In modern days, although women have more chances to get education and have more ways to become independent, this does not eliminate marriages based on money. They are more practical than those people in the eighteenth century. Women today have to become more independent and learn to fight against social injustice as what Charlotte does.

To sum up, the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte conforms to the contemporary social trend---materialism and socialism. Both Collins and Charlotte's choices are in great harmony with the social trend. Therefore, there are no good reasons to criticized Charlotte’s marriage. Her marriage is really a rational and sensible one. At least, her choice presented that a common view that the most important factor is property, rather than love in Austen’s time.

VI．Conclusion

In England, traditional beliefs of the societal and familial roles of man and women were subject to rigid criticism. For centuries, literature has been the domain of men. Any woman attempting to write literature would be regarded as an intruder on men’s rights and would set them into a rage. In late 18th century and early 19th century England, a strong feminist voice was eager to make itself heard through novels. This group of women writers, including Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters and George Eliot, broke out from their confinement to private world, in which children, husband, and kitchen were the chief worries. They entered into a public world, where they, through various novels, presented their unique views of the world surrounding them.

Jane Austen lived and worked at the turn of the century. She was the daughter of a country clergyman, and passed all her life in doing small domestic duties in the countryside. Her Pride and Prejudice presents us a vivid picture of the countrymen life, about their daily lives and their marriages. In the eighteenth century, women have low social status. Property plays a vital importance in society. For those women who have no property and low social status, one of their important ways out is marriage. As for Charlotte, she is smart, persevering, and full of wisdom. She is spiritually independent and she gains establishment, property and social status through her marriage. She is a realist and a materialist. Most importantly, her behavior conforms to the contemporary materialism and realism. Therefore, she should not be criticized. As for Mr. Collins, although he is a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance, he also has some good qualities. He is humorous, responsible, kind, and practical. As no one is perfect in this world, we need to see people’s development. Mr. Collins is changing and we can believe that he will improve himself a lot in future. Therefore, the marriage of Charlotte and Mr. Collins should not be criticized. People in modern society should be more sensible and rational when facing marriages, but not to be too romantic.

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