Elizabeth sometimes has a right view about people. For example, she painfully recognizes the inappropriate behavior of most of her family, particularly her
youngest sister, Lidya, who has eloped with Mr. Wickham. She already tells her father about her fear but her father ignores it. Elizabeth’s intelligence is revealed in
her manner, her way of thinking and how she speaks to other characters. When Lady Catherine criticizes Elizabeth over her piano playing, she listens with all the
forbearance of civility. Also, when Darcy proposed to her for the first time, she was able to conjure up a polite refusal of his impolite offer. Elizabeth demonstrates that
she has great restrain even under tremendous pressure.
Outspoken
This character makes Elizabeth more interesting. She likes to be honest about everything. But sometimes her sharp tongue and tendency to make hasty judgments
often lead her astray. It can be seen when she refuses Mr. Darcy marriage proposal because she is very angry when she knows that Mr. Darcy is the man who destroys
the happiness of her sister, Jane: “I might as well inquire,” replied she, “why, with so evident a design of
offending and insulting me, you chuse to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character? Was not this
some excuse for incivility, if I was uncivil? But I have other provocations. You know I have. Had not my own feelings decided against you, had they
been indifferent, or had they even been favourable, do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of
ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?” 187.
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This character also appears when Collins’ family and Elizabeth were invited by Lady Catherine to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. In that meeting
Lady Catherine tries to find out the background of Elizabeth family. It can be seen as follow:
“ – The younger ones out before the elder are married – Your younger sisters must be very young?”
“Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really, ma’am, I think it would be very hard upon younger
sisters that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. – The last born
has as good a right to the pleasures of youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive – I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly
affection or delicacy of mind.” …
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle
with so much dignified impertinence” 163-4.
Determined
Elizabeth has her own opinion about marriage. She is not such a woman who wants to get married only for financial reason. Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collin’s marriage
proposal though he will inherit the Longbourn. She thinks that marriage is not the only honorable provision for a well-educated woman without wealth, but not for
Charlotte Lucas, her friend. In the beginning, she has the same view with Elizabeth concern with marriage, but when she accepts Mr. Collin’s proposal she violates her
principle, integrity and throws away her talents by marrying Mr. Collins, a conceited, narrow-minded and pompous fool. Elizabeth would never violate her principle. She
has disappointed with Charlotte decision. She had not thought that her friend would
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ever sacrifice her intelligence and good sense to material comfort. She considered that it was humiliating. It can be seen from what Elizabeth thinks about Charlotte :
She always felt that Charlotte’s opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when call into action,
she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating pictures – And to the pang of
a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the
lot she had chosen 122.
Elizabeth Bennet’s most interesting characteristic is her independence and self-sufficiency that finally have made Darcy fall in love with her. She acts decisively
by giving her firm opinion. Her opinion and act show her determination and firmness. It can be seen from her discussion with Darcy about pride, as follow:
“I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without it disguise.”
… “And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody” 54-5.
She never changes her mind even in the great emotional pressure. She is so quite and calm, stands up to Mr. Bennet over Collins’ proposal. It can be seen from
her rejection of Mr. Collins’ proposal, as follow: “You are too hasty, Sir,” she cried. “You forgot that I have made no answer.
Let me do it without further loss of time. Accept my thanks for the compliment you are paying me. I am sensible of the honor of your proposal,
but it is impossible for me to do otherwise that decline them” 103. And also from:
“I thank you again and again for the honor you have done in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect
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forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me as elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart”
105.
From this, we can see that Jane Austen has managed to create her ideal woman in Elizabeth. Her strength and intelligence are qualities that make her become
respectable and admirable to any man and woman, but the fact that she possesses a softer, feminine side makes her genuinely attractive in the eyes of the reader, and
helps us to have better appreciation on her other qualities. This ideal woman can decide the motivation of marriage based on a harmonious balance between reason and
emotion. With these attributes, we can say that such a character is the finest product of her civilization.
4.2. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet.
Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen to share her attitudes on the importance of marriage. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in
possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” 3. The first sentence of the novel Pride and Prejudice highlights the importance of marriage within the world of
the novel. The sentence suggests that the sole purpose of marriage was to increase the characters social and financial ranking. The character of Elizabeth Bennet does not fit
this generalization.
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Elizabeth Bennet is a literary device used by Jane Austen to represent her values and attitudes on the important of marrying for love. Elizabeth is a free-spirited
individual who differs substantially from the other female characters of the novel. Elizabeth refuses to be wed to a man to whom she does not love. Elizabeth, although
often guilty of prejudice attitudes, always acknowledges and learns from her mistakes.
Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collin’s marriage proposal was revolutionary landmark in the context of the novel. Mr. Collins was socially desirable; he would
provide Elizabeth a home, respectability and long term stability for the Bennet family. However, on a personal level, Elizabeth realizes that she could never love
such a man. The marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth reveals the characteristics which constitutes a successful marriage. One of these characteristics is that love
cannot be brought on by appearance, and must gradually develop between the two people as they get to know one another. Mr. Darcy was not directly attracted to
Elizabeth and yet when he learns her true personality he admits that. From Darcy not being directly tempted by Elizabeth, he grows so passionate for her that he believes
his love is strong enough to spend the rest of his life with her. This proves that he does not love her for his physical desires toward her but instead, he loves her
personality. The relationship between the two characters reveals Austen’s values on love not being centered around beauty or immediate attraction but rather, knowing
the personality of the partner before you devoting life to them. Darcy and Elizabeth
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are among the few characters within the novel who marry for love. They are also among the few characters who find happiness. Austen represented her beliefs on the
importance of marrying for love through Darcy and Elizabeth.
The criticism on marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century England in this novel can be seen from Elizabeth Bennet’s view on marriage motivation in her
society and Jane Austen’s view toward the reason of marriage in her society and toward materialism, education and love because those are some aspects that have
relationship with marriage motivation in early nineteenth century of England.
4.2.1. Elizabeth Bennet’s View on Marriage Motivation in her Society
The real emphasis in the novel and in the society of the early nineteenth century is the need for young women to find a husband in the possession of a good
fortune. The purely economic, utilitarian motive for marriage will come under attack in the novel, as will, implicitly, the societal constrains which leave many women with
little choice but to marry for the sake of economical survival. Elizabeth is fully aware of the limited prospects of her family, deferential to
the accepted customs and behavior of the day, and respectful of the social hierarchy, but not limited by these constrains in her thoughts, feelings, values or behavior.
Socially her highest prospect is to marry a reasonably handsome, financially comfortable gentleman’s son for whom she can feel some measure of respect,
attraction and affection. As a growing up person, the motivation of her marriage is
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not money. Money also had little importance for her as an incentive for marriage. For various reasons Elizabeth and her four sisters operate under a considerable disability
on the marriage market. Elizabeth’s intention is to remain true to her best self by being guided by her heart and by her good sense. In choosing a husband, she will
remain true to her feeling and her considerable intelligence. Early in the novel, Elizabeth meets two attractive, eligible young men and
forms an immediate opinion of each, based on their response to her. Fitzwilliam Darcy, an enormously wealthy feudal lord, offends Elizabeth at the ball by making a
rather disparaging remark about her appearance to his friend in her hearing. It can be seen as follow:
…, he looked for moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to temp me;
and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men” …12.
Elizabeth heartily dislikes him and his aloof manner and class-based pride. She also thinks, not unreasonably, that he dislikes her. This opinion is so firmly
rooted that she fails to notice when his attitude towards her begins to change. Her prejudice blinds her to the reality of his developing passion for her. The other hand,
Elizabeth is very much attracted to George Wickham, a charming, handsome young man, who at social gatherings singles Elizabeth out among all the young women who
are attracted to him. She naturally flattered by his attention and charmed by his
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friendly, open manner. She even wonders if she is falling in love with him. It can be seen as follow:
The gentlemen did approach; and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him
since, with the smallest degree of reasonable admiration. …
Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated
himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, ... 74.
Her favorable first impression prejudice causes her to make excuses for certain behavior on his part that might be considered questionable. Part of education
of Elizabeth’s feelings comes from learning just how blind she has been to Wickham’s real character. After the explanation from Mr. Darcy through his letter for
her, it turns out that he is a completely immoral, mercenary, irresponsible and dishonest scoundrel.
Elizabeth’s first marriage proposal comes from Mr. Collins, who is a completely fool. It is appropriate for Mr. Collins to marry and that he wants to marry
one of the Miss Bennets in order to lessen the difficulty of the entailment of the estate. It can be seen in his statement below:
“…. Thus much for my general intention in favour of matrimony; it remains to be told why my views were directed to Longbourn instead of my own
neighborhood, where I assure you there are many amiable young women. But the fact is, that being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your
father who, however, may live many years longer, I could not satisfy myself without resolving to chuse a wife from among his daughters, that”…103.
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Mr. Collins’ proposal was refused by Elizabeth because beside she does not love him; Elizabeth thought his proposal itself is delivered in such a way that it seems
more appropriate for a business deal than for a declaration of love. She does not think that marriage was the only honorable provision for well-educated woman. It can
be seen from Elizabeth’s statement: “…. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. – You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world
who would make you so” 104. Mr. Collins came to town to buy a wife. When Elizabeth refuses him, he goes
next door, where Charlotte, who is quite intelligent, but not very pretty or lively, takes the one chance she has for marriage. Although Elizabeth and Charlotte are very
close, they have different view about marriage. It can be seen from Charlotte view about marriage:
“…. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar
beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation;
and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life” 22.
Elizabeth simply laughs at Charlotte’s comments and tells her: “You make me
laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself” 22. Elizabeth’s judgment about Charlotte is wrong.
Charlotte accepts Mr. Collins’ marriage proposal. Elizabeth is very unhappy about Charlotte’s decision because she thinks that the match is completely unsuitable. She
considers Charlotte violate her principle and her integrity as a well-educated woman.
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By marrying Mr. Collins, a conceited, narrow-minded and pompous fool man, she throws away her talents. She had not thought that her friend would ever sacrifice her
intelligence and good sense to material comfort. It can be seen from Elizabeth’s reflection:
She always felt that Charlotte’s opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into action,
she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Colins, was a most humiliating picture 122.
Darcy and Elizabeth are amongst the few characters within the novel that finally marry for love. Darcy’s first marriage proposal was refused by Elizabeth.
Darcy thinks his proposal to her will be accepted because of their relative positions and fortunes but he is wrong because Elizabeth is never interested in Darcy’s social
status or his wealth. She has some reasons to do refusal. First, the arrogant manner of his proposal; second, his actions to separate Bingley and Jane; and third, is his actions
toward Wickham. It can be seen as follow: “ From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my
acquaintance with you, your manner, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feeling of others,
were such as to form that groundwork of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month
before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry” 190.
After the refusal, Darcy tries to explain, through a letter, what is actually happened. After Elizabeth reads that letter several times, she begins to see that she
judged Darcy completely wrong, and she grows ashamed, concluding that she has
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been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd, in spite of the fact that has always prided herself on her judgment. She realizes that vanity has been the cause of her prejudice.
Elizabeth stays awake trying to discern her feeling for Darcy. She realizes that she is grateful to him for having loved her and loving her still even after the rudeness of her
rejection. She is extremely impressed by his character, and esteems him highly, but is still not sure whether or not she loves him. Elizabeth, observing Darcy, believes that
such an action on her sister’s part the elopement of Lydia will make a renewal of Darcy’s proposal impossible. Feeling this loss, she realizes that she loves him.
Early in the morning, Lady Catherine unexpectedly comes to visit. Lady Catherine is, as usual, domineering and arrogant in her conversation. She tells
Elizabeth that she comes because of rumors that Darcy and Elizabeth will soon be married. Elizabeth answers her inquiries curtly and without revealing the fact that
Darcy has not proposed to her again. Lady Catherine tries to forbid Elizabeth to marry Mr. Darcy, but Elizabeth is insensible to her entreaties and threats. It can be
from Elizabeth comment: “….I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your
ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished- for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing
him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me say, Lady Catherine, that the
arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken
my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I
cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject” 347.
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Lady Catherine displays of egotism not only failed dissuade Elizabeth from marrying Darcy, but it led Darcy to propose the second time. Lady Catherine’s
disdainful act makes Darcy realize that Elizabeth still has some feeling for him. If Elizabeth had been absolutely and irrevocably against him, she would have
acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly. When Darcy proposes Elizabeth for the second time, Elizabeth accepts it because she loves him.
4.2.2. Jane Austen’s view toward the Motivation of Marriage in her society
Jane Austen’s view on reasons of marriage can be seen through her response to her society or family that can be found in her letters to her family. She often writes
some letters which contained her opinions, suggestions or views about something, including the motivation of marriage. Her letters to her niece, Fanny Knight between
1814-1816 are peculiarly interesting, not only because in every line they are vividly show the characteristic of Jane Austen, but also they give some information about
Jane Austen’s view toward the motivation of marriage. In her letter on November, 21 to her sister, Cassandra, Jane Austen says that
marriage is a parade of happiness in young married woman because marriage is a great movement of one’s life. Her view toward the reason of marriage is that
marriage should be based on love. In her letter to Fanny Knight on November, 18, 1814, she says that “anything to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without
love and affection” and also she says to Fanny Knight when she decided a marriage,
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she should make sure to her own feelings and try to be honest to her own feelings. In her letter to Cassandra on December, 27, Jane Austen says that everybody has a right
to marry once in their lives for love. The personality of the husband is also an important consideration in deciding a
marriage. It can be seen in her letter to Fanny Knight on November, 18, 1814 when she gives her opinion that an observation is completely needed in judging one’s
personality in order to know the real personalities. She also advises her niece to be independent person, especially in making a decision in her life letter from Hans
Place on November, 30, 1814. Her view toward the reason of marriage related with money can be seen in her letter to Fanny Knight on March, 13, 1816. She says that a
marriage is a route to financial security. Jane Austen also considers money as a motivation of a marriage.
It can be concluded that Jane Austen’s view toward the reason of marriage is that the motivation of materialism or society’s value, is not wrong but love and the mutual
feeling of understanding and respect are more important because a happy and strong marriage should be based on love, the mutual feeling of understanding and respect.
4.2.3. Jane Austen’s View toward Materialism
Money is one of the motivations of entering the marriage according to Jane Austen’s view. That is true that marriage can give a great financial security to some
people that have lower financial condition. These views appear in Jane Austen’s
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society and also in the society of the novel. This view can be seen from her letter to Fanny Knight: “Single woman have a dreadful prosperity for being poor, which is
one very strong argument of favor of matrimony Jane Austen, Letter of March 13, 1816.
Beside her letter for Fanny Knight, another Jane Austen’s view toward money, how it can be a motivation of entering the marriage, can be seen from her
letter to her sister, Cassandra, as follow: “Marriage is a great improver, … As to money, that will come, you may be sure, because they cannot do without it Jane
Austen, Letter of November 21, 1809. Contrast with those views, Jane Austen’s view toward motivation of marriage
should not be based only on money. She considers that it should be based on mutual understanding and respect. It is necessary to use good judgment to select a spouse;
otherwise the two people will lose respect for each other. This opinion can be seen from her letter to Fanny Knight, as follow:
“Upon whole, what is to be done? You have no inclination for any other person. His situation in life, family, friends, and above all, his character, his
uncommonly amiable mind, strict principle, just notions, good habits, all that you know so well how to value, all that is really of the first importance,
everything of his nature pleads his cause most strongly” Jane Austen, Letter of November 18, 1814.
Jane Austen’s view above also gives a great influence toward Elizabeth Bennet. Unlike her mother, she does not base her choice of lovers on the financial
security that they will give to her, and she has the strength to reject their marriage
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proposal. She accepts Darcy’s proposal, at last, is not because he has paid Lydia’s wedding or his wealth, but because she falls in love with him.
Elizabeth is also presented again as a rebel against ideas of social classes when Lady Catherine pays a visit to her to ensure that she does not marry Darcy, and
Elizabeth refuses to accept Lady Catherine’s idea that Pemberley will be ‘polluted’ by her preference. It can be seen as follows:
“If you believed it impossible to be true,” said Elizabeth, coloring with astonishment and disdain, “I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far.
What could your ladyship propose by it?” “At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.”
“Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family,” said Elizabeth, coolly, “will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report is in
existence” 343-4.
In other words, Jane Austen uses Elizabeth Bennet to convey her view that she does not agree to the ideas of materialism and social classes as the motivation of
entering a marriage.
4.2.4. Jane Austen’s View toward Education
Jane Austen’s view toward education also has some influence upon Elizabeth Bennet. Her view about education is humorously defined as music, drawing and
astronomy. It can be seen as follows: “This compliment in my eyes has been a sad bore to me, for I have not been
able to read or work in any comfort since Friday, but one advantage will be derived from it, for I shall be such a proficient in music by the time I have got
rid of my cold, that I shall be perfectly qualified in that science a least to take Mr. Roope’s office at Eastwell next summer, and I am sure of Elizabeth’s
recommendation, be it only on Harriet’s account. Of my talent in drawing I
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have given specimens in my letters to you and I have nothing to do but to invent a few hard names for the stars” Jane Austen, Letter of January 8,
1798.
Education for women in Jane Austen society is same as education that reveal in the novel or Elizabeth Bennet’s society. Those educations are knowledge of music,
drawing, singing, dancing, playing the piano, and speak a little France and Italian. Those are needed only to pursuit a husband. Jane Austen does not agree to that view,
so she creates Elizabeth Bennet to criticize her society. Elizabeth expresses her rebellion against society by taking little trouble to become accomplished of those
educations, as young ladies were expected to be then. She devotes little time to becoming skilled at playing the piano, and has not learnt drawing at all.
Elizabeth’s intelligence reveals her to be one of the few reasonable characters of the novel, a sensible individual in a society largely composed of the fools. As the
daughter of Mr. Bennet, her view of society is a cynical, ironic one, heightened by the presence of brainless family members and neighbors. It is sense of irony, which
enables her to survive in such a society, as she enjoys the humor of the ridiculous pomposity of Mr. Collins as her father does. After Darcy’s proposal is accepted,
Darcy tells her that one of the reasons why he falls in love with her is “the liveliness of your mind”, showing that her intelligence adds to her charms as the uses it in the
form of wit rather then cold cynicism. It can be seen as follows: “My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners-my behavior to
you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now be sincere; did you
admire me for my impertinence?”
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“For the liveliness of your mind, I did” 368.
4.2.5. Jane Austen’s View toward Love
According to Jane Austen, everybody has a right to marry someone in their lives for love. This view can be seen in her letter to her sister, Cassandra, as follow:
“Lady Sondes’ match surprise, but does not offend me, had her first marriage been of affection, or had there been a grown-up single daughter, I should not
have forgiven her, but I consider everybody as having a right to marry once in their lives for love, if they can, and provided she will now leave off having
bad headaches and being pathetic, I can allow her, I can wish her to be happy” Jane Austen, Letter of December 27, 1808.
Her view towards love as the motivation of entering a marriage life, that anything to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without affection, can also
be seen in her letter to Fanny Knight, as follow: “I shall be glad if you can revive past feelings, and from your unbiased self
resolve to go on as you have done, but I do not expect; and without it I cannot wish you to be fettered. I should not be afraid of your marrying him; with all
his worth you would soon love him enough for the happiness of both; but I should dread the continuance of this sort of tacit engagement, with such an
uncertainty as there is of when it may be complete. Years may pass before he independent; you like him well enough to marry, but not well enough to wait;
the unpleasantness of appearing fickle is certainly great; but if you think you want punishment for past illusions, there it is, and nothing can be another, that
is a punishment which you do not deserve” Jane Austen, Letter of November 30, 1814.
According to Jane Austen, love needs a complete observation and time in order to make a good judgment. In addition, this view happens in Elizabeth’s life.
Elizabeth refuses Darcy’s first marriage proposal because her prejudice upon Darcy and also because she thinks that Darcy separates Bingley from Jane. After some time,
she changes her view upon Darcy. She starts to realize Darcy’s real character when
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she visits Pemberley, the place where Darcy lives. The party makes her meet a housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, and she has nothing but pleasant things to say about
Darcy, to the surprise of Elizabeth. This can be seen from: “He is the best landlord, and the best master,” said she, “that ever lived. Not
like the wild young men now-a-days, who think of nothing but themselves. There is not one of his tenants or his servant but what will give him a good
name. Some people call proud; but I am sure I never saw any thing of it. To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle away like other young men.”
“In what an amiable light does this place him” thought Elizabeth 243.
After she knows that Darcy pays for Lydia’s wedding she suspects that this may be his true motive, his affection for her may have also been a part of it. It makes
her fell more in love with him. She begins to comprehend that he is exactly the man, who would suit her most. After she is sure that Darcy also loves her, she tries to
convince her family because they do not like him and she is successful, although they accept him with different reasons. Jane, her sister, accepts him because she believes
that Darcy is a good person as what Elizabeth says to her and also loves her. Mr. Bennet, Elizabeth’s father, accepts him because he thinks that his daughter has a good
personality and she is good in evaluating people. Mrs. Bennet, her mother, accepts him because she thinks how much money that her daughter will receive from Darcy if
she marries him. Elizabeth Bennet constitutes a critique of traditional norms of women’s
behavior. Her independence, intelligence, and bold personality do not hold to a traditional nineteenth century view of women. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth’s
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strength of character is emphasized by its contrast with the weak, naïve acceptance of Jane’s character.
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CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
This chapter is divided into two parts, the conclusion and suggestions. The first part contains the conclusion of what I analyze in the previous chapter. It contains the
answers to the formulated questions. The second part is divided into two parts; the first part contains some suggestions for future researchers that can enrich the readers’
knowledge in understanding Jane Austen’s work, particularly Pride and Prejudice. The second part is the suggestion for the implementation of the novel, Pride and
Prejudice, in teaching English.
5.1. Conclusion
After analyzing the novel, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, I come to the conclusion. Elizabeth Bennet is the novel’s protagonist. She is the second daughter of
Mr. Bennet. Elizabeth is the most intelligent and sensible of the five Bennet sisters. She is an attractive woman although she is not as beautiful as Jane but she has
expressive eyes which make Darcy shows his interest with her more. She is also a determined and outspoken woman with a tongue that occasionally proves too sharp
for her own good. It can be seen when she refuses Mr. Collin’s proposal and Darcy’s first marriage proposal, also when Lady Catherine asks her about her family. She has
a big affection for her family especially for her older sister, Jane, who has
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relationship with Mr. Bingley and her best friend, Charlotte Lucas, who finally Mr. Collins marries with. Elizabeth, although often guilty of prejudice attitudes, always
acknowledges and learns from her mistakes. Austen has extremely radical view for her time. She shares her view about
marriage motivation in her society which most of them are because of money and social status. She herself believes that marriage should not occur on the grounds of
superficial feelings, pressures to marry, or wealth and social status. Austen believes that one should only marry for love. She uses characters as literary devices to show
the readers the juxtaposition between relationship of someone who have married for love and who have married for alternative reasons.
Elizabeth Bennet is a literary device used by Jane Austen to criticize the society and represent her values and attitudes on the importance of marrying for love. We
often see the world through Elizabeth‘s eyes and we are positioned to empathize with her opinion on the absurdity of marrying for reasons other than love. Elizabeth is a
free-spirited individual who differs substantially from the other female characters of the novel. Elizabeth refuses to be wed to a man to whom she does not love. She
prefers marriage for love than marriage for money. She is a heroine. In the savage social world created by the dominance of status and money, the possibility for
happiness lies in the ability to change. Elizabeth and Darcy are capable of learning from their humiliating experiences and growing. They are capable of transformation
that makes enduring love possible.
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5.2. Suggestions
There are two sections of suggestion in this study, they are: suggestion for the future researchers and suggestions for teaching English by using a novel. The first
part contains the discussion about the suggestion for the future researchers in literary works, especially for those who are interested in Jane Austen’s literary works. The
second part is the implementation of literature in language teaching, especially in teaching Intensive Reading II for students of English Language Education Study
Program.
5.2.1. Suggestion for Future Researchers
In this thesis, I particularly concern on the character Elizabeth Bennet as the main character of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and the social criticism about the
motivation of marriage in the early nineteenth century of England. I suggest that by using socio-historical approach, for the future researchers may analyze about the
marriage motivation of each character in this novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I am sure that will be interesting and enriching their knowledge in
understanding Jane Austen’s works, society and culture. They can do their observation on culture of marriage in this novel which is related to Jane Austen’s
personal life and experiences.
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5.1.1. The Implementation of the Novel, Pride and Prejudice, in Teaching
Intensive Reading II
Literature is one of the sources which reflect human’s experience. In addition, people can get knowledge from literary works including learning about life.
Literature can also give contribution in teaching and learning activities. This means that teachers can develop students’ awareness toward the sense value or even the
combination of them by teaching literature. There are some benefits of using a literary work in teaching a language. Povey says that: “Literature will increase all
language skills because extensive literature, and subtle vocabulary usage, and complex and exact syntax” 87. Literature is also important in language teaching-
learning process as Cattodhayay says: “the study of a language can never be complete without a proper appreciation of the literary works in that language” 37. Pride and
Prejudice, the novel written by Jane Austen, can also be used as an instrument in
language teaching.
Reading becomes an important skill in language learning beside the three other language skills. Paulston and Bruders in Teaching English as a Second
Language emphasize that: “reading is the most important skill of all for most students of English throughout the world” 157. They divide Reading skill into two groups,
namely: intensive and extensive reading. Both kinds of reading have different main objectives. In intensive reading, the students are expected to focus their attention on
the linguistic features so that they are able to decode the message. Whereas, in the
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extensive reading, the students are expected to obtain the meaning of the whole text 158.
Reading literary work differs from reading non-literary work because in reading literary work, especially novel, the readers are supposed to find the meaning
of the novel. In addition, it can also be used as a means to know and understand different cultures. It is an attempt to sharpen the students’ appreciation toward a
literary work such as novel while they are learning English. Teaching Reading through Intensive Reading is one of the important basic skills and the teacher can use
the novel as teaching media. Intensive Reading I is suitable for students on second semester of Sanata Dharma University, since they are considered as the advanced
learners because they have learnt reading in the former semester so they are expected to be able to learn and understand more difficult passage or English novel.
The first thing that the teacher should do is ask the students to have copy of the novel at the first meeting, so that they will be ready for the weekly readings and
the discussion on the following weeks. The teacher might distribute one section of the novel before the students have the whole pages of the novel, and ask the students to
read it, so that they will be ready for their first discussion on the following week. The methods that usually used in Intensive Reading II teaching-learning activities of are:
first is weekly reading in which the students are assigned to read certain chapters of the novel each week then they have to write down some important information from
those chapters ; second is homework, to test their comprehension of reading section,
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particularly in weekly readings in which they are assigned to make some questions related to the chapters they have read and summarizing the content of those chapters;
third is weekly discussions in which the students discuss their interpretation about the section of the novel they have read before the class. The weekly discussion might
discuss the homework assignments andor certain issues proposed both by the teacher and students. The last is paper; the students are obliged to write a paper analyzing
certain issues according to their interests about the novel. The example of material for teaching Intensive Reading II using the novel Pride
and Prejudice can be seen in appendix 1.
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