试论夏洛蒂.卢卡斯与柯林斯婚姻的感性及其理

Taken as a whole, the social factors such as property, social status and the importance of marriage in society all are the objective factors in the marriage of Charlotte and Mr. Collins. These objective factors are strong proofs of the rationality of Charlotte’s marriage.

V．Significance of Charlotte and Collins's marriage

Charlotte and Collins's marriage is of great significance. The outcome of the marriage proved to be satisfactory. What is more, Charlotte’s marriage strongly presents the social trend---materialism.

5.1. Materialism

Charlotte is a realist, very sensible. She is also a typical materialist and treats material more important than anything else. But what is materialism? Materialism is a general view about what actually exists. Briefly speaking, the view is just this: Everything that actually exists is material, or physical. Many philosophers (e.g. Fielding, 1785;Reginald Faller, 1778) and scientists now use the terms “material” and “physical” interchangeably .Characterized in this way, as a doctrine about what exists, materialism is an ontological, or a metaphysical view; It focuses on the real material things instead of some spiritual things.

According to this definition, materialists treat materials more important than anything else; this principle also applies to the marriage of Charlotte and Collins. From our previous analysis, we know something about their marriage. Generally speaking, Charlotte takes advantage of her marriage to get establishment, stability and property. She is able to achieve the dignity of a match of good status and material comfort, together with independence. As she is 27 and is not good looking, also without large property, her marriage is the only way out for her. She is quite a sensible woman, as clever as Elizabeth, Her sensibility guides her to accept Collins’s proposal. To a large extent, Charlotte achieves what she wants and she has successfully found a way out for her.

Charlotte Lucas is an example of character that takes the pragmatic view that happiness and love exist in marriage by pure luck, chance or randomness, as she says “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance,”(p24) Charlotte shows herself interest and materialism, because she is purely interested in setting in an establishment, obtaining financial and social security.

As for Mr. Collins, he gets a companion and he sets a good example for all the people in the parish. He is socially accepted and wins himself fame. Charlotte soon becomes his mistress and manages everything perfectly for Collins. Also Collins was lucky enough to marry Charlotte, who can guide him to change some of his weaknesses and help to improve him. This couple has kindly invited Elizabeth to their home. Through Elizabeth’s observation, we know that the couple lives in great harmony. At least, it should not be criticized.

In the end, Charlotte’s pregnancy seems a suggestion that Charlotte can get more happiness, as she will become a mother soon. That is what she wants. On the other hand, Mr. Collins will get an heir, who will definitely bring him satisfaction and happiness. Therefore, materialism is obviously presented in the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte.

5.2. Social trend in Austen’s time

Austen was the first to bring to light what was to be one of the principal themes of the later 19th --century novel, the predicament of the individual, particularly of the woman, who requires personal fulfillment in society and finds that society makes it difficult to realize the desire. Although the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century made women’s liberation possible. Mass production needed more hands and machine could be operated by women who were not physically as strong as men .The lower-class women became wage earners in factories. This was the beginning of their independence. In Austen’s time, women still enjoy a low social status in society and marriage is a good way out for women. Charlotte got what she wanted through her marriage, which is quite rational and sensible. Women      should be faced with the real situation. Women will more and more sensible to choose their life that is conformed to the social trend in England in Austen’s time.

“Although writing county life, Austen’s interest was not in natural scenery, but in human nature”.⑻   In pride and prejudice, marriage was involved in the relationship of society and economy. Austen pointed out that the gist of marriage is an exchange of proper and combination of benefit. Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins’s marriage is a deification of it. Their marriage also conforms to the contemporary social trend. In England, people’s worship is property and status in 18th century. In an unperfected society, it is instinct to live and social trend that women search for property and status through marriage.

Charlotte can get large property and high social status and the sense of establishment through her marriage. We should consider marriage seriously but not in a casual way. We need to be more sensible and rational in front of marriage as what Charlotte does.转贴于 酷文网-论文下载中心 http://www.coolwen.net