Jane austen`s criticism on marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century england through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, in austen`s pride and prejudice.

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ABSTRACT

Defifani, Yosefin. 2008. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the early Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yogyakarta: Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Department of Language and Arts Education, English Language Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.

This thesis discusses Pride and Prejudice, a novel written by Jane Austen. The reason in writing this thesis come from my curiosity to know more deeply about the main character of the novel, Elizabeth Bennet, and Jane Austen’s social criticism implied in the novel. There are two problems that become the focus of this thesis: (1) How is the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, described, and (2) How Austen criticizes the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth Century England through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet. Based on those problems, this study aims to describe the main character of the novel and to analyze Jane Austen’s criticism on the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century of England through the main character.

The data gathering method that I used to achieve the aims of the study is library study. The Sociocultural – Historical Approach is used for the analysis of the data. The primary data of this thesis were taken from the novel, Pride and Prejudice. Meanwhile, the secondary data used to answer the problems above were taken from some relevant and supporting references and also from internet sources. When necessary, quotations and statements from certain experts were also picked up to clarify some important ideas.

Based on the result of the analysis, there are two conclusions which can be drawn. First, Elizabeth Bennet is described as a beautiful woman with her intelligent face and attractive manners. She has a great affection for her family, particularly her oldest sister, Jane. She is a determined and outspoken woman who likes to be honest and has her own opinion about everything. The second result is I found out there are many values and messages Jane Austen wants to express through Elizabeth’s character. Jane Austen tries to criticize the marriage motivation in British society in the early nineteenth century which is based on money and social status. Jane Austen expresses her view of the ideal motivation of marriage through the marriage of Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Beside the suggestion for possible future researchers on Pride and Prejudice, this thesis also proposes strategies to implement teaching English by using a novel, particularly in teaching Intensive Reading II.

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ABSTRAK

Defifani, Yosefin. 2008. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the early Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Skripsi ini membahas Pride and Prejudice, sebuah novel karya Jane Austen. Alasan penulisan skripsi ini bermula dari keingintahuan saya untuk memahami lebih jauh karakter utama novel ini, Elizabeth Bennet dan kritik sosial Jane Austen yang tersirat dalam novel tersebut. Dua permasalahan menjadi dasar dari penulisan skripsi ini, yaitu: (1) Bagaimanakah Elizabeth Bennet yang menjadi karakter utama digambarkan dan (2) Bagaimanakah Jane Austen mengeritik motivasi perkawinan di Inggris pda awal abad ke sembilan belas, malalui karekter utama, Elizabeth Bennet. Berdasarkan permasalahan tersebut, studi ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan karakter utama di dalam novel dan untuk manganalisa kritikan Jane Austen terhadap motivasi perkawainan di Inggris pada awal abad ke sembilan belas, melalui karakter utama.

Untuk mencapai tujuan dari studi ini, metode yang saya gunakan adalah studi pustaka. Untuk menganalisa data yang ada digunakan pendekatan Sociocultural-Historical. Data utama dari skripsi ini diambil dari novel Pride and Prejudice. Sementara itu, data penunjang yang digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan di atas diambil dari beberapa referensi yang berhubungan dan mendukung dan juga dari akses internet. Jika perlu, kutipan dan kalimat dari beberapa ahli juga disertakan untuk memperjelas beberapa gagasan yang penting.

Berdasarkan hasil analisa, ada dua hal yang dapat disimpulkan. Pertama, Elizabeth Bennet digambarkan sebagai seorang wanita cantik yang memiliki wajah yang cerdas dan sifat yang menarik. Dia mempunyai perhatian yang besar terhadap keluarga terutama kakak perempuannya, Jane. Dia adalah wanita yang keras dan terbuka yang lebih suka bersikap jujur dan memiliki pendapat sendiri tentang semua hal. Kedua, saya menemukan bahwa ada banyak nilai dan pesan yang ingin disampaikan oleh Jane Austen melalui karakter Elizabeth. Jane Austen mencoba mengeritik motivasi perkawinan dalam masyarakat Inggris pada awal abad ke sembilan belas yang didasari oleh uang dan status sosial. Jane Austen menyampaikan pandangannya tentang motivasi perkawinan yang paling ideal melalui perkawinan Mr. Darcy dan Elizabeth Bennet

Akhirnya, di samping saran-saran untuk para peneliti berikutnya, skripsi ini menawarkan strategi dalam menggunakan novel Pride and Prejudice dalam pengajaran bahasa Inggris, khususnya dalam pengajaran Intensive Reading II.

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PAGE OF DEDICATION

Life is like a book;

Everyday has a new page with adventures to tell;

Lesson to learn

and tales of good deeds to remember

I dedicate this thesis to my beloved family and all my friends

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ABSTRACT

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ABSTRAK

Defifani, Yosefin. 2008. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the early Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank Jesus Christ and Mother Mary who have blessed and always guided me to finish my thesis. I also realize that there are so many people who have encouraged and supported me in finishing my thesis.

I give my deep gratitude to Henny Herawati, S. Pd., M. Hum., my sponsor, who has sincerely spent her precious time not only to read and correct my thesis but also for her suggestions and comments on my thesis. Without her patience and supervision, this thesis would never have been completed.

I also would like to thank the secretariat staff of the English Language Education Study Program and the library staff of Sanata Dharma University and my great appreciation to all PBI lectures who have taken part in my study.

My special thanks and love are dedicated to my parents, Stephanus Sinju and Emirensiana for their love, affection, support and prayer; and my only big brother, Erik for taking care of me all this time.

I would like to thank all my classmates for the long friendship, especially Lidya for her help to correct my grammatical mistakes in this thesis. Special thank to all the Mentari’s friends: Kak Yuke, Novi, Intan, Mbak Prapti, Evi, Ria, Kak Achiet for the great pleasure and talking that we have in Mentari, my KKN friends: Hana-chan, Beni, Ipung, Widya ‘coy’ for our friendship and support, and my friend Tigor for his affection and support. My special gratitude is also dedicated to Mas

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Adri who has always assisted me during the hard times, for his support, understanding, and patience; and his family who has considered me as their own family.

Finally, I would like to thank all the people who have supported me. Without their help, I could not have finished this thesis. God bless them all.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

PAGE OF TITLE………. i

PAGES OF APPROVAL………... ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY……….... iv

PAGE OF DEDICATION……… v

ABSTRACT………. vi

ABSTRAK………... vii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………. viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS………. x

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background of the Study……….. 1

1.2. Problem Formulation……… 3

1.3. Objectives of the Study………. 3

1.4. Benefits of the Study………. 4

1.5. Definition of Terms………... 4

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1. Review of Related Theories……….. 7

2.1.1.Theories of Character………... 7

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2.2. Review on England Society in Regency Period……… 12

2.3. Review on Society’s View on Marriage in the early Nineteenth Century England……….... 13

2.3.1. The Status of Women in England in the early Nineteenth Century……….. 13

2.3.2. Social Classes………..15

2.3.2.1. Aristocratic or the Upper Class………. 16

2.3.2.2. The Middle Class……….. 16

2.3.2.3. The Lower or Working Class………... 17

2.3.3. Materialism……….. 18

2.4. Theoretical Framework………. 19

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY 3.1. Object of the Study……… 21

3.2. Approach of the Study……….. 22

3.3. Method of the Study……….. 23

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS 4.1. The Analysis of the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet…………. 25

4.1.1 Social Character………... 25

4.1.2. Physical Character………... 27

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4.2. Jane Austen’s Criticism on Marriage Motivation in the Nineteenth Century England through the Main Character,

Elizabeth Bennet... 33

4.2.1. Elizabeth Bennet’s View on Marriage Motivation in her Society……….... 35

4.2.2. Jane Austen’s View toward the Motivation of Marriage in her Society……… 41

4.2.3. Jane Austen’s View toward Materialism………. 42

4.2.4. Jane Austen’s View toward Education……… 44

4.2.5. Jane Austen’s View toward Love……… 46

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS 5.1. Conclusion……… 49

5.2. Suggestions………... 51

5.2.1. The Suggestion for the Future Researchers………... 51

5.2.2. The Implementation of the Novel, Pride and Prejudice, in Teaching Intensive Reading II ………... 52

BIBLIOGRAPHY ……….. 55

APPENDICES Appendix 1 Lesson Plan and Material of Teaching Intensive Reading II …… 57

Appendix 2 Summary of Pride and Prejudice ……… 64

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of the background of the study, the objectives of the study, the problem formulation, benefits of the study, and definition of terms. The background of the study focuses on the topic of my study. In the objectives of the study, I give the explanation of the focus of my study. I also give the general illustration of the problem in the problem formulation and the explanation about the benefit of this study for me and other researchers.

1.1. Background of the Study

Marriage is a goal of a relationship between man and woman who want to live together and build a family. Everybody has their own reason why they decide to get married. For example, because they need a status of their relationship, or because they really love each other and they want to live together or maybe only for money. It is better for some people to know the person who will become his wife or her husband, at least the social status, and education background of the person, before he or she decides to get married.

Some people think that most marriages are based on physical attraction, financial security or love and affection; of all these, financial security is the main reason for marriage. Women are getting married for financial security, because it establishes a

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secure livelihood and a definite home. The other factor that can become the motivation to get married is to get better social status.

In our situation, there are some cases that a woman who has good social background has to find a husband who has better or at least the same social background. In other words, a marriage should be happened between two persons who have, at least, the same social background. For some people, a marriage between man and woman who have different social background will be considered as breaking the rules of marriage. This case still happens in today life, that we can see, for some parents or people, reputation and social background are very important in a marriage life, no matter if they do not love each other. The important point is they can fulfill all the things needed.

Some people think that it is not a woman’s job to find her wanted husband. That opinion also can be found in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice in which the early nineteenth century England society considers a woman should only wait a man who wants to marry her. Women’s situation was much different from what it is today. Women did not have autonomy. Their life totally depends on men such as their fathers, brothers, and husbands or in some cases other male relatives.

Based on the explanation above, I like to see that Elizabeth Bennet who has different character than other women in that time even her sisters, finds her beloved man in these society condition. I am also interested in studying the topic about how Jane Austen, the writer of Pride and Prejudice, criticize the marriage motivation in

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the early nineteenth century England through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet. Jane Austen is well aware of women’s economic and social situation in this paternalism environment. Some critics see her as a feminist who criticized her own society. Through her work, Jane Austen, as a member of society, attempts to express her experiences, knowledge, thoughts, views and ideas about the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century England.

1.2. Problem Formulation

In this study, the problems will be formulated as follow: 1. How is the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, described?

2. How Austen criticizes the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth Century England through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet?

1.3. Objectives of the Study

This study is conducted to find out the answers of the questions that are formulated in the problem formulation. There are two major objectives in this literary study. First is to describe the main character, Elizabeth Bennet who is presented in the novel. Second is to analyze Jane Austen’s criticism on the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century of England through the main character.

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1.4. Benefits of the Study

This study is expected to be useful and to enrich the knowledge of the readers. It also provides some information about the story, so that the readers can understand the story easily.

The result of this study is expected to be beneficial for other researchers who are interested in literary study, especially a novel. This study might provide them useful information and guidance to make critical judgments.

1.5. Definition of Terms

Before further discussion of novel, some important terms related to the title should be correctly and completely defined. There are three key terms in the title of this literary study; they are view, criticism, marriage, motivation, motive and main. It is actually to avoid the readers’ misunderstanding and confusion in the next discussion.

1. View

Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridge defines view as “Manner of regarding or considering something, judgment, opinion (2168)”. In this study view means someone’s perception about something.

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2. Criticism

Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learner (3th edition) defines Criticism as “the action of expressing disapproval of something or someone”. In this study criticism means expressing disapproval of something.

3. Marriage

Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridge of English Language defines marriage as “the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc (879)”. In this study marriage is a condition in where a man and woman have a legal commitment to live together as husband and wife.

4. Motivation

Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learner (3th edition) defines motivation as “what causes you want to do something”. In this study motivation is something that makes someone wants to do an action.

5. Motive

Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learner (3th edition) defines as “the reason for doing something”. In this study motive means someone’s reason for doing an action.

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6. Main

Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learner (3th edition) defines as “the most important one of several similar things in a particular situation”. In this study main means the most important character.

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In this chapter, I will discuss four parts or subtitles, namely Review of Related Theories, Review on England Society in Regency Period, Review on Society’s View on Marriage in the early nineteenth Century England and the last is Theoretical Framework. Review of Related Theories contains the theories or the approaches that are relevant with this study. Review on Society’s View on Marriage in the early nineteenth Century England contains the society’s view of the status of women, the social class, and the materialism in England in early nineteenth century. In the Theoretical Framework, I will discuss or explain the contribution of the theories and review to solve the problem in my study.

2.1 Review of Related Theories

In this study, I use some theories to support her analysis. They are theory of character, the theory of characterization which is used to describe the characteristics of the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, in order to find her marriage reason, and the theory of critical approaches.

2.1.1. Theories of Character

According to Abrams in his A Glossary of Literary Terms defines the character as “The persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who interrupt the

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readers as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue-and by what they do-the action (20).

E.M Foster in his Aspect of the Novel (1974) classifies the character into two kinds: flat and round characters. A Flat character is the character which is simple and does not change or in other words they always stay the same. It means that they always behave and talk in the same way, so it makes the character become easily predicted. On the other hand, a round character is the one who can make the readers surprised because of his or her action. This is very complex character because they often change.

According to Ian Milligan in The Novel in English, there are two kinds of characters based on their role in a story, namely as Major and Minor characters (155). The major character is the character who becomes the focus in the story from the beginning until the end, and it plays the important role in clarifying the theme of the story. In other word, if we understand the major character of the story, we also understand the theme of the story. The minor characters are those who appear in a certain setting and just necessarily become the background of the major characters. In other word, their role in the story is less important than the major character is.

Holman and Harmon in their A Handbook to Literature classified characters into Static and Dynamic characters. A static character is one who changes little or does not change at all. The pattern of action reveals the character rather than showing the character changing in response to the actions. A dynamic character is one who

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very often changes or is modified by actions and experiences and one objective of the work in which the character appears is to reveal the consequences of these actions (83).

2.1.2. Theories of Characterization

Holman and Harmon in their A Handbook to Literature define characterization as “The creation of imaginary person. Even though they are created imaginatively, they are seen to be real and exist for the readers or audience as lifelike (81).”

There are three fundamental methods of characterization in fiction. First, the explicit presentation of the character by the author through direct exposition illustrated by the action. Second, the presentation of the character in action of the expectation that the reader will be able to deduce the attributes of the actor from the actions. The last is the representation from within a character of the impact of the actions and emotions on the character’s inner beauty, with the expectation that the reader will come to a clear understanding of the attributes of the character

M.J Murphy distinguishes nine ways of how an author reveals the characters’ personalities and traits to the readers (161–173). First is Personal Description. In the personal description, the author can describe a person’s appearance, such as face, body and clothes. It is very important because it gives clues to the character. Second, Character as seen by another. In this case, the author can describe the character

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through the eyes and opinion of another. Third is Speech where the author can give some clues to the character through what a person says when he or she speaks in a conversation or puts forward an opinion. Forth, Past life. The author can give the reader a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character by letting the reader learn about that person’s past life. The fifth is Conversation with others. The author can give the reader clues to a person‘s character through the conversation of other people and the things they say about him or her. Sixth is Reaction. In this case, the author gives us a clue to a person’s character by permitting us know how that person reacts to various situation and events. Next is Thoughts. The author can give the readers direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about because what is in the person’s mind and what he or she feels are reflected on his or her character. Then, Direct comment. The author can give comment on a person’s character directly. The last is Mannerism. The author can describe a person’s mannerism, habits or peculiarities that may also tell you about his or her character.

2.1.3. Critical Approaches

Rohrberger and Woods in their book Reading and Writing about Literature mention five kinds of critical approach (1–15). They are the Formalist approach, the Biographical approach, the Socio-cultural- historical approach, the Mythopoeic approach, and the Psychological approach.

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Critics who use The Formalist approach concentrate on the whole of the literary works because each of the esthetic part contributes a harmony to the complete work as a whole. Critics, who use The Biographical approach to judge literary work need to understand the important knowledge of the author’s personal life. A better understanding could be facilitated by some useful information taken from the biography of the writer and the biographical provision itself. To understand The Socio-cultural- historical approach we need some assertions as references such as socio, cultural and historical background. According to Rohrberger and Woods, those assertions are based on; firstly, literature is not created in a vacuum, secondly, literature form significant ideas to the culture that produced it. Critics, who use the Mythopoeic approach to judge literary works, attempt to find particular recurrent patterns of human thought, which are considered sharing the same universal belief to certain community mind. The Psychological approach involves various theories of psychology to explain the characters’ personality in a story. Each character’s behavior could be referred to the psychology of human being.

Each approach which is described above has its values and limitations. The important task that has to the readers and the analyst done is to choose the best approach or approaches that suit for their appreciation on a certain piece of literature. In this study, the writer employs the socio-cultural approach to judge the novel by Jane Austen.

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2.2. Review on England Society in Regency Period

Pride and Prejudice took place in England in the early nineteenth, during a time known as the Regency period. The term refers to England’s ruler between 1810 and 1820 (defined by Donald A. Low as 1800-1830 and by Venetia Murray as 1788-1820) when George IV served as regent to substitute his father, George III who suffered from serious mentally ill.

The Regency period is sometimes called the age of elegance. By the early nineteenth, the industrial revolution had been in full swing for several decades and was transforming English society. Technology made commerce and manufacturing more efficient and profitable. As a result, many middle-class business owners and professionals became wealthy. The newly rich displayed their wealth in large country homes with landscaped ground, fine carriages, and elegant fashions.

The upwardly mobile middle-class generally gave little thought to what was going on outside their world. The economic system that had made them prosperous, however, had left others struggling to survive. In the age of industrialism, work that had previously been done manually was now being done by machines, so it created unemployment. The country was living near starvation in which a situation that fueled social unrest.

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2.3. Review on Society’s View on Marriage in the early Nineteenth Century England

Since this thesis is going to study how Jane Austen criticizes the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth Century England, a review on society’s view on marriage in the early nineteenthis needed. So, it is necessary to know the cultural and historical background of the society, especially the society’s view toward the status of women, social classes and materialism of the early nineteenth century in England, which have a close relation to marriage.

2.3.1 The Status of Women in England in the early Nineteenth Century

In early nineteenth century of England, women were not regarded as whole individuals in the society. Women at that time were considered to be the second class people after men and their position were limited only at home to control the household. They even could not go to the world of business and talk about social problem such as politics, trade and technology. Women could never become better until their position was improved and until the laws were made more just, as well as until a wide field were opened for women (Wollstonecraft 530-534).

People in England believed in paternalism, which considered women less important than men. The consequence of this system was that women could not bequeath their family name to their children and they had no right of inheriting the wealth of their parents (Walter L. Arstein 177-189).

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In the nineteenth century, few middle-class women could choose not to marry or to marry simply for love. In Jane Austen’s time, there was no real way for young women of the genteel classes to strike out on their own independent. A woman of the genteel class would be respected when she had a thorough knowledge of music, singing, playing the piano, drawing, dancing and speak a little French and Italian. The purpose of such accomplishments, that we consider as the ladylike arts, was often only to attract a husband. Reciting well-known poems, embroidering, and painting designs on the tables were other “accomplishments” for young ladies. Because their adult lives would be spent in the domestic sphere, a well-rounded education was not considered essential for girls. Girls seldom received the systematic education as their brothers did.

Education in the early nineteenth century England was not equal, not between the sexes neither the classes. A lady’s education was taken, almost entirely, at home. There were boarding schools, but no university, and the studies were very different.

Women were not allowed to attend the institutionalized rags on the educational ladder. Profession, the universities and the politics were not open to women. Only few occupations were open to them and these occupations were not highly respected (being a governess or a live-in teacher for the daughter of a family), and did not generally well paid and have very good working conditions. A few middle-class women earn money by writing, as Jane Austen did, but they seldom made enough to live on. Most of genteel women could not earn money except by

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marrying for it or inheriting it. By tradition, property and money were passed down through the male side of the family. For most women, marriage was the only path to the financial security or as “the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune”. Only a rather small number of women could be called professionals.

Margareth Kirkham, in David Greg’s The Jane Austen Handbook says that unmarried women also had to live with their families, or with family-approved protectors (154-156). When a young woman left her family without their approval, such as running away to marry a disapproved husband or entering into illicit relationship, it was a symptom of a radical break and this situation was always very serious

It can be concluded that the status of women in the early nineteenth century England was that the social position of women was lower than men. Women could improve their position only by learning many things to reach the quality of women in the early nineteenth century England.

2.3.2. Social Classes

“True” marriages were connected to social status in Jane Austen’s time. It was like a business contract, joining and strengthening families, wealth and status, providing heirs and giving women financial security. Marriage partners were often chosen according to their background, so the partner with the inferior status could

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achieve a higher status as a result of the marriage regardless of from family he or she came.

Generally, there were three social classes in England society, namely the aristocratic or upper class, the middle and the lower or working class. Beside those three main classes, there were still many subclasses which were hold their own status in social order.

2.3.2.1. Aristocratic or The Upper Class

The upper or aristocratic class was the richest class that had the big influence upon the economic, politic, military and intellectual policy. A prosperous English family or the upper class people spent more than $ 10,000 a year. They spent their income on ten servants: a man servant, a cook, a kitchen maid, two housemaids, a serving maid, a governess, a gardener, a coachman and a stable boy. Social parties and balls were held often and dancing was a favorite pastime among most upper-class men and women. Spending on food was also great because the dinner party was this class’s favorite social occasion.

2.3.2.2. The Middle Class

The next-highest class was the middle. The middle class was divided into three subclasses. They were upper-middle class, middle-middle class and lower-middle class. The upper lower-middle class composed mainly of the most successful

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business families from banking, industry, and large commerce. The larger number of servant was very important indicator of wealth and standing for the middle. The sign of real wealth in a middle class household was a male servant; two or three were mark opulence (Hill 847). The middle classes were closely united by a certain lifestyle. Food was the largest item of the household budget. Those food and servants absorbed about a half of the income. They usually would settle the dinner party once a month (Hill 849-850).

Below the wealthy upper middle class was much larger, much less wealthy and increasingly diversified middle class. Here one found the moderately successful industrialist and merchants, as well as profession in law and medicine. This was middle-middle class, solid and quite comfortable but lack of great wealth (Hill 848).

Below the middle-middle class was the lower-middle class who were composed mainly of independent shopkeepers, small trades and tiny manufactures. The lower-middle class expanded modestly in size with economic development. Industrialization also expanded and diversified the lower-middle class.

2.3.2.3. The Lower or Working Class

The last was the working class. This working class divided into two subclasses. They were the upper working class and the lower working class. The upper working class which was composed mainly people whose livelihood depended on physical labor, who did not employ domestic servants as the upper and middle

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class had and who had levels of livings and education. They were usually recent migrants who were come from rural areas to the city.

The popular employment for the lower working class was domestic service. Domestic service was hard work at low pay with limited personal independence. For the full-time general maid in a lower-middle class family, there was an unending routine of babysitting, shopping, cooking and cleaning (Hill 852-854). Domestic servants worked seven days a week, twelve hours at least each day because they were expected to work hard to support themselves (Landow 1).

2.3.3. Materialism

The economic life changed constantly and rapidly since Industrial Revolution in 1760. It did not only bring the advantages, but also the disadvantages to England society. Generally, the disadvantages were recent arrivals from agricultural area where they had driven off the land. They kept trying to be able to support their living even though they had to be servants and laborers in factories, workshops, mines and miles. Unfortunately, since human laborers were replaced with machines, their lives were become more depressing because they lost their job and income which supported their lives. Only the upper and middle classes had benefited material wealth. It means that the sense of prosperity was not shared by all the people.

This inequality was very apparent in London. The upper class wanted to gain money in order to be richer. By having a lot of money, they would be more respected

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by other people, especially people who had lower status. The high class people satisfied with their position while the working class merely wanted to gain money in order to improve and support their financial life. This condition also influenced upon the society’s view toward the reasons of marriage. Their view of the reasons of marriage mostly based on the economical factors and it based on the most profitable one. In England, this opinion is supported by the paternalism system in their society. It is so, because there is a rule that any property that a woman possess before her marriage automatically become her husband’s unless it was settle on her. There were many unhappy women lost all what they have because of this rule of marriage, and when their property and money were gone, their husband would leave them.

2.4. Theoretical Framework

This study is conducted to find the answers of the problems stated in the problem formulation. I use some theories to answer those problems. For the first problem, I use the theories of character and characterization. The theory proposed by Abrams helps the writer to understand the meaning of character. The types of character stated by Foster, Milligan, Holman and Harmon help to classify the character that will be discussed in this study. The theory of characterization by Holman and Harmon gives the definition of characterization and three fundamental method of characterization. Then, Murphy’s theory is used to find out about the characterization. It is necessary to apply the theories to know what kind of characteristics Elizabeth Bennet has.

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Since this study deals with the social and culture literary work, I apply the theory of Socio-cultural approach from Mary Rorhberger and Samuel H. Wood. The theory would help me understand the social life and culture of the main character.

Beside those theories, the writer also uses some information about marriage life in the early nineteenth century of England. It examines the status of women and the social class condition in England in the early nineteenth century. It can help me to understand the society condition and women’s position in that time, and understand how the writer of the novel criticizes the marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century England

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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

This chapter consists of three main parts namely, Object of the Study, Approach of the Study and Method of the Study. Object of the Study concerns with the object or data of the study in the literary work that I analyzed. Approach of the study contains the approach used in analyzing the work. Method of the Study describes the way or the procedure taken in analyzing the work.

3.1. Object of the Study

The title of the novel analyzed in this study is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Jane Austen began to write the novel which original title was First Impression in October of 1796 and finished it by August of the following year; she was then twenty-one years old. Her father submitted it to a London publisher the following year, but the publisher rejected it without ever having seen the manuscript. It was accepted for publication and was presented to the world on 28 January 1813 during the Regency period. It was published by T. Egerton and Whitehall. After her success with Sense and Sensibility in 1811, Jane Austen began to rewrite Pride and Prejudice, which is recognized as her greatest achievement; it was quickly reprinted in that time. Pride and Prejudice has always been Austen’s most popular novel and perhaps her greatest novel since its publication in 1813. In 2003 the BBC conducted

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the largest ever poll for the "UK's Best-Loved Book" in which Pride and Prejudice came second, behind The Lord of the Rings. In popular culture, Pride and Prejudice has been adapted in a great number of film and television series, varying greatly in its faithfulness to the original. This is the story of sparkling, irrepressible heroine, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, a very rich and seemingly rude man. Pride and Prejudice is a novel about how a man changes his manners and a woman changes her mind.

3.2. Approach of the Study

A certain approach is needed to analyze a work because the way we use to view the work is based on the approach. In her book Approach to Literature, Barbara Garlick says “there is no studying a subject without having an approach to it” (1-7).

I decide to employ the Socio-cultural approach in analyzing the novel in this study because the approach puts the work of literature as the product of civilization. This approach helps me to understand the social life and culture of the character, specially the main character Elizabeth Bennet, who becomes the focus of this study also the society situation in the Regency period of England.

The Socio-cultural approach is important because some novels will lose their value if the readers do not know and understand the society and culture background of the novel. It means, to analyze and criticize the characters’ marriage motivations in Pride and Prejudice, one must has good understanding about the society of the early

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nineteenth century England and culture of English marriage in the early nineteenth century.

3.3. Method of the Study

This study uses library research as a method in gathering the data. Since it conducts a library research, I use some sources to support her analysis. The writer uses Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice as the primary source. Beside Pride and Prejudice, the writer also uses some books such as Reading and Writing about Literature by Rohrberger and Woods, M.J Murphy’s book about how an author reveals the characters’ personalities and traits to the readers and internet access as the secondary source.

This study also concerns about the steps that I took in doing the analysis, so that I am able to obtain the solution for the problems formulated in this study. There were some steps that I had done. First, I started to read Pride and Prejudice, as the primary source in this study, for several times in order to have good understanding of the content of the novel, and to focus on the problems that I would analyze in this study. Second, I made a summary and took some notes of the points, such as the comments from the author and from the other characters, which had relationship with the formulated problems. Third, I read other references such as the books that already have mentioned above and some books that were found in the library. I also did computerized search through the Internet. Fourth, I examined the characteristics of

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characters’ marriage motivation to find the marriage motivation in Pride and Prejudice. I looked closely at the characters’ marriage motivation, first, through Jane Austen’s personal descriptions that describe her character in the novel. Second, through the conversations with others, because those can give the readers clues to a character’s thought and others’ opinion about the character. Third is through the direct reaction of what a person is thinking about. Forth is through the author’s direct comment on the characters. Fifth is through the thought, because what a character feels and thinks reflect on his or her characters. Sixth is through mannerisms that may also tell us about the characters. And the last, I revealed Jane Austen’s view on marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century England through Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.

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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS

This part concerns the analysis which is divided into two parts of discussion. The first discussion is the analysis on the character of Elizabeth Bennet as the main character of the novel through her actions, speech, the author’s comment, and from opinion of other character. The next discussion is the analysis of Jane Austen’s criticism on marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century England through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet.

4.1. The Analysis of the Main Character, Elizabeth Bennet.

The character analysis of Elizabeth Bennet will be divided into three parts; they are social, physical and psychological character.

4.1.1. Social Character

Elizabeth Bennet is the second of the five daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. She is an upper middle class girl. Elizabeth is the most logical and intelligent of the five Bennet sisters, and that makes her become her father’s favorite and the lovely daughter of him. Her father has a positive value about her personality which he considers different from her sisters’. He says that:“…they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness that her sisters” (5).

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She has a great affection for her eldest sister, Jane, particularly related with her feeling toward Mr. Bingley. She also cares about her younger sister, Lydia, and her close friend, Charlotte Lucas. Elizabeth must confront her society’s class-consciousness, especially with her family’s growing relationship with the wellborn Bingleys and their friends, Mr. Darcy, and also Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

One reason why Elizabeth proves to be a very interesting character is her close friendship with her older sister, Jane. Due to their constant contact, they are able to tell each other’s moods with great ease, especially Elizabeth. When Jane returns from seeing Bingley, Elizabeth instantly reads her feeling, so it means that they spend a lot of time in each other’s company.

Elizabeth obviously cares deeply about Jane, because when the later becomes ill while at Netherfield, Elizabeth takes it upon herself to walk three miles through the mud to visit Jane:

“I shall be very fit to see Jane – which is all I want.”

“Is this a hint to me Lizzy,” said her father, “to send for the horses?”

“No, indeed. I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing, when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner” (31).

She mostly stays by Jane’s bedside during the visit, preferring her company to the superciliousness of Miss Bingley and Hurst. Jane becomes very fond of Mr. Bingley and she is quite upset when she hears of his departure. It is only Elizabeth who she confides in, and tries to cheer her up.

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4.1.2. Physical Character

There is no physical appearance of Elizabeth Bennet which is directly described by the author. Jane Austen gives the physical description of Elizabeth Bennet mostly from opinion of other character, such as her mother, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy.

Elizabeth Bennet is described as a beautiful woman with her intelligent face and attractive manners; but not for her mother. According to her mother, Elizabeth is not so pretty as her sister, Jane. It can be seen from her mother comment on her: “…. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half as handsome as Jane, nor half so good humored as Lydia.”…(5). Although Elizabeth is not as pretty as Jane, she becomes her father’s number one daughter because of her thought and intelligence.

For Mr. Fitzwilliam, a wealthy gentleman, the master of Pemberley, and the nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Elizabeth is not quite pretty to attract him, but not for Bingley. He considers that Elizabeth is pretty too and probably very agreeable. It can be seen in their conversation when Mr. Bingley offers his help to introduce his friend, Darcy, to Elizabeth:

“…! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you”.

…, 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

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Though Darcy is intelligent and honest, his excess of pride causes him to look down on his social inferiors. But after several meetings, Elizabeth becomes an object of Mr. Darcy’s interest. He begins to admire her. It can be seen through what he thinks about Elizabeth:

Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticize. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friend that she had hardly a good feature in her face, that he began to find it what rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. Though he had detected with a critical eye more that one failure of perfect symmetry in pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness (22). On the surface, Elizabeth is just ordinary but she possesses qualities which make her attractive in a traditional way. Elizabeth is not a fashionable woman and not as beautiful as Jane but Darcy shows his interest with her especially because her expressive eyes: “I have been mediating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow” (26). He loves Elizabeth not because of her physical appearance but because of her intelligence. She has attractive manners and she shows her strong character. She is endowed with certain graces and talent, but not unusually gifted; she is appealing without being exquisite.

4.1.3. Psychological Character

There are some psychological characters that can be found in Elizabeth Bennet as the main character of this novel. From the author comment and from

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opinion of other characters, she is described as an intelligent woman, outspoken and determined person.

Intelligent

Elizabeth is the most intelligent and quick-witted in the Bennet family. Elizabeth realizes that she must take responsibility for her own education because she can not look to either of her parents for advice, and she must ultimately depend on her own experience, instincts, and judgments. In the course of the conversation between Lady Catherine and Elizabeth, we also learn more about the neglectfulness of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in fulfilling their duties as parents:

“No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without governess! – I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.”

…

“Then who taught you? Who attended to you? Without governess you must have been neglected.”

“Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wishes to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encourage to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle certainly might” (162-3).

Although Lady Catherine is quite rude in her manner of criticism, it is true that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet took no care to see that her daughters received a good education. While this lack of support from their parents seems to have been overcome by the diligence and self-motivation of Jane and Elizabeth, it seems doubtful that the younger three sisters will fare as well.

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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

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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:

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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:

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

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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

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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

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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

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Forster, Colonel Forster's wife, to accompany her to Brighton, where the regiment will be going. Elizabeth advises her father not to allow Lydia to go, thinking that such a trip could lead to serious misconduct on Lydia's part because of the flirtatiousness and frivolity of her character and her complete lack of a sense of propriety. However, Mr. Bennet does not heed Elizabeth's advice.

Elizabeth goes on vacation with the Gardiners. Their first stop is in the area of Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's estate. The Gardiners want to take a tour, and having found out that Mr. Darcy is away, Elizabeth agrees. During their tour of the estate the housekeeper tells them about how kind and good-natured Darcy is. Elizabeth is impressed by this praise, and also thinks of how amazing it would be to be the mistress of such an estate. During their tour of the gardens Elizabeth and the Gardiners run into Mr. Darcy, who has returned early from his trip. Darcy is extremely cordial to both Elizabeth and the Gardiners and tells Elizabeth that he wants her to meet his sister Georgiana as soon as she arrives.

Darcy and Georgiana pay a visit to Elizabeth and the Gardiners at their inn on the very morning of Georgiana's arrival. Bingley comes to visit as well. It is clear that he still has a regard for Jane. Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth return their civilities by calling at Pemberley to visit Georgiana. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst are there as well, and they thinly conceal their displeasure at seeing Elizabeth.

One morning Elizabeth receives a letter from Jane announcing that Lydia has eloped with Wickham, and that they fear Wickham does not actually intend to marry

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her. Jane asks Elizabeth to return home immediately. Darcy comes to the door just after Elizabeth has received the news. She explains to him what has happened. He feels partially to blame for not having exposed Wickham's character publicly.

Elizabeth and the Gardiners depart for Longbourn immediately. Mrs. Bennet is in hysterics and the entire burden of keeping the household together in this moment of crisis has fallen on Jane's shoulders. They find out from Colonel Forster that Wickham has over 1,000 pounds of gambling debts and nearly that much owed to merchants. The next day Mr. Gardiner goes to join Mr. Bennet in London to help him search for Lydia. After many days of fruitless searches Mr. Bennet returns home and leaves the search in Mr. Gardiner's hands.

Soon a letter arrives from Mr. Gardiner explaining that Lydia and Wickham have been found and that Wickham will marry Lydia if Mr. Bennet provides her with her equal share of his wealth. Knowing that, with his debts, Wickham would never have agreed to marry Lydia for so little money, Mr. Bennet thinks that Mr. Gardiner must have paid off Wickham's debts for him.

After their marriage Lydia and Wickham come to visit Longbourn. Lydia is completely shameless and not the least bit remorseful for her conduct. Mrs. Bennet is very happy to have one of her daughters married.

Elizabeth hears from Lydia that Darcy was present at the wedding. She writes to her aunt to ask her why he was there. She responds explaining that it was Darcy

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who had found Lydia and Wickham and who had negotiated with Wickham to get him to marry her. Mrs. Gardiner thinks that Darcy did this out of love for Elizabeth.

Bingley and Mr. Darcy return to Netherfield Park. They call at Longbourn frequently. After several days Bingley proposes to Jane. She accepts and all are very happy.

In the meantime Darcy has gone on a short business trip to London. While he is gone Lady Catherine comes to Longbourn and asks to speak with Elizabeth. Lady Catherine tells Elizabeth that she has heard Darcy is going to propose to her and attempts to forbid Elizabeth to accept the proposal. Elizabeth refuses to make any promises. Lady Catherine leaves in a huff.

Darcy returns from his business trip. While he and Elizabeth are walking he tells her that his affection for her is the same as when he last proposed, and asks her if her disposition toward him has changed. She says that it has, and that she would be happy to accept his proposal. They speak about how they have been changed since the last proposal. Darcy realized he had been wrong to act so proudly and place so much emphasis on class differences. Elizabeth realized that she had been wrong to judge Darcy prematurely and to allow her judgment to be affected by her vanity.

Both couples marry. Elizabeth and Darcy go to live in Pemberley. Jane and Bingley, after living in Netherfield for a year, decide to move to an estate near Pemberley. Kitty begins to spend most of her time with her two sisters, and her education and character begin to improve. Mary remains at home keeping her mother

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company. Mr. Bennet is very happy that his two oldest daughters have married so happily. Mrs. Bennet is glad that her daughters have married so prosperously.

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Appendix 3

Biography of Jane Austen

Jane Austen lived to the age of forty-two. Choosing not to marry, she spent her entire life among family and friends, mainly in Hampshire, a peaceful rural county in southern England. Austen wrote about the “ordinary people” she knew best, member of the English middle class who, through profession or business, had risen to the level of land-owning gentry. Austen herself was the daughter of a clergyman, Reverenend George Austen, whose wife, Cassandra Leigh, was from an upper-class family. Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in Stephenton, Hampshire England. She was especially close to her only sister Cassandra and much admired by her six brothers. In 1801, Austen’s family moved to Bath, a fashionable resort town. Family memoirs hint that in the years Austen fell in love with a young clergyman, who died suddenly. At age 26, she agreed to marry a wealthy man but broke of the engagement the next day. While his fortune would have protected her from an old age in poverty, she may have known they were not a good match.

The Austen household was a lively and literary one. The Austens were avid readers of literature, and they discussed it often. They frequently read aloud to each other and put on plays. Jane began writing around age eleven. Throughout her teen years, she wrote parodies of popular literature for the entertainment of her family. One of form that she skillfully imitated was the sentimental novel. By the time,

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Austen was in her early twenties. She was beginning to write full-length novels. At first, she kept this serious writing as a secret from her family, but they soon became ardent supporters. In 1795, Austen began work on one of her best-known novels, Sense and Sensibility. In 1797, Austen’s father submitted an early version of Pride and Prejudice to a publisher, but it was rejected. Both were rewritten before their eventual publication in 1811 and 1813. Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion being written between 1811 and 1813. The years of publication were Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1816), Persuasion (1818) and Northanger Abbey (1818). Also surviving are a few novels beginning, some verse, some prayers, and many letters.

In all of her novels, Austen focuses on courtship, love, and marriage. In each case, readers see society – one that had narrow and rigid expectations for women- through the eyes of a lively and perceptive young heroine. Filled with wit and good humor, Austen’s novels at the same time provide a realistic picture of relationships between men and women. Jane Austen died at the age forty-two on July 18, 1817 in Winchester, England of what historians now believe to have been Addison’s diseases. She was buried in the north aisle of Winchester Cathedral.

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Jane austen`s criticism on marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century england through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, in austen`s pride and prejudice.

Life is like a book;

Everyday has a new page with adventures to tell;

Lesson to learn

and tales of good deeds to remember

Parts

Dokumen yang terkait

WOMEN’S LANGUAGE ANALYSIS ON THE MAIN CHARACTER IN JANE AUSTEN’S NOVEL: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

MATERIAL ORIENTED MARRIAGE IN JANE AUSTEN’S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH.

Love problems in one`s personality development as seen in Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, the main characters of Jane Austen`s pride and prejudice.

Self Actualization of Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - UDiNus Repository

Self Actualization of Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - UDiNus Repository

Self Actualization of Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - UDiNus Repository

Self Actualization of Elizabeth Bennet in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - UDiNus Repository

THE SPIRIT TO BE INDEPENDENT OF JANE BENNET AND ELIZABETH BENNET IN JANE AUSTEN’S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE A THESIS

Jane austen`s criticism on marriage motivation in the early nineteenth century england through the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, in austen`s pride and prejudice - USD Repository

Love problems in one`s personality development as seen in Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, the main characters of Jane Austen`s pride and prejudice - USD Repository

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