简•奥斯汀的婚姻观——以《理智与情感》为例

　　Jane Austen is one of them most renowned female writers in British history，Sense and Sensibility is the first published novel,from which we can learn her original views on marriage.Elinor is reserve and calm，Marianne,however,is enthusiastic,romantic and candid.Elinor is full of emotions and sympathies,while she learns to suppress them,a far cry from her mother and sister Marianne,who shows self-consciousness as she is full of vain fantasies on relationship and marriage.Marianne at first is obsessed with a fancy world but at last falls into reality,from which we can see that the author advocates women to use more sense when pursuing love and marriage.

　　Jane Austen completed six novels in her lifetime:Sense and Sensibility,Pride and Prejudice,Mansfield Park,Emma,Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.Austen's works often discuss the relationship between love and economic security in a marriage.Austen gained her fame partly due to the historical and literary significance that she was the first female writers to write comic novels However,these books were published anonymously.

　　Jane Austen grew up in an open and cheerful environment where the ideas of those with whom the Austens might disagree in political circles or social discourse were considered and discussed.Her father,George Austen was a rector.Though raised in a wealthy family,George's branch of the family was reduced into poverty.However,he still tried best to give Jane education and encouraged her to read and write.In her most lifetimes,Austen was home educated and lived her life in her immediate family environment.Austen showed keen interest in plays,most of them comedies,which explained how Austen's satirical talents were cultivated.According to Janet Todd,Austen wrote poems and stories to amuse herself and her family.In these works the details of daily life are exaggerated,common plot devices are parodied.

　　When Austen was twenty,Tom Lefroy,a neighbor paid a visit to Steventon.It is obvious that Austen was attracted to him and they had a great time together.However,both Lefroy and Austen must have known that marriage was not possible between them for there are no benefits in this.Mr.Lefroy was an impecunious boy and the Jane’s family wanted his future son-in-law to be financially abundant.The first love was a failure,and Austin chose not to marry during her lifetime,and became dedicated to writing.As Austen considered about her relationship with Tom,If love can destroy one’s family,it will destroy itself in a long,slow degradation of guilt and regret and blame.All of her heroines gain happiness finally except herself.It is a pity while at the mean time an artistic coincidence,for Austen had been exploring the ideal marriage and striving hard to achieve the balance between love and marriage.Her own experience is indispensable to the analysis of her attitude toward marriage.It was Tom who encouraged her to follow her ideas in writing.Although they were not together,the relationship inspired her to become a professional writer.

　　Jane Austen portrays common people in ordinary life.Her works reflect the life of the middle class in Britain at that time,showing the possibility of'family'literature.She has explored the process of self-discovery of young heroine from love to marriage.Her effort to analyze the tension between the heroine and the society has made her novels free from the tradition of the eighteenth century and close to modern life.Her wit and humor,elegant words and clever plots make her novels popular in the world.In her narrow and limited circle of life,she observed and conceived with women's sensibilities,and was acclaimed by the famous British writer Scott as"the most acute observer of the British Regent period".

　　In the perspective of Literature,Jane Austen had made great contributions.It is widely admitted that Austen's works critique the sentimental novels in late 18th century and plays an important role in the transition of literary realism in the 19th century.She showed resistance to sensationalism.According to critic Keymer,"Marianne in her sentimental histrionics responds to the calculating world with a quite justifiable scream of female distress."

　　As Edmund Wilson wrote:there have been several revolutions of taste during the last century and a quarter of English literature,and through them all perhaps only two reputations have never been affected by the shifts of fashion:Shakespeare's and Jane Austen's.Austen,a renowned female writer in Britain as well as the word,enjoys great reputation,whose works are republished again and again and appreciated by millions of readers.

　　Sense and Sensibility is the first published novel,from which we can learn her original views on marriage.It is about the story of Elinor and Marianne.They also have a little sister Margaret.The Dashwood sisters’marriages reveal the trend of British society at that time that marriage was an exchange of economic and social status,while ignoring women’s rights.After their father Henry Dashwood’s death,the three Dashwood sisters and their mother are forced by their half-brother John and his wife Fanny to move away from Norland Park to Barton Cottage,near the home of her cousin,Sir John Middleton.They are welcomed into local society,where they also become acquainted with his friend,Colonel Brandon,his mother-in-law,the long-winded but well-intended Mrs.Jennings.Colonel Brandon is attracted by Marianne at the first sight,while Marianne does not feel a thing,as she considers the thirty-five-year-old colonel passionless and boring.When going out for a walk,Marianne breaks her ankles accidently.Out of pure coincidence,John Willoughby walks by and rescues her,carrying her back home.Later,Marianne is enthralled by his good appearance and similar tastes in poetry,music,and relationship.To her,he represents romance and everything.Therefore,they get close with each other and have several secret outings together.Elinor heard from Lucy of her secret four-year engagement to Edward Ferrars who Elinor fell in love with before she left Norland.Compounded with Edward’s listless countenance in his recent visit to Barton Cottage,Elinor is convinced that has no feelings any more.In their trip to London,Elinor and Marianne find that John Willoughby is engaged to a young lady,Miss Grey,who can inherit a large fortune.Colonel Brandon reveals to Marianne that Willoughby is a scoundrel.Marianne is frustrated;she walks in the rain and gets ill.After her recovery,Marianne realizes how stupid she has been to feel sorrow for Willoughby’s immoral,erratic,and inconsiderate behaviors,and then marries Colonel Brandon.When learning that Edward is not entitled to the family fortune,Lucy jilted him and throws herself to his wealthy brother Robert,so Edward and Elinor finally get married.

　　The plot of the novel revolves around the love story of the heroine,revealing the social trends in Britain at the time,which is in order to marry,a woman often seeks for economic security,social status regardless of their own feelings and rights.In the novel,the heroine pursues equal communication with men's thoughts and feelings,demands equal rights in social status,and insists on independent observation,analysis and selection of men's freedom.In Britain at the time,it was almost a cry of defiance.

　　As the title suggests,the story focuses on the conflict between"sense"and"sensibility".John Dashwood is more rational than empathetic,Willoughby is also very hypocritical,seeming to be very emotional,but in fact,cold and ruthless.The author thinks highly of the feelings of people with praise,although her language seems ironic,but the lack of affection is treated with disdain.The author appreciates the heroine,Elinor,because she is affectionate and rational.Here is the author's ideal on this issue,which is,people can't have no feelings,but emotions should be controlled by reason.

　　Through the analysis of the relationship between Marianne and Eleanor,the author reveals her own views on love and marriage,with profound feminist thoughts.She put heroines in the patriarchal society at that time,and explores the issue:in such a tough and demanding and often hostile world,how the heroine can achieve personal happiness in marriage?She believes that emotions are often a dangerous guide to women's behavior.Only good reason can protect us to the greatest extent.

　　In Sense and Sensibility,irony is everywhere.This technique is applied not only in the comedy of the plot,but also in the overall structure of the story.Marianne is sure that colonel Brandon,old and frail,was"not entitled to think of marriage",but at last she marries him anyway.In Jane Austen's view,reality is such a prank,delightful in deriding the world's judgment,desire,and action.

　　2.1.1 Elinor’s Personality

　　Elinor represents sense and dispassion.She controls her own strong emotions,which seems indifferent or cold-hearted,which makes her become the counselor of her imprudent mother.Nineteen years old as she is,she is calm and mature.She is full of emotions and sympathies as well,while she learns to suppress them,a far cry from her mother and sister Marianne.As the author said ironically“it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn,and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught”.

　　Elinor's concern with decorum reflects her understanding and coolness of judgment.Different from Marianne,Elinor's understands the world upon careful observation instead of personal emotions.Elinor criticizes Marianne for her selfishness as she has no control of her feelings,causing anyone around her to feel painful and heart-struck.Elinor behaves with relentless self-scrutiny and self-command,showing her considerate character for people she loves;this is very kind and thoughtful in that circumstance.

　　2.1.2 Elinor’s Attitude toward Marriage

　　Elinor has a crush on Edward Ferrars,Fanny's older brother,but she do not expect for Edward’s proposal.Edward,whose mother plans to get him into the parliament,bears the hope of making a fine figure in political concerns.If he fails her,he will probably be deprived of the rights to inherit his father’s property.When talking about her relationship with Edward,Elinor is sober and considers his responsibilities and obligations.She refuses to be blinded by love;instead,she behaves as calm as if she were an outsider.

　　She is compassionate towards Colonel Brandon,his grave manner making her become more sympathetic for him.She is worried about the relationship between Marianne and Willoughby,and that Marianne is too reckless about obeying social conventions,which will finally,destroys her reputation.

　　Elinor is the eldest daughter of her family,and the experience of her life makes her become sensible,calm and cautious.Her criteria for choosing a husband are not the person's appearance and economic condition,but the inner beauty.She was kind and gentle and always put herself in the shoes of other people's needs and happiness.When Marianne judges Edward of his spiritless and indifferent manner,deficiency in taste,Elinor defenses him by praising his sweet continence and amiable propensities.She is not a fan of dramatic love;instead,she adores someone that is respectable inside and comfortable to be with.Elinor's greatest concern is character.She likes Edward not at first sight,but because they are connected to each other.When she realizes that Edward’s secret engagement is the reason for his ambiguous attitude,she was very cautious and patient,though devastating inside,waiting for the situation to become clear.

　　2.2.1 Marianne’s Personality

　　In Austen’s own words“Marianne is sensible and clever，but eager in everything:her sorrows，her joys，could have no moderation．”

　　As the representative of new female image,Marianne is flamboyant,brave to love and hate.She exudes intrepid,strong and persistent attitude no matter to the cynicism or to the pursuit of true love.A stark contrast to her sister,Marianne is enthusiastic,romantic and candid.She shows strong contempt to conventional rules and has romantic illusion toward love and passion.She is indulged in her own feelings,which have no restraints at all.

　　Marianne gives no care to the patriarchal authority and in many cases even challenges such authority.She is forthright and never beat around the bush.When they are driven out by her half-brother John,Elinor acts calmly and explains to them that John is the only heir,Marianne asks ironically,“how can they be so cold?”Marianne treats her relatives and friends with inattention and sometimes,and spurn the secular rules,Marianne is creative and intelligent.She remarks Edward:for me there is something wanting,I’m not sure he really has a taste for poetry and paintings,and I’m sure he only praises Elinor’s drawings because they are hers.She detests clichés and anything boring and embraces passion and penetrable feelings.

　　2.2.2 Marianne’s Attitude toward marriage

　　She always follows her own bent instead of yielding to other’s will.She gives no care to other’s opinion.In terms of love,she is indulgent in her own fantasy and romantic imagination.In her defense,love can combat whatever difficulties that life can lay in store for them and lovers should act upon their feelings.When Marianne is rescued by the Willoughby,striking in figure and attracting in tastes,she falls deeply in love with him,giving no care to her sister's warnings that her impulsive behavior may engender gossip.She acts as she feels,thus making herself and everyone around her miserable when Willoughby dumps her,as opposed to her sister,who keeps the secret of Edward's prior engagement to a young lady with great fortune..She is romantic and willful in relationship.She falls in love with Willoughby when he rescues her and carries her home after she breaks her ankle.His voice,his looks and tastes are the man she dreams of;therefore,she loves him at first sight.Even though Willoughby plays the fool with her feelings and leaves her ruthlessly,she still defends for him and let herself indulge in her own sorrow.She cannot eat nor sleep,tears ever-flowing,constantly playing or singing the music they both enjoy,or go out wandering alone.She gets badly ill and almost gets herself killed in despair.She never hides nor controls her feelings,just like her mother.

　　Marianne declares that the marriage,which is arranged for benefits,is"not a marriage at all","just a business transaction that both sides want to profit from.”

　　Marianne is defined as a new woman in her secular and realistic characters,rather than a woman who puts morality first.In addition,when it comes to love,she shows self-conscious the as she bases vain fantasies on relationship and marriage.She is a young woman of flesh and blood.Through the arrangement of Mary's fate,the author reveals that women who live solely on emotion are more vulnerable than those who live by sense and reason.

　　Willoughby is the man who brings Marianne to a fancy world as well as a man who drops her into reality.The marriage market that is based on fortune draws young people to hunt trophies through marriage．Jane shares this lesson with common girls like Marianne．Marianne learn self－control and sensible mind from Elinor with determination of changing personality．Moreover，Elinor also points out the importance of social status and money regards of marriage after Marianne’s recovery from sickness．In her reflection,Colonel Brandon is real in nobility，honest with friends，upright in morality，which Willoughby fails to be．Being secured by decent income and property in Dorsetshire，Marianne finds her happiness with awaken sense.Although she is well-accomplished with gifts，she is mentally withered and lost physical charms to catch man’s heart．The disadvantageous social environment narrows down Marianne’s chance of finding another Prince，pushing her to drop romantic illusion and come to reality with common sense．One should take other issues into consideration like economic condition and social status，which serve a security for post-marriage life.The union of Marianne and Brandon is the manifestation of Jane Austen’s concept of a happy marriage

　　Hazel Jones does lots of researches on Jane Austen’s earlier attitudes towards a happy marriage whose solid foundation is a well-balanced condition between love and money.Either marriage merely for love or for money is not appreciated by Jane Austen．The representative of passion and sensibility Marianne gains common sense at last,and finally finds her own happiness.

　　2.3.1 Jane Austen’s View on Elinor’s Personality and Marriage

　　Elinor's vision contains deep self-mockery.She is aware of her reduced situation,though she is not insatiable,she understands,that marriage is based on fortune.She shows understanding and sympathy to the wealthy bachelor Colonel Brandon and expects his union with her sister Marianne.According to a scholar,in Austen,marriage two themes intertwined at the heart of the events,that is property and propriety.

　　Elinor may be the soberest person in Dashwood sisters,she in cautious in making decisions and considerate in social interaction.Different from Marianne,Margaret and their mother,Elinor in Austen’s depiction appears to be the head of the family.However,she is full of feelings and emotions,which are appreciated by Austen in the acquisitive.One can tell that by exploring the character,Lucy,who is cunning and hypocrite compared with Elinor and Edward.Lucy may be the winner in the marriage market,while she loses the most valuable thing in a relationship—-love.

　　2.3.2 Jane Austen’s View on Marianne’s Personality and Marriage

　　Marianne represents the typical emotionalist in late 18th century,and her desperation in love perhaps reflects Austin’s opposition and correction to this trend.Emotionalism pays attention to compassion,but more emphasis on the goodness of humanity and personal pursuit will almost inevitably lead to some kind of egoism,which deviates from its original intention to oppose greed and selfishness.If she followed the belief that personal feelings and emotions,she would fall into the mire of harming herself.As she later realizes,she cares too little about others,especially her sister and mother.She ignores social conventions and often shows contempt for others.

　　Marianne puts her personal feelings and imagination in a high position,which results in the lack of reason and self-knowledge.She is too carried away by her romantic love to tell whether Willoughby is decent and reliable,thus leading to her frustration.From this,it is obvious that Austen disapprove Marianne’s sensibility and egotism,believing that emotions without restraints will bedevil women themselves.

　　At that period,British women suffered from snobbery and discrimination in terms of writing and publishing works.Though thoughtful and intelligent,Austen cannot use her real name in her novels in a patriarchal society.Therefore,Austen’s works have a strong sense of self-consciousness and Feminism.Austen's plots highlight women's traditional dependence on marriage to secure social status and fortune.Through the trivialities of life,Austen emphasized women’s self-consciousness and individualism.

　　On one hand,fortune can be found anywhere in this book and money plays an important role in marriage.Since women in that age have no right to inherit fortune,it is inevitable that women rely on men to get a better life.Money is the foundation of a happy marriage,even though there is no love and passion at first,like the relationship between Marianne and Colonel Brandon;they finally find a way to lead a happy life together.

　　According to Doultaht,the theme of class is related to reputation.In that both reflect the strictly regimented nature of life for the middle and upper classes in the Regency England.Clinging to male was the choice of most women at that time.Therefore,women learnt all kinds of skills,making an air of confidence and elegance to attract males.Even though,the heroines of Austen are versatile and enjoy a great taste in literature,music and paintings.That is because Austen put great emphasis on women’s education,which is a kind of opportunity to free women out of the controls of men and the society,at least in the aspect of thought.

　　On the other hand,Austin believes that women should get rid of the traditional mode of marriage,and marriage should be based on love.A woman can only marry a man whom she respects and admires.She thought that an elegant and knowledgeable woman was no longer in the traditional unfavorable position.Pure tolerance and recession cannot bring happiness in marriage.In a society where men have the right to choose his wives but women almost have no right to refuse a courtship,Austin's heroines often bravely choose their own husbands.

　　Even so,Austen's heroine must bear the psychological and moral restraints of her time.Although they have shown in some ways Austen's feminist views,and have fully demonstrated their personalities.One can still tell the influence and restraints of the time.

　　The Genesis told people that the woman is made of the rib taken out from the man.The doctrines of religious scriptures become the cultural core of female discrimination in the western countries.In Asia,there are still patriarchal thoughts prevalent in the past thousands of years.Women have long suffered from rules and principles of men out of ridiculous reasons.Jane Austen however creates Elizabeth,Emma,Elinor,Marianne and other intelligent heroines to persuade her readers to seek for more independence and self-consciousness in relationships and marriages.

　　When Austen cast her eyes upon the squire and the lady,it is critical for us to see that there is a large number of women at the bottom of the society,whose lives are even more miserable,leaving them fewer choices in marriage.This also reveals the importance of women's knowledge,which is to reflect,criticize and doubt.From Jane Austen's feminist cries to postmodern feminism,the development of feminism has gone through a lot of hardships,but it is always moving forward.

　　In this article,the personalities and attitudes of Elinor and Marianne,two heroines in Sense and Sensibility are analyzed.From their love and life experience,we can tell Jane Austen’s attitude toward marriage.Marianne suffers from her uncontrolled emotions and feelings.The lessons that Austen wants to convey have been explored and the contemporary influence has been discussed.However,there is needs solid proof that can further illuminate Austen’s contemporary significance for women.