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| III. Conclusion
In the savage social world, created by the dominance of status and money, the possibility for happiness lays in the ability to change. ---This is the typical marital relationship in that age. Take Mr. Collins and Charlotte for example, the marriage of Mr.Collins is like a business transaction, and love is not his motif to marry. Mr. Collins proposed to Charlotte, though they didn't know each other quite well, after being refused by Elizabeth; and Charlotte who is quite intelligent, but not very pretty or lively, takes the one chance she has for marriage. It is as Elizabeth thinks, "Poor Charlotte", a sad casualty of the marriage market. Opposite to Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth is based on the deep affection, he doesn't care much about the difference of their social class. As for Elizabeth, she didn't think that money and status played the more important role than love in marriage. That’s why she refused Mr. Darcy for the first proposal. In that time, status and money were two prerequisites in marriage. However, how important they are in marriage just depends on one’s background and character. |