Analysis of Jane Austens Works - Essay Example

Jane Austens Works March 20, Introduction English Literature includes love and marriage issues. The research delves on marriage reasons. The research delves on marrying to improve the ladies’ stature. Marrying to improve one’s status is a normal parental reaction. Society’s Standard Further, the societal rules are to blame for Mrs. Bennett’s and Mrs. Smith’s marriage. Both women entered their preferred marriages in order to conform to what society requires them to do. Society requires that women should marry in order to improve their current economic status in life. To improve their current status they had to marry someone who was rich or affluent in society. The women, especially Mrs. Bennett of the Pride and Prejudice novel fame and Mrs. Smith of the Persuasion novel fame, are discouraged from marrying someone who is poor. In the Pride and Prejudice story, Mrs. Bennett spends most of her time watching over her family’s fortune. The family fortune includes determining will marry their five lovely daughters (Austen 12). The story revolves around the suitors of each of the five daughters. Mrs. Bennett’s “business of life is to get her daughters married (Austen 38).”One of the daughters, Lydia, had the characteristics of Mrs. Bennett. Jane is the main character in the Jane Austen novel. Elizabeth is the daughter who inherited the father’s characteristics. Further, Mrs. Bennett is married to a person who has money. The marriage between the spouses reached 23 years. During those years, Mr. Bennett displayed “sarcastic humor and normally displayed a reserved character (Austen 38).” Further, Mr. Bennett was filled to the brim “with capricious acts Austen 38.” Mrs. Bennett could never understand what her husband was thinking as there was a communication gap between the spouses. Furthermore, Mrs. Bennett’s love for Mr. Bennett is not a significant factor when marrying was an issue. Mrs. Bennett married Mr. Bennett because he was rich. In fact, Mr. Bennett does not even show material respect for Mrs. Bennett. Mr. Bennett’ selfish character includes not setting aside money for their five lovely daughter’s future. Mrs. Bennett was “underdeveloped and lacked understanding of normal things in life (Austen 39).” Mrs. Bennett also had “certain periods of uncertain temper flares and nervousness (Austen 39).” Additionally, the women grow up in a society where the daughters show an air of high status. Living in a household of affluence, the daughters will feel that working to earn a living is very degradable. Mr. Bennett “did not save any money for the daughters’ inheritance (Austen 407).” Society affirms that only male children are worthy of inheritance money. Consequently, Mrs. Bennett focuses most of her time and efforts to find a suitable rich husband for her five lovely daughters. With a rich husband Mrs. Bennett conforms to society’s instructions. Moreover, society’s instructions include requiring a woman to marry a rich person in order to improve her current status in life (Austen 119). Mrs. Bennett wants her daughter to emulate what Mrs. Bennett had previously done, marry a rich person. Mrs. Bennett’s priority not to find individuals will love her daughters. Mrs. Bennett is more interested in finding a rich bachelor take care of the food, clothing, housing, and other personal needs of Mrs. Bennett’s five lovely daughters. In the Emma novel, Harriett Smith finally marries Mr. Martin (Austen 359). Initially, Emma prohibits the marriage between Harriett Smith and Robert Martin. Emma discourages the marriage between Harriett Smith and Robert Martin on the ground of poverty. Martin is a farmer. Emma prefers Harriett Smith to marry someone who is rich or affluent. During a short communication with Mr. Knightley, Harriet Smith finally accepts that love is stronger than wealth. Mr. Knightley breaks the news of Harriet Smith’s acceptance of Robert Martin’s marriage offer “Martin had proposed marriage to Harriet Smith and the proposal was accepted Harriett Smith” (Austen 43). Mr. Knightley affirms that a good marrying kind includes Mr. Martin because he has “sense, a gentle person and filled to the brim with attractive humor (Austen 43).” Further, Harriett Smith willingly succumbed to the courtship displayed by Robert Martin. Martin once travelled for three miles to buy Harriett Smith’s favorite food. Martin also showered her with love overflowing when he instructed someone to sing to Harriett a love song to spice up Harriett’s day. Likewise, the people around Robert Martin spoke well of Mr. Martin’s relationship with his neighbors and relatives (Austen 121).” Robert Martin used his persuasive power to convince Harriett Smith that her life with Robert Martin will literally be heaven on earth, a happy and prosperous one (Austen 123). Consequently, Harriett Smith accepts the marriage offer of Robert Martin (Austen 393). Harriett Smith refuses to succumb to Emma’s pressure to prevent the Smith – Martin nuptial. Seeing that all her efforts were not enough to change Harriett Smith’s decision, Emma finally accepts the marriage between Harriett Smith and Robert Martin. In the pride and Prejudice Novel, Darcy’s pride prevents him from accepting Elizabeth Bennett’s lower class status (Austen 359). Darcy feels that he must follow his pride’s instructions not take his love for Elizabeth Bennett seriously. Even our current society, pride often causes divorces, disagreements, and breaking up of fruitful friendships. The story revolves around the proud and seemingly heartless male protagonist, Mr. Darcy. Belonging to one of the richest families in England, Mr. Darcy was handsome and intelligent. In the same manner, Elizabeth Bennett had unfounded prejudices against the richer Mr. Darcy. The prejudices prevent her from obeying her heart’s desire to marry Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth Bennett (Austen 393).” Additionally, society during the Pride and Prejudice Period involved complying with societal rules (Werlock 260). To marry someone from the rich class, one must belong to the same or similar rich class. To marry to the most beautiful girl in town, one must be rich and affluent. The mothers during the Pride and Prejudice time period, especially Mrs. Bennett, would size up the male suitors. When the mothers discovered that the male suitors came from poor families, the mothers would automatically disapprove the male suitors’ marriage proposals. Even in today’s society, the same Mrs. Bennett concept of marriage is still being implemented. The “marry the rich” policy is in line with Charles Darwin’s survival of the fittest animal evolution concept (Zizek 82). However, such implementation is on a lower intensity. For example, many female ladies and their relatives size up the male suitor’s economic status as basis for accepting or rejecting the suitors’ marriage proposals. When the lady or her relatives discover that the male suitor comes from a rich family, the chances of marriage is higher. Poor Male Suitor On the other hand, when the lady or her relatives discover that the male suitor is poor, the chances of the marriage to the poor male suitor may not occur. The female gender and her family members normally do not want their daughter to die from hunger, lack of shelter, medicines and other personal necessities in life. Thus, the prospect of the ladies’ and her relatives’ approval of the marriages to a jobless suitor is totally unimaginable (Zizek 82). In the story of Emma, the same societal rule on marriage is significantly being implemented (Austen 120). Emma does everything in her power to stop Harriett Smith from marrying the poor farmer. Instead of marrying a farmer, Emma prefers Harriett Smith to marry someone who is rich or famous. Emma does not want Harriett Smith to suffer from hunger, lack of shelter, medical expense and other personal necessities in life. Further, Emma feels that she has the authority to choose a rich person to marry Harriett Smith. When first introduced to Harriett Smith, Emma observes “her very beautiful face and high esteem (Austen 88”. Emma also realized that Harriett Smith was filled with worthy and respectful “simplicity (Austen 88).” Emma explains to Mr. Knightley that Harriett Smith should not marry an economically disadvantaged farm worker because Robert Martin is “a grossly vulgar farmer, ugly, untidy, and obsessed to get the richer Harriett Smith’s money (Austen 42). Conclusion Based on the above discussion, English Literature incorporates both love and marriage topics. There are many reasons for marrying. Marrying a rich male suitor is a normal family reaction. Marrying to improve the ladies’ economic status is a normal parental reaction. Consequently, society’s loveless policies should be blamed for the marrying predicaments of Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Bennett. Works Cited Austen, Jane. Emma. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2004.Print. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2006. Print. Werlock, Abby. Companion to Literature. New York: Infobase, 2009. Print. Zizek, Slavoj. Living in the End Times. New York: Verso, 2011. Print. Read More

 

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