一、选题背景与意义

1.1 Background 

Property is one of the main factors in marriage in the 18th century of England, which is connected with contemporary social environment. Another essential factor is social status which is decided by social traditional values. In addition, women’s status is socially inferior to men’s and not a few women can only regard marriage as the most significant thing in their whole lives. And that’s the reason why Jane Austin chose it as her lifelong writing theme. In the current society, people’s thoughts, life styles and so forth have been influenced by the development of economics and technology. People, especially the young, they are open-minded and easy to adapt to new environments, and also long for an abundance of material which changes or is changed by their values a lot. Hence, as the backbone part of society, the young’s view of marriage has brought about extensive social concerns. 

1.2 Purpose and significance 

As for writer’s purpose, first of all, she narrated five marriages based on different foundations is in order to warn people to take love as the basis of marriage, and in the meantime, property is the essential guarantee. This kind of healthy view of marriage is good for people to make a rational choice. 

Secondly, this novel can show readers the then living conditions of Britain, people’s thoughts and marital influence factors of the early 19th century.

As for the significance, analyzing the determinant of marriage is good for modern young generation to recognize the foundation of marriage, so that they are able to treat love and marriage much more cautiously and seriously. 

1.3 Literature review

Novelist and dramatist W．S．Maugham listed it in the top ten of worldwide classic novels, for she enables to educate readers imperceptibly and prudently. She can use irony and sarcasm to let readers understand what are the proper manners and behaviors. Maugham said:” I believe, the majority of readers regard Pride and Prejudice as the masterpiece of Austen, and I think their comments are very pertinent. What makes the works classic? It’s not critics’ praises with one voice, professor’s researches or being a textbook in school, but the competence to bring readers much everlasting pleasure, enlightenment and wisdom via reading it. As far as I concerned, Pride and Prejudice in general, is the most satisfactory work in all novels.” Maugham’s perspective not only represents the authority of experts’ evaluation, but also voices the unanimous aspiration of the worldwide readers.

Irish famous man of letters, literary critic and essayist, Frank O’Connor praised Austen as the definitely greatest novelist. And he thought she is one of the greatest skill masters, and her literary perfection is just as same as Mozart’s musical perfection. As a matter of fact, the flawless framework and consummate writing skills are not the only reason why Austen becomes great, it’s also because of its profound ideological content and pioneering meaning to English literature history. 

Just like the British literature critic W．F．Pollock said, due to Jane Austen starts to write the novels about daily life, she lays a good foundation for realistic novel. She tells other novelists that there is endless treasure in people’s daily life, waiting for them to find and use it. And her unique writing style makes her works classic and everlasting for almost 180 years.

Wu Jinyu (2012) regards Pride and Prejudice as a comedic novel, in which there are many actual reveals about the truth of marriage. They are not ruthless, not sentimental, not cynical, but kind of satirical. Through the depiction of characters, Jane Austin gives readers a summary that only the based-on-love marriage is the most perfect and the most everlasting as well.