgreatpowerandrightthatcountrysquireswerelikelytofawnuponthem.However,asthedevelopmentofCapitalismandtheexpandoftherankofrichpeople,thedistinctionbetweensocialstratawasbecomingsmallerandsmaller,whilemoneywasgettingmoreandmoreimportantinpeople’smindaboutsocialvalue.Awesternliteraturecriticoncesaidthat“evenDavidRicardo(aBritisheconomist)hadaunlikelyclearerunderstandingaboutthefunctionofmoneyindailylifeasJaneAustenhad.”(3)Itisexactlybecauseofthesecurepledgeinfinancethatthecountrysquiresocietycouldbeexistingstronglyandsolidly.

Thefirstsentenceofthewholenovelproclaims,“Itisatruthuniversallyacknowledged,thatasinglemaninpossessionofagoodfortunemustbeinwantofawife.”(4)Here,“agoodfortune”and“inwantof”aretwokeyphrases.“inwantof”meansitisneededobjectively,butnotsubjectively.Suchkindofwordingmakesthepropositionhavemoreobjectivityof“truth”.InPrideandPrejudice,theBennetsaretakenasthetypicaltotestthe“truthuniversallyacknowledged”.

Mr.andMrs.Bennethavefivedaughters,livingatLongbourn.Mr.Bennet’spropertyconsistsalmostentirelyinanestateoftwothousandpoundsayear,which,unfortunatelyforhisdaughters,isentailed,indefaultofheirsmale,onadistantrelation.Thatmeanstherewillbenootherguaranteefortheirdaughters’futurelives,buttheirperspectivemarriages.Therefore,itisnowonderthatMrs.BennettakesMr.Bingleyas“therightfulproperty”(5)fortheirdaughterswhenshehearsaboutthathehasonehundredthousandpoundsproperty,thoughshehasnotevenseenhim–“Asinglemanoflargefortune;fourorfivethousandayear.Whatafinethingforourgirls!”(6)Thatisthebeginningofthenovel.Theimplicitmarriagementionedhereobviouslyconcernsnofeelingbutonlyfinancialconditionandsubsistence.Tothosehusband-huntingladies,Mr.Bingleyisanabstractsignal.Themostimportantthingisthathehas“agoodfortune”.Sowecansay,tooppositewiththeproclamationatthebeginning,so-called“asinglemaninpossessionofagoodfortunemustbeinwantofawife”isnotatall“atruthuniversallyacknowledged”,butonlyMrs.Bennet’sownwishfulthinking.Wecanalsosaythat,asZhuHongpointedout,inPrideandprejudice,thereal“truthuniversallyacknowledged”is“awomanwithoutpropertymustbeinwantofahusbandwithagoodfortune.”(7)

WefirstseeMr.Darcyattheball,“Hesoondrewtheattentionoftheroombyhisfine,tallperson,handsomefeatures,noblemien,andthereportwhichwasingeneralcirculationwithinfiveminutesafterhisentrance,ofhishavingtenthousanda-year.”(8)

NextistheintroductionaboutMr.Bingleyandhistwosisters.

“Theywereinfactveryfineladies;notdeficientingoodhumorwhentheypleased,norinpowerofbeingagreeablewhentheychoseit,butproudandconceited.Theywereveryhandsome,hadbeeneducatedinoneofthefirstprivateseminariesintown,hadafortuneoftwentythousandpounds,wereinthehabitofspendingmorethantheyought,andofassociatingwithpeopleofrank,andwerethereforeineveryrespectentitledtothinkwellofthemselves,andmeanlyofothers.TheywereofarespectablefamilythenorthofEngland;acircumstancesmoredeeplyimpressedontheirmemoriesthanthattheirbrother’sfortuneandtheirownhadbeenacquiredbytrade.

Mr.Bingleyinheritedpropertytotheamountofnearlyanhundredthousandpoundsfromhisfather,whohadintendedtopurchaseanestate,butdidnotlivetoit.Mr.Bingleyintendeditlikewise,andsometimesmadechoiceofhiscounty;butashewasnowprovidedwithagoodhouseandthelibertyofamanor,itwasdoubtfultomanyofthosewhobestknewtheeasinessofhistemper,whetherhemightnotspendtheremainderofhisdaysatNetherfield,andleavethenextgenerationtopurchase.”(9)

ThenarrationabovedescribestheBritishcountrysquires’life-picturefromoneaspect.Theyhaveenoughmoneyforloafing,andtheseloaferscanaffordbigorsmallresidencewithservantsfororderingabout.Theytakefamilybackgroundseriously,whichisthemostimportantfactortoearnothers’respect,onthebasisoffortuneandgood-breeding.Atthesametime,theywillnottracetoitssources.Inshort,theredoesexiststricthierarchy,whichisclassifiedaccordingtothefamilyandtraditionfromthesurface,butthefinancialincomeactually.Thosewhohavethehighestincomewillbeinthehighestsocialposition,owninglargeresidenceandparks,havingthenicestfurnitureandthemostpreciouspaintings,andthebeststreamsforfishing.Themoneyearnedbytradingisdespised,butitwillbesoonforgottenaftergenerations.However,toavoidbeinglookeddownupon,thegenerationatpresentwillalwaysemploysuchkindofclevermethod:givingupbusinessdealingorprofessionandgoingtocountrysidetosettledownthennobodywillknowtheirpast.

FromaneighboroftheBennets,wecangettoknowhowsuchsocialprocessbegins:

“SirWilliamLucashadbeenformerlyintradeinMeryton,wherehehadmadeatolerablefortune,andrisentothehonorofknighthoodbyanaddresstotheking,duringhismayoralty.Thedistinctionhadperhapsbeenfelttoostrongly.Ithadgivenhimadisgusttohisbusiness,andtohisresidenceinasmallmarkettown;and,quittingthemboth,hehadremovedwithhisfamilytoahouseaboutamilefromMeryton,denominatedfromtheperiodLucasLodge,wherehecouldthinkwithpleasureofhisownimportance,andunshackledbybusiness,occupyhimselfsolelyinbeingciviltoalltheworld.”(10)

Thenwhatattitudedoestheserichcountrysquiresholdtothelow-classpeoplesurroundingthem?Let’slookatanotherparagraphofdescriptionaboutLadyCatherinedeBourgh:

“Elizabethsoonperceived,thatthoughthisgreatladywasnotinthecommissionofthepeaceforthecounty,shewasamostactivemagistrateinherownparish,theminutestconcernsofwhichwerecarriedtoherbyMr.Collins;andwheneveranyofthecottagersweredisposedtobequarrelsome,discontented,ortoopoor,shesalliedforthintothevillagetosettletheirdifferences,silencetheircomplaints,andscoldthemintoharmonyandplenty.”(11)

LadyCatherinedeBourghisamodelofherrank,arrogantandconceited.Hermannerstotheinferiorsaredictatorialandinsolent.Shehasthereputationofbeingremarkablysensibleandclever.Butallthis,togetherwithherabilityofadministratingthecounty,derivesfromherrankandfortune.Thatistosay,goodfameandexceedingpowerwouldcertainlycometoapersonaslongashe/shehasmoneyandisinhighsocialposition.

Thegreatimpactofmoneyonmarriage

InPrideandPrejudice,wecanalwaysseecountrysquires’leisurelylifewithcalls,walks,picnics,conversations,parties,ballsandmarriages.Butseeingthroughthesurface,thereisaworldofstrugglingforexistencedeterminedbyeconomicbase.Thewholebookisfilledwithdigit.Mr.Bennet’spropertyconsistsalmostentirelyinanestateoftwothousandpoundsayear.Mrs.Bennet’sfather...leavesherfourthousandpounds.Eachoftheirfivedaughterscangetonethousandpoundsinthe4percentsaftertheirmotherdies.Mr.Bingleyinheritspropertytotheamountofnearlyanhundredthousandspoundsfromhisfatherandhehasfourorfivethousandayear.MissBingleyhasafortuneoftwentythousandpounds.Mr.Darcyhastenthousandpoundsayearwhilehissister,Georgianahasapropertyofthirtythousandpounds.WickhamwantstogettenthousandfromDarcy,otherwisehewillnotmarryLydiaeventhoughtheyareinelopement.ColonelFitzwilliam,Darcy’scousin,wouldliketomarryawomanwhoshouldhaveapropertyofatleastfiftythousandpounds,sincehehasnoinheritanceasayoungersonofanearl.Mr.Collinsclaimsthathemustmakesuchanagreementfortithesasmaybebeneficialtohimselfandnotoffensivetohispatron.Eventhechimney-pieceinoneofLadyCatherine’sdrawingroomscostseighthundredpounds.Ofcourse,theveryonethingthatcannotbeforgottentomentionisthattheestateentailofMr.Bennet,whichmakesMrs.Bennetbeextremeobsession.AnditistheexactthingthatdecidesthefateoftheirfivedaughtersandthenthestoryofPrideandprejudiceoccurs.Uponthewhole,nomarriagethatinvolvesnomoney.

Exceptthedetaileddigitofmoney,thereisanotherfactorwhichhasagreatinfluenceonmarriage.Thatissocialpositiondeterminedbyeconomiccondition.Inthestory,theBennetshavesomelowconnections.Theyhaveoneuncle,Mr.Phillips,beinganattorneyinMeryton,andanotherone,Mr.Gardiner,settlinginLondoninarespectablelineoftrade.Asforthis,MissBingleyalwaysmakesfunoftheBennets,andMr.Darcyoncesaysfranklythat“itmustverymateriallylessentheirchanceofmarryingmenofanyconsiderationintheworld.”(12)

Tomakeitclearthatmoneyisveryimportantinthemarriageconventionofsuchkindofsociety,Mr.Collins’wordsafterElizabethrefusinghisproposalcanbetakenasproof.“…Itdoesnotappeartomethatmyhandisunworthyyouracceptance,orthatestablishmentIcanofferwouldbeanyotherthanhighlydesirable.Mysituationinlife,myconnectionswiththefamilyofdeBourgh,andmyrelationshiptoyourown,arecircumstanceshighlyinmyfavor;andyoushouldtakeitintofurtherconsideration,thatinspiteofyourmanifoldattractions,itisbynomeanscertainthatanotheroffertomarriagemayeverbemadeyou,yourportionisunhappilysosmall,thatitwillinalllikelihoodundotheeffectsofyourlovelinessandamiablequalifications.”(13)

Mr.Collinsisnotasensibleman,andthedeficiencyofNaturehasbeenbutlittleassistedbyeducationorsociety.Thesubjectioninwhichhisfatherbroughthimuphasgivenhimoriginallygreathumilityofmanner;butitisagreatdealcounteractedbytheself-conceitofaweakhead,livinginretirement,andtheconsequentfeelingsofearlyandunexpectedprosperity.TherespectwhichhefeelsforLadyCatherine’shighrank,andhisvenerationforherashispatroness,minglingwithaverygoodopinionofhimself,ofhisauthorityasaclergyman,andhisrightasarector,makeshimaltogetheramixtureofprideandobsequiousness,self-importanceandhumility.HisintentionofchoosingElizabethashiswifeishisplanofamends--ofatonement–forinheritingtheirfather’sestate;andhethinksitanexcellentone,fullofeligibilityandsuitableness,andexcessivelygenerousanddisinterestedonhisownpart.SohetakesitforgrantedthatElizabethwillaccepthisproposalcheerfullyandreadily.ThoughElizabethrejectshimforhisincompletecharacter,itstillcantellusthelowsocial-statusoftheBritishwomenatthatperiodoftime.Theonlythingayoungladywithoutpropertycoulddoistomarryingamanwithagoodfortune.

TakethemarriagecaseofLucas-Collinsforanotherexample.MissLucasisElizabeth’sclosestfriend.Sheisasensible,intelligentyoungwoman,knowingitveryclearlythat“Mr.Collins,tobesure,wasneithersensiblenoragreeable;hissocietywasirksome,andhisattachmenttohermustbeimaginary.Butstillhewouldbeherhusband.Withoutthinkinghighlyeitherofmenorofmatrimony,marriagehadalwaysbeenherobject;itwastheonlyhonorableprovisionforwell-educatedyoungwomenofsmallfortune,andhoweveruncertainofgivinghappiness,mustbetheirpleasantestpreservativefromwant.”(14)

SuchhumorousandpiercingdescriptionportraysthementalityofLucas-likewomendeeplyandalsotheirfatethatthereisnootherwaythatcanimprovetheirownpositioninfinanceandsocietyexceptmarryingahusbandwithagoodfortune.ElizabethgoestoParsonagetovisitthembytheinvitationofMissLucasaftertheygettingmarried,andfinds:

“Herhomeandherhousekeeping,herparishandherpoultry,andalltheirdependentconcerns,hadnotyetlosttheircharms.”(15)“WhenMr.Collinscouldbeforgotten,therewasreallyagreatairofcomfortthroughout…”(16)

Itisinterestingthat,insuchmarriagebasedonsoleandnakedmoney-transaction,thewomanwithoutpropertydoesmarryasinglemanwithagoodfortune,butthehusbandhimselfhasnothingtodowiththeenjoymentthemarriagebringingtoher.Isnotitanexcellentironytothepropositionatthebeginningofthenovelthe“truthuniversallyacknowledged”?

Wickham-LydiaScandalcanbetakenasanotherinstancetoillustratethatmoneyisofoverwhelmingimportanceinmarriage.Wickhamisveryhandsomeandcharmingfromhisappearance,butactuallydemoralizes.Heisextravagantandalwaysgreatlyindebtsofhonor.Lydia,farmoredifferentfromhertwoeldersisters,isvain,ignorant,idleandabsolutelyuncontrolled.Moreover,sheindulgesherselfinflirtationwithofficers.TheyelopefromBrightonwithoutanyengagementandarefoundoutinLondonfinally.Thoughundersuchcircumstances,WickhamhasnointentionatalltomarryLydia,butforDarcy’shelpinsecret:

“Mr.Darcyaskedhimwhyhehadnotmarriedyoursisteratonce?ThoughMr.Bennetwasnotimaginedtobeveryrich,hewouldhavebeenabletodosomethingforhim,andhissituationmusthavebeenbenefitedbymarriage.Buthefound,inreplytothisquestion,thatWickhamstillcherishthehopeofmoreeffectuallymakinghisfortunebymarriageinsomeothercounty.Undersuchcircumstances,however,hewasnotlikelytobeproofagainstthetemptationofimmediaterelief.

Theymetseveraltimes,fortherewasmuchtobediscussed.Wickham,ofcourse,wantedmorethanhecouldget,butatlengthwasreducedtobereasonable.”(17)

Wickham’smarryingLydiafinallycalmsdownthedissatisfactioninthesociety,andforthat,Mrs.Bennetisingreatjoy.

Inmarriage,moneyisconsideredasthefactorofextremeimportance,notonlytodaughters,butalsotoyoungersons.Let’shaveacloselookattheconversationbetweentherespectableColonelFitzwilliamandElizabeth:

“…Now,seriously,whathaveyoueverknownofself-denialanddependence?Whenhaveyoubeenpreventedbywantofmoneyfromgoingwhereveryouchose,orprocuringanythingyouhadafancyfor?”

“Thesearehomequestions—andperhapsIcannotsaythatIhaveexperiencedmanyhardshipsofthatnature.Butinmattersofgreaterweight,Imaysufferfromthewantofmoney.Youngersonscannotmarrywheretheylike.”

“Unlesswheretheylikewomenoffortune,whichIthinktheyveryoftendo.”

“Ourhabitsofexpensemakeustoodependent,andtherearenotmanyinmyrankoflifewhocanaffordtomarrywithoutsomeattentiontomoney.”(18)

Nowlet’sturntotheprotagonistofthenovel,ElizabethBennets.Sheisintelligent,vivacious,humorous,perceptiveandquick-witted,andshehasastrongsenseofpersonalityanddignity.Shedespiseshermother’sdreadfulmentalityandunbearablyvulgarandalsoheryoungersisters’flirtatiousnessanddissoluteness,butisneverashamedofheramiableuncleandaunt,Mr.andMrs.Gardinerjustbecauseoftheirprofessionasmerchants.ShefirmlyrefusesMr.Collins’proposal,againsthermother’sexpectation,becauseshedoesnotandwillneverlovehim,anddeclinesMr.Darcyresolutely,forhisexpressinghislovetoherarrogantlyandimpertinently.ShedoesnotknuckleunderthesnobbishMissBingley,andisneitheroverbearingnorcringingtoMrs.deBourghandherdomineeringness.WhenthelattershowsherintentiontointerveneherfreedomofmarryingDarcyornot,shetakesondiamond-cut-diamondandnevercompromised.ShefinallymarriesDarcyandhermarriageisconsideredasanidealone,foritconsistsofmoneyandlove.LeavingasidehertrueloveforDarcy,then,whatroledoesmoneyplayinherprocessofchasingaftermarriage?

SheonceholdsgoodfeelingsonWickham,consideringhimtobethemostagreeablemanshehasevermet.Butmeanwhile,shethinksitistooimprudenttofallinlovewithhim.Sheoncesaystoheraunt,Mrs.Gardiner,

“Iwilltakecareofmyself,andofMr.Wickhamtoo.Heshallnotbeinlovewithme,ifIcanpreventit.”(19)

SowhenWickhamgetsengagedwithMissKingforherten-thousand-poundproperty,shedoesnotfeelalittlebitsadbutfree.Hertwoyoungersisters,KittyandLydiaareresentfulabouthim,butshethinks“Theyareyounginthewaysoftheworld,andnotyetopentothemortifyingconvictionthathandsomeyoungmenmusthavesomethingtoliveonaswellastheplain.”(20)

WhenMrs.GardinerexpressesherideaaboutWickham’sdesertionlater,Elizabethsays,

“Pray,mydearaunt,whatisthedifferenceinmatrimonialaffairs,betweenthemercenaryandtheprudentmotive?Wheredoesdiscretionend,andavaricebegin?”(21)

Here,AustenbringsupacomplicatedproblemfordiscussionthroughElizabeth—Howshallwequantifytheratiobetweenmoneyandloveinamarriage?ElizabethcouldnotacceptCollinsbecausetherecouldbenopossibilityoflovebetweenthem,norWickhamsincehehasnoproperty.(ThoughWickhamisshortofnotonlymoneybutalsomoral,shedoesnotknowituntilthelatterpartofthestory.)Darcy’sprideandherprejudiceagainsthimmakesherrefusehisfirstofferofmarriage,butlateron,shefeelsregretfulforherownbiasandrashness.Thereisafaintpityinherpainfulself-condemnandcomplexfeelings.WhensheseesDarcy’sPemberleyPark,herfeelingchanges,

“Shehadneverseenaplaceforwhichnaturehaddonemore,orwherenaturalbeautyhadbeensolittlecounteractedbyanawkwardtaste.”Andatthatmoment,“ShefeltthattobemistressofPemberleymightbesomething!”(22)

Apparentlythereissortofpleasantsensationaboutsubstancebasedonmoneysubconsciously.However,suchkindofpursuitseemstobenaturalandreasonableaccompanyingwithhereleganttemperament.Elizabethrejectsapride“Darcy”,butacceptsaperfect-going“Darcy”.AftersheconfessesherloveforDarcyandtheirengagementtohereldersister,JaneasksherhowlongshehaslovedMr.Darcyandsheanswers,“ImustdateitfrommyfirstseeinghisbeautifulgroundsatPemberley….”(23)Thoughsheisjoking,wecanseepartofherfeelingofpursuingmoney.

InPrideandPrejudice,therearealsosomedescriptionaboutotherpeople’sdifferentopiniononmoneyandmarriage.Forinstance,LadyCatherinewantsherdaughterAnnetomarryhernephew,Mr.Darcy,tomakeaunionofthetwoestates,andshebelievesitisDarcy’sdutyandresponsibility.MissBingley,whohasafortuneoftwentythousandpoundsandisinthehabitofspendingmorethansheought,andofassociatingwithpeopleofrank,showshergreatinteresttoMr.Darcy,whohastenthousandayear.ShealsosparesnoefforttopreventtheloveaffairbetweenMr.Bingley,herbrotherandJaneBennet,Elizabeth’seldersister,andhopesthatherbrothercanmarryGeorgiana,Darcy’ssister.Onlythiscanenhancehisfortuneandsocialposition,andalsothepossibilityofherherselfmarryingMr.Darcy.ColonelFitzwilliam,Darcy’scousin,isayoungersonofanearl,caninheritneitherpropertynorofficialtitle.HeacknowledgestoElizabeththathishabitofexpensemakeshimtoodependentandhecannotaffordtomarrywithoutsomeattentiontomoney.HealsosaysthatonlyDarcycanbeoutoftherestraintofmoneytochoosefreelyonmarriage.

FromthepartofMr.Darcy,thoughheneednotmarryaladywithpropertysinceheisingreatwealth,hedoesexperiencelong-timeandfiercestruggleintheprocessofacceptanceofElizabethforhersocialpositionandlowconnections.

“Hereallybelieved,thatwereitnotfortheinferiorityofher(Elizabeth)connections,heshouldbeinsomedanger.”(24)

“HebegantofeelthedangerofpayingElizabethtoomuchattention.”(25)

“Sheattractedhimmorethanheliked…Hewiselyresolvedtobeparticularlycarefulthatnosignofadmirationshouldnowescapehim,nothingthatcouldelevateherwiththehopeofinfluencinghisfelicity;…thoughtheywereatonetimeleftbythemselvesforhalf-an-hour,headheremostconscientiouslytohisbook,andwouldnotevenlookather.”(26)

Mr.Darcygrowsupinastrongawarenessofrankandpowerfromhisverychildhood,whichmakeshimprideandconceited.WhenhecomestoLongbourn,thepersonsthereandthemannerstheytakearefardifferentfromwhatheisfamiliarwith.Thoughtherearesomanypleasantgirls,“thereisnotanotherwomanintheroomwhomitwouldnotbeapunishmenttometostandupwith.”(27)EvenwhenheproposestoElizabethforhisdeeplove(“InvainhaveIstruggled.Itwillnotdo.Myfeelingwillnotberepressed.YoumustallowmetotellyouhowardentlyIadmireandloveyou.”(28)),hissenseofherinferiority–ofitsbeingadegradation–ofthefamilyobstacleswhichjudgmenthasalwaysopposedtoinclination,aredweltonwithawarmthwhichseemsduetotheconsequenceheiswounding.

“IwasinmiddlebeforeIknewIhadbegun.”(29)Obviously,heoncetriestotakebackhisfeelingwhenhefindsheisinlovewithElizabethandhasastrongconflictbetweensenseandsensibilityinhisheart.

SuchsensehasadirectresponsibilityforhisputtingobstaclesintheunevenmarriageofBingleyandJane.

“…he(Darcy)congratulatedhimselfonhavinglatelysavedafriendfromtheinconveniencesofamostimprudentmarriage”because“thereweresomeverystrongobjectionsagainstthelady”(30)andthesestrongobjectionsare,“herhavingoneunclewhowasacountryattorney,andanotherwhowasinbusinessinLondon.”(31)Nowitcomestothepoint.ThelowconnectionswithsmallfortuneandbadmannersistherealcausethatmakesDarcydepresshisownloveforElizabethandthwarttheprospectivemarriagebetweenBingleyandJane.

ItseemsthatonlythemarriagecaseofBingley-Janeinvolvesthepurestlovebutnomoneyatall.Then,whyisnotBingleypennilessbuta“youngmanoflargefortune”?

InPrideandprejudice,Austenputmarriageintoallkindsofsocialandeconomicrelationshipfrombeginningtoend,whichmakesthewholenovelhavegreatpracticalsignificance.

Conclusion

TherearealotofnovelstalkingaboutmarriageinBritain,butscarecelyanauthorcouldbelikeAusten,exposingthemoney-essenceofcapitalismmarriagesystemsodeeply.Inbrief,itismoneythatdetermineseverybody’slifeandfate,especiallymarriage.Asforit’spragmaticmeaning,itcouldbeforcefulandpenetrating.NowonderthatDavidDax，awesternMarxismcriticsaid,intheaspectofexposing“theeconomicsofhumanbeings’behavior”,JaneAusten,“tosomeextent,hadbeenaMarxistbeforeMarx’sbeingborn.”(32)

Notes

(1)潘維新《奧斯丁作品中的婦女群像》西南師范大學學報，1989年4月，P89,91

(2)TannerTonyJaneAustenP20

(3)朱虹（編）《奧斯丁研究》P178

(4)(5)(6)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)JaneAustenPrideandprejudiceP5,5,5,10,14,16,132,31,87-88,98,168,123,248,143,114,118,120,187,288,43,48,49,11,147,293,145,146

(7)朱虹（編）《英國小說的黃金時代》P16

(32)WattIan(Editor)JaneAusten:ACollectionofCriticalEssaysP11

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