簡.奧斯汀的婚姻觀在《傲慢與偏見》和《理智與情感》中的反映TheReflectionofJaneAusten'viewpoints

onmarriageinPrideandPrejudiceand

SenseandSensibilityContentsAcknowledgementsAbstract(inChinese)Abstract(inEnglish)ChapterI.IntroductionSignificaneeofthestudyThesisstatementOrganizationofthepaperChapterII.LiteraturereviewIntroductionLiteraturereviewSummaryChapter皿.JaneAusterifeviewpointsonmarriageasreflectedinSenseandSensibilityandPrideandPrejudiceJaneAusten?viewsonmarriageasreflectedinSenseandSensibilityDifferentcharacteristicsbetweentwosistersDifferentattitudestowardsloveThemarriagesoftwosistersJaneAusten?viewsonmarriageasreflectedinPrideandPrejudiceDifferentcharacteristicsamongwomenDifferentvalueintheirmarriagesThemarriagesoffourwomenJaneAustensviewsonmarriageChapterIV.CausesforJaneAustenviewpointsonmarriageSocialbackgroundFamilybackgroundEnvironmentalinflueneeEmotionalexperieneeChapterV.ConclusionWorksCited摘要每個人都渴望得到幸福美滿的婚姻，簡奧斯汀的小說一直被譽(yù)為愛情和婚姻的經(jīng)典作品，其中《傲慢與偏見》是她最具代表性的作品之一，一直以來深受歡迎。在這本小說中，作者以女主人公伊利莎白的口吻對四段中產(chǎn)階級女性之間的姻緣進(jìn)行描述，表明愛是一個幸?；橐龅幕A(chǔ)，同時應(yīng)具備一定的金錢實(shí)力。在她另一部非常有名的作品《理智與情感》中，她堅(jiān)持這樣的婚姻觀，在經(jīng)營一段婚姻時，愛是前提，是基礎(chǔ)，同時理性和感性又是不可缺少的調(diào)劑。當(dāng)然，如果她們同時得到了愛和金錢，但不懂的怎樣去經(jīng)營的話，婚姻之路也是不會長久的。因此，簡奧斯汀告訴我們，幸福的婚姻要求是隨時保持一個正確的婚姻觀，在理性與感性之間取得平衡，用心經(jīng)營，生活將會美滿。關(guān)鍵詞：簡?奧斯?。换橐鲇^；理智；情感；傲慢與偏見AbstractAllofpeopleareeagertogetahappymarriage,JaneAuste?Snovelarealwayspraisedasaclassicalworksaboutloveandmarriage,especiallythenovelofPrideandPrejudice,whichisoneoftherepresentativesandisverypopular.Inthiswork,theauthordescribesfourdifferentmarriagesamongyoungwomenofthemiddleclassthroughElizabeth,whichrevealsthatloveisthefoundationforahappymarriage,andalsoshouldbebasedonalargeamountofmoney.InSenseandSensibilitysheinsiststhatsenseandsensibilityistheindispensablefactorswhenbusinessingamarriagewhileloveisthefoundation.Absolutely,iftheygetloveandmoneyatthesametime,buthavenoideahowtobusinessthemarriagethatitwillnotlastlong.Thus,JaneAustentellsusthatthehappymarriagedemandsuskeeparightmaritalviewpointatanytime,makeabalancebetweensenseandsensibilityandbusinessheartedly.Thenlifewillbehappy.Keywords:Jane-Austen;maritalviewpoint;sense;sensibility;senseandsensibilityChapterI?IntroductionSignificanceofthestudyJaneAustenisawellknownandmuch-lovedEnglishauthor,whofirstgavethenovelitsmoderncharacterthroughtreatmentofeverydaylife.VirginiaWoolfcalledAustenfhemostperfectartistamongwomen”ThelifeofAustenandthetimeinwhichsheliveddirectlyreflectedtheworkssheproduced.Inallherworks,SenseandSensibilityandPrideandPrejudiceunfoldbeforeoureyesperfectly.AlthoughJanewaswidelyreadinherlifetime,shepublishedherworksanonymously.Themosturgentpreoccupationofherbright,youngheroinesiscourtshipandfinallymarriage.Shehasneverbeenmarriedinherlife.Austenhasbeenwanderingupanddownbetweensenseandsensibilityallthetime,butfinallyemotionhasovercomereason,thelovehasreplacedmoney.Itisperfectforyoungwomentoentermarriageiftheywillgetloveandmoneyatthesametime.Whatshouldwechoosebetweenloveandmoneywhenwecan?tchoosethesetwothingsatthesametime,andwhichstyleofmarriageisamoreperfectone.Whatkindsofelementsarerequiredinahappymarriage?JaneAusterfeportrayedthequite,daytodaylifeofmembersoftheuppermiddleclass,combiningromanticcomedywithsocialsatireandpsychologicalinsight.Austen?idealmarriagewasthatwecannotmarryformoneyorregardmarriageasagame.Weshouldkeepabalancebetweensenseandsensibilityinthemarriage.Sheadvocatedthemarriageforbothloveandeconomicconsiderationwithloveplayingtheleadingrole.WalterScott“Thatyoungladyhadatalent fordescribingtheinvoIvementandfeelingsandcharactersofordinarylifewhichistomethemostwonderfulIevermetwith.TheBigBow-wowstrainIcandomyselflikeanynowgoing,buttheexquisitetouchwhichrendersordinarycommonplacethingsandcharactersinterestingfromthetruthofdescriptionandthesentimentisdeniedme.Whatapitysuchagiftedcreaturediedsoearly! ”(qtd.inGillie,2005;86)AsthefirstnovelofJaneAusten,SenseandSensibility(1811)hasneverdiminisheditsinflueneesinceitscreation.ItinvoIvedmanycharacterswhosepersonalitiesaredepictedvividlybytheirconversations.Sheisoneofthegreatest,oneofthemostaccuratewritersofdialogueofherownoranyage,”asDr.Chapmanclaims(Lascelles,1995:96).PrideandPrejudice(1813)isperhapsJaneAusten?best-knownnovel.Sheexpressedwellherviewofmarriagewhichconsideredasabannerthatadvocatedpeopleshouldgetmarriedforloveinsteadofonlyformoney.(15褚愛平楊健發(fā))Inmyopinion,Austen?viewofmarriageinflueneedbyherbiographicalbackground,herclass,herreligion,herloveandsoon.Theseelementswereveryimportantinhermarriageconcept.ThesisstatementThispaperattemptstostudyJaneAusten?viewpointsonmarriageinSenseandSensibilityandPrideandPrejudice.Inthesetwonovels,theauthorexpressesherfeelingsandthoughtsthatahappymarriageshouldbecomposedoflove,financialstability,physicalattraction,mutualunderstanding,respect,sense,sensibilityandresponsibility.Byprovidingananalysisoftheauthor?viewpointsonmarriage,thispaperrevealssenseandsensibilityinthesenovels.IndoingsoitconfirmsJaneAusten?reputationasoneofthegreatestnovelistsofthe19thand20thcenturiesbyhersensibilitytouniversalpatternsofhumanbehavior.OrganizationofthepaperThispaperfallsintofivechapters.ChapterOnegivesabriefintroductiontothesignificanceofwritingthepaper,thethesisstatementandthegeneralorganizationofthepaper.ChapterTwopresentsaliteraturereviewofpreviousstudiesofJaneAusten?sSenseandSensibilityandPrideandPrejudice.ChapterThree,themainpartofthepaper,providesananalysisofJaneAusterfifeviewpointsonmarriageasreflectedinSenseandSensibilityandPrideandPrejudice.ChapterFourprovidesabriefaccountofthecausesforJaneAusten?viewpointsonmarriage.ChapterFiveisthenaturalconclusionofthispaper.Chaptern?LiteraturereviewIntroduction,Youngwomenwhohavenoeconomicorpoliticalpowermustattendtotheseriousbusinessofcontrivingmaterialsecurity?JaneAusten?sardonichumorlaysbarethestratagems,thehypocrisyandpoignancyinherentinthestrugglesoftwoverydifferentsisterstoachievingrespectability.SenseandSensibilityisadelightfulcomedyofmannersinwhichthesistersElinorandMariannerepresentthesetwoqualities.Elinor?scharacterisoneofAugustandetachment,whileMarianne,aferventdiscipleoftheRomanticAge,learnstocurbherpassionatenatureintheinterestsofsurvival.SenseandSensibility,thefirstofAusten?novelstobepublished,remainsasfreshacautionarytaletodayasiteverwas.Sineeitsimmediatesuccessin1813,PrideandPrejudicehasremainedoneofthemostpopularnovelsintheEnglishIanguage.JaneAustencalledthisbrilliantwork"herowndarlingchild"anditsvivaciousheroine,ElizabethBennet,"asdelightfulacreatureaseverappearedinprint."TheromanticclashbetweentheopinionatedElizabethandherproudbeau,Mr.Darcy,isasplendidperformanceofcivilizedsparring.AndJaneAusten,sradiantwitsparklesashercharactersdanceadelicatequadrilleofflirtationandintrigue,makingthisbookthemostsuperbcomedyofmannersofRegencyEngland.B?LiteratureReviewItistruthuniversallyacknowledgethatasinglemaninpossessionofgoodfortunemustbeinwantofawife”ThisfirstsentenceinPrideandPrejudicedeterminesthetoneofthewholenovel,whichtellsusthatallthestoriestoldarebasedonmarriage.SenseandSensibilitywasthefirstnovelJaneAustenpublished.ThoughsheinitiallycalleditElinorandMarianne,Austenjettisonedboththetitleandtheepistolarymodeinwhichitwasoriginallywritten,butkepttheessentialtheme:thenecessityoffindingaworkablemiddlegroundbetweenpassionandreason.JaneAustenwasoneofthegreatestrealisticnovelistsinEnglishliteratureinthe19thcentury.Duringtheforty-twoyearsofherlife,Austenhadcompletedsixnovelsandleftbehindthreefragments.Inherworks,Austenvividlyrevealedtheclassrelationship,socialcustomsandmoralsofhertimebymeticulouslyandhumorouslydepictingthelifeoftheruralgentryanthattime.Duringthepasttwohundredyears,Austenartisticcharmhasremainedunchangedinspiteofthechangeofreade?literarytaste.VirginiaWoolfoncewrotethatofallgreatwritersJaneAustenwasthemostdifficulttocatchintheactofgreatness.(Woolf15)InthetwentiethcenturyJaneAusten?greatnes§hasneverbeenchallenged.MarriageofAusten?timeactuallywasakindoffoundationstoneanditsfunctionwasmainlythekeytotheconnectionoffortune,thedecisionofrelationandtherightofinheritanee.(Wilkes84)Whatitvaluedwastobematchedformarriage.NowadaysthemarriageforloveisdifferentfromJaneAusten?time.Itneedsequalityandfreedominanyaspect.Ahappymarriageshouldbebasedontruelove.Inmodernpeople?viewofmarriageisthatamarriageeitherformoneyorforlustisanunhappyone,thoughpropertyandsocialstatusplayanimportantroleinmarriage.Itisopposedtobesimplyformoneyandsheinsistedthatthereshouldbeabalaneebetweensenseandsensibilityinthemarriage.Heridealmarriagewasthatwecannotmarryformoneyorregardmarriageasagame.Sheadvocatedthemarriageforbothloveandeconomicconsiderationwithloveplayingtheleadingrole.Meanwhile,shealsoexposedthattheessentialsofbourgeoismarriagewereadealofmoneyandacombinationofbenefitunderthepatriarchy.InSenseandSensibility,Janerevealsthatmarriageisbasedonlove,butjustromanticloveisnotenoughinmarriage,forpeopleneedmoneytosupporttheirlives.Ontheotherhand,moneyplaysanimportantroleinmarriage.Inheropinion,itisthecombinationofloveandmoneythatcanbeperfectandbringpeoplerealhappiness.JaneAusten?sensibleviewonmarriageiscloselyrelatedtowomen?lowsocialstatusatthattimeandherownloveexperienee.Inhereyes,itisnotethicalthatpeoplemarryforthestatuspurely,andregardthemarriageasadeal.Atthattime,theentireEuropewasexperiencingabigtransformation;theyoungpeoplehavetoreceivetheinfectionfromtherevolutionary.Theyturnadeafeartotheprejudicefromthetradition,andpursueideallove.InPrideandPrejudice,allthesesmarriagesreflectpeopledlifeandfateofthattime.Theyreflectthesocietyoftheday.Theotheryoungcouple?marriagesinthebookareonlycomparisontoElizabethandDarcy?marriage.Itindicatestheirbravebehaviorthattheydaretolookdownuponcommoncustoms-everythingisdecidedbyloveandmoney;TonyTanneroncesaid:JaneAusten,aswellasotherauthors,isveryclearthatnofeelingcouldbeextremelypureandnomotivecouldbedefinitelysingle.Butaslongasitispossible,weshouldmakeitclearthatwhichfeelingormotiveplaystheleadingrole.(Tanner20)C.SummaryTheabove-mentionedstudieshavecontributedmuchtothestudyofthetextofJaneAusten?worksfromavarietyofapproaches.ThereisagreatneedtoexplorefurtherunderstandingofviewpointofmarriageinSenseandSensibilityandPrideandPrejudice.Chapter皿?JaneAusten'viewpointsonmarriageasreflectedinSenseandSensibilityandPrideandPrejudiceJaneAusten'viewsonmarriageasreflectedinSenseandSensibilityInSenseandSensibilityJaneAustenwelldescribedmostoftheunmarriedgirl?pursuitsandideasaboutmarriageinherowntime.Ofcourse,thesedescriptionshadbroughtheragreatfameaswellassomecriticisms.Whatevershewasconsideredas,inmyopinion,shehadasensibleviewonmarriage.Maybeherviewisnotadvaneednowadays.However,inthepast,especiallyintheeighteenthcenturyinEngland,sheundoubtedlypossessedafarliberalattitudetowardsmarriagebeyondhercontemporaries.Atthattime,womerfesocialstatuswasverylow.Livinginaconfinedcircle,theycouldn?tfindanyjobuniesstheywouldliketobecomeagoverness.Asaresult,toassuretheireverydaylife,itwasveryimportantforthemtomarryawealthyman.So,atthattime,formostmarriageablegirls,marriagewasjustawaytoliveastablelife.Moneybecamethemostimportantfactorinconditioningamarriage.Withakeensenseofhumor,Austenexpressedacriticalviewonthismoney-orientedmarriage.Astotheunionofmanandwoman,JaneAustenbelievesthatthereshouldbeabalaneebetweensenseandsensibilityinlove,equalneedofpropertyandloveinmarriage,anddomesticequalityinpersonalities.DifferentcharacteristicsbetweentwosistersElinorandMariannearesisterswithoppositetemperaments.Traditionally,ithasbeenviewedthat19-year-oldElinor,theelderdaughter,representssensWofthetitle,andMarianne,whois17,represents§ensibility”(emotion).Howeverthisviewisaveryrestrictingone.Oncloseinspectionofthenovelitcanbeseenthateachsisterrepresentsdifferentaspectsofeachcharacteristics.Elinor,whoseadviceissoeffectual,possessesastrengthenunderstanding,andcoolnessofjudgment.Shehasagentledispositionandastrongfeelingandsheisgoodatdealingwiththehouseworkandrelationshipswithotherpeople.WhileromanticMarianneissensibleandclever,buteagerineverything;sheisgenerous,amiableandinteresting;sheisdoingeverythingperfectlybutlackofprudent.DifferentattitudestowardsloveWhensheisinjured,shecantryherbesttocontrolherfeelinginordertolethermotherandhersisternotknowsthetruth.Withthesoberjudgmentandspecialview,sheknowslowtocontrolherfeelings.Icouldnotbehappywithamanwhosetastedidnotineverypoint-coincidewithmyown.Hemustenterintoallmyfeelings;thesamewithbooks,thesamemusicmustcharmusboth.ReasonableElinorfallsinlovewithagentlemanalreadyengaged.WhenMariannelikestoreadandexpressherfeelings,Elinorpreferstodrawanddesignandbesilentofhisdesires.Elinoriskindandcankeepclamwhenproblemsarise.Buthersisterhasacompletelydifferentattitudetowardslove.WhenshemeetsWilloughby,sheca?helpfallinginlovewithhimatthefirstsightwhoisahandsomeman.Whenhecomes,Mariannepaysmuchattentiontohim;shebelievesinfirstsightandpassionatelove,ameetingoftastesandminds;shetrustsherfeelingstoguideherconduct.WhensheknowsthatWilloughbywillpartfromher,sheisindeepsorrow.LaterthesocialandpsychologicaldangersofshowingfeelingsareexcruciatinglydramatizedasMarianneinsistsonclaimingintimacywithWilloughbyinacrowdedballroom.Mariannedoesr?believehewillcheather.ThemarriagesoftwosistersElinorfindshermatchinEdwardFerrars,agentlemanwithwhomshefallsquickly,completely,albeitquietlyinlove.TherelationshipbetweenElinorandEdwardcontainsbothelementsthatmustbepresenttohaveagoodmarriageinAustensview.TheyaremostcertainlyinlovewitheachotherandtheyalsostrugglethroughEdward?sengagementtoLucySteeletogether.EdwardandElinoralsohavequite,sensibilepersonalitiesthatcomplementeachotherquitewell,whichisanicefinishingtouchontheirmarriage.MarianneeventuallymarriesColonelBrandon,amanwhoshedoesnotseeinaromanticlightuntiltheveryendofthenovel,thoughhefallsinlovewithherearlyon.First,MariannethrowsherselfintoapassionateromancewithWilloughbyandissetonmarryinghim.Thoughtheybothloveeachother,Willoughbyrealizesthatthemarriagewillnotworkanddecidestomarryformoneyratherthanforlove.Marianneisheartbroken,butfindsconsolationinColonelBrandon,laterresultingintheirmarriage.JaneAusten'viewsonmarriageasreflectedinPrideandPrejudiceTheessentialstatementmadeaboutmarriageinPrideandPrejudiceisthatamarriageformoneywillendupunsuccessfully,astothemarriageofCharlotteLucasandMr.Collins.Atthesametime,amarriagebasedpurelyonthemeansofpassionandlustalonewillalsobedoomedtoafailureastothemarriageofLydiaandWickham.What?more,amarriagebasedonappearaneeisdestinedtobeafailure,astothemarriageofMr.andMrs.Bennet.Abalaneemustbemet.Acombinationofallaspectsshouldbewelcomed.ThisisprovensuccessfullyintheothermarriagessuchasthetwoeldestBennets,especiallythemarriageofElizabethandMr.Darcy.Theauthor?marriageviewisthatmarriageshouldbecomposedoflove,finicalstability,physicalattraction,mutualunderstanding,respectandresponsibility.DifferentcharacteristicsamongwomenElizabethhasinheritedherfather?witandintelligenee,whoseappearanceisbeautiful.Butshealwayspridedherselfonherjudgmentatthebeginningofthenovel.UntilMr.Darcychanged,sherealizesthatvanityhasbeenthecauseofherprejudice.HereldersisterJane,abeautiful,good-tempered,sweet,amiable,humbleandselflesswoman,hasahappymarriage.Lydiaisfoolishandflirtatious,shelacksanysenseofvirtue,proprietyorgood-judgment,asseeninherelopementwithWickham.SheisdeceivedbyWickhamfeappearaneeofgoodnessandvirtue.Charlotteacceptspitifulfate,whichmainlycausedbythedevelopmentofsocialeconomyandherownsocialstatusdeterminethatshehasnootherchoice.Andsheisattheageoftwenty-seven,withouthavingeverbeenbeautiful.DifferentvaluesintheirmarriagesElizabethandJanevaluemarriagewithloveandmoney,anditshouldbebasedontheharmonyofsenseandsensibility.Theirmarriagestelltheawakeningofthefeminineconsciousness.WhileLydiaisdeceivedbyWickham@appearanceofgoodnessandvirtue,notconsideringtherightmarriedfactors.Charlotteseemstohavefoundsomeofsatisfactionandhappinessinhermarriagewithoutanylove.Butinfactshehastodependonherhusbandtoensurefoodandclothingforthesecondhalfofherlife.ThemarriagesoffourwomenAstoCharlotteLucas,Elizabeth?dearestfriend,shemarriesMr.Collinsformoneyratherthanforloveorappearanee.ItiscommonpracticeduringJaneAustentimeforwomentomarryahusbandtosaveherfromspinsterhoodortogainfinancialsecurity.ThenarratorplainlystatesthatCharlotteacceptedMr.Collins?proposalforthepureanddisinteresteddesireofanestablishment.Lydia?marriagetoWickhamwassimplyforpassion,romaneeandlust.Foragoodwhile,theflirtatiousteenagerhadhereyeonmilitaryofficers.WhenWickhamshowedhisattentionshefellinloveandhenceforthcametheirmarriage.Thesadfactisthatshelikedhimagreatidealmorethanhecaredabouther.Wickhamhadmanydebtsandusedthemoneyhegotfrommarryinghertopaythemoff.JanelovedMr.Bingleyforquiteawhile.Actually,theywereappealedbyeachotherwhentheyfirstmetattheball.Bingleywashandsome,rich,kind,andwellliked.HeandJanesharedmanyconversationsandhadcomplimentarypersonalities.Theywerepleasantlymatchedandtheysharedahappylifetogether.ElizabethandDarcy?marriagewasanexcellentmatch.Theywereequalintellect,hadphysicalattractionanddeeploveforoneanother,financialsecurity,romanee,andcompanionship.Butsomehowthepassagetheywalkedbeforetheygotmarriedatlastwasquitedifficult.However,theirmarriagewasjustanidealone.Theauthor,JaneAusten,throughthiscouplewantedthereadertoknowthatthemarriageshouldbecomposedoflove,financialstability,physicalattraction,mutualunderstanding,respect,sense,sensibilityandresponsibility.JaneAustensviewsonmarriageAsweallknow,Austenwasunmarriedallherlife,butitdidn ?meanshehadnochaneetobeinloveorgetmarried.Shehadbeeninlovewithtwoyoungmenwhenshewasyoung,butnoneofthemcouldgotoagoodending.Whenshewastwenty-sevenyearsold,amanwithgreatfortuneaskedhertomarryhimAustenagreed,butafterasleeplessnight,sheregretted.Whenshewasthirty-three,shealmostagreedtomarryaclergymanwhowasinmiddleage,butattheend,itwassettledbyleavingunsettled.Alltheseexperiencesbroughtherspecialmaritalviewpoint(atleastitdidnothumorperfectlytothesocietyshelivedin).Inshort,Austen?viewpointsare:loveisthefoundationforahappymarriage,whichshouldbebasedongreatfortune.Althoughpropertyistheguaranteeofhappymarriage,amarriagelackofloveandunderstandingisunaccepted.Althoughfinelookscangivegoodimpressiontoothers,onlyindependentindividualityandgoodcharactercanattracteachotherforever.Astotheunionofmanandwoman,JaneAustenbelievesthatthereshouldbeabalaneebetweensenseandsensibilityinlove,equalneedofpropertyandloveinmarriage,anddomesticequalityinpersonalities.Austendidnotagreetomarryformoney,althoughinhermind,itisperfectforyoungwomentomarry,whiletheycangetloveandfortuneatthesametime.Austen?matrimonialvalueisperfect,however,shedoesr?realizeherperfectdreamallherlife.ChapterIV?CausesforJaneAuste'viewpointsonmarriageSocialbackgroundBritainwasattheperiodoftransitionfromtheearlierstageofCapitalismtoCapitalistIndustrialization.Inthecountryside,thearistocraticfamilystillheldgreatpowerandrightthatcountrysquireswerelikelytofollowwiththem.However,asthedevelopmentofCapitalismandtheexpansionoftherankofrichpeople,thedistinctionbetweensocialstratawasbecomingsmallerandsmaller,whilemoneywasgettingmoreandmoreimportantinpeoplemindaboutsocialvalue.SincetheIndustrialRevolutioninthesecondhalfofthe18century,theEnglishsocialstructureunderwentrapidchanges.Theindustrialcapitalistsbegantocontrolnotonlytheeconomicbutalsothepoliticalpowerandthusthestrugglebetweentheworkersandcapitalistsalsobecamemoreandmoresharp.FamilybackgroundJaneAustenwasbornon16December1775,atherfather?rectoryatSteventoninHampshire,theseventhinafamilyofeightchildren.Shelivedwithherparentsuntilthedeathofherfatherin1805,andthenwithhermotheruntiltheyearofherowndeath.Herfather,GeorgeAusten,wasascholarlygentlemanofmoderateincome.Hehadeverdoneallinhispowertoincreasehisincomebyraisinghistithes,etc.whenhedied,hiswidowanddaughterswereinstraitenedcircumstances,Mrs.Austen?incomewasnotgreatandtheirtotalincomewasnomorethantwohundredandtenpounds,andthehelpofthesonoffamilyonlymadelifepossibleforthem.ThehouseholdmovedfromSteventontoBathin1801,fromBathtoSouthamptonin1806,fromSouthamptontotheHampshirevillageofChawtonin1809,everychangeofaddressrepresented,onthewhole,adownwardsocialdirection.Thoughallhershortlife,shehadlivedwithinaverynarrowincomer.Justasmostoftheheroinesinhernovels,AustenherselfwasaCinderellainamateriallydisadvantagedcondition.Herparentsneverwealthybuthadaristocraticconnection.TheverydiffereneebetweentheAustenandherheroinesisthatshehadagoodmother;alltheAusten@heroinesaremotherless.Hermother,CassandraAusten,alively,intelligentwifeandmother,wasathriftyandsensiblemanagerofherlargefamily.ShekeptafewcowsatSteventonandwouldcertainlyhavehadawell-stockedpoultryyard.Toaddvarietytomealsforthefamilyandvisitorssheandherhusbandworkedhardinthevegetablegardenandorchard.Shewasagreatreaderofnovels,borrowedfromacirculatinglibraryinBasingstoke,andshehadagiftforwritingverseandchoosingwordstorhymeagiftinheritedbyseveralofherchildren.EnvironmentalinfluenceAmongthegentry,thelevelofsocietyintowhichshewasborn,singlewomenwerewithoutstatus.Asaparson?daughterwithnohopeofadowry,sheknewthathoweverattractiveshemayhavebeentotheoppositesex,shehadonlyaslenderchaneeoffindingahusbandinthefairlyrestrictedcircleofaequaintaneesinHampshire.YetCassandra,equallywithoutmoneyorproperty,fellinloveandengagedtoTomFowle,oneofherfather?formerpupils.Butthefollowingyearcamenewsthat,herdearandonlylove?haddiedofyellowfeverinStDomingo.Shenevermarried,thoughherlife,shehadverycloserelationshipwithJane.SoherinfluencetoAustencannotbeneglected.EmotionalexperienceJaneAustennevermarried.ItissaidthatwhenAustenwasonholidayatDawlishandTeignmouth,shemetagentlemanwhosecharmofperson,mind,andmannerswereworthyofpossessingandlikelytowinherlove.Butthetwodidnotmeetagain,andshortlyitisheardthathehaddied.IthasbeenassertedthatalthoughTomLeforywasattractedtoher,hejiltedJane,aparso?5daughterwithnoprospectedofdowry.DuringaroundofvisitstoHampshirein1802,JanedidacceptaproposalofmarriagefromHarrisBiggWitheratManydown,butduringthenightshechangedhermind.HewassixyearsyoungerthanJane,andifshewasattractedbytheprospectofreturningtoHampshireasmistressofManydownshewouldhavehadtowaituntil1813,whenHarris?fatherdiedandthepropertybecamehis.SoJanSStruelovecanneverbaseonthefortuneandclass.AletterJanewrotetoFannyexpressestheJane'commentonlove：Yourmistakehasbeenonethatthousandofwomenfallinto.Hehasthefirstyoungmanwhoattachedhimselftoyou.Thatwasthecharm,&mostpowerfulitis…whatistobedone?Youcertainlyhaveencouragedhimtosuchapointasmakehimfellalmostsecureofyou …Andnow,mydearfanny,havingwritten somuchononesideofquestion,Ishallturnround¬tot