“Pride and Prejudice” and “Our Mutual Friend”: A Comparison of Societies Influence upon Marriage Compare and Contrast passages from Jane Austin and Charles Dickens novels By contemporary In two societies where social hierarchy rules over love in marriage, the tones of selfish progression in the passage from Pride and Prejudice counter those of loving security in the passage from Our Mutual Friend. The character of Mr.. Collins uses marriage fro social gain, having it take precedence over the feelings of the woman to whom he wants to marry.
The other man longs to Robbie for the woman he loves and wishes to marry. The author’s diction in the first passage conveys Mr.. Collins lack of natural fire or passion towards the woman he wishes to wed. Under the “recommendation” of his ” patroness” he decided to choose a “gentlewoman” to make his wife. He is only marrying to please his boss in hopes of furthering his own social standing. By choosing a woman of humble origin his apartness will allow his wife the honor of a visit from her personally. Contrary to the first passage the second conveys a man’s passionate love for a woman. Ender the influence of “tremendous” attraction and a love that “overmasters” the man desperately seeks for a “favorTABLE” answer to his offer of marriage. This man has tried to resist his love but it and the attraction are just too strong for him to overcome. His only solution to his mad is for her to accept his hand in marriage. While Mr.. Collins drive is for self happiness the other man’s drive is for the happiness of the woman whom he loves. The detail in the ‘Pride and Prejudice” passage illuminates Mr..
Collins lack luster and formality in his proposal while the passage from Our Mutual Friend rotary’s the man’s eagerness and passion of his love. Mr.. Collins blatantly states ‘his reasons for marrying” concluding that the rank of his patroness “is the least of the advantages he has to offer. ” His long drawn out proposal gives little or no emotion but rather sounds like a salesman pitching a new item. This was common during that era, social Status was believed to be a good enough reason for marrying. In fact it was often encouraged.
On the other hand, the love of the man in the second passage is a dual edged sword. Though he proclaims that his love for the woman will be “the ruin of [me],” he till readily offers his love and reputation to act as a “shield for [hers] The man knows that being in love can change a man’s attitude but is willing to take that chance for her happiness. Security and wealth are offered as rewards in each passage, but it is in the second passage that we see the rules of society are bent in the name of love. The first person point of view in both passages reinforces the men’s purpose behind their decisions to marry.
Mr.. Collins sets forth two reasons upon which he intends to marry. First, he wishes to “set the example of matrimony n [his] parish” and secondly, he is quite convinced that it will “add greatly to [his] happiness. ” The reader is TABLE to see the formality and business like approach of Mr.. Collins. The author allows us through this view to get behind the logic of his reasoning. Likewise, the man in Our Mutual Friend begins his proposal by stating his own reason for marriage. After proclaiming “l love you” to the woman he goes into depth on why she should marry him.
He ends his speech with “l am in thorough earnest, dreadful earnest. ” This shows the man’s logic as well for marriage and allows the reader to experience the excitement that is presented. The organization in both passages moves from explanation to persuasion and finally to expected acceptance. In the beginning both men explain the reasons behind their proposals. Mr.. Collins sees marriage as a business and social opportunity as well as a duty to his apartness. Comparatively, the other man does see the social benefits but believes that love can be the only ground good enough upon which to marry.
The reader is TABLE to see both the common formality of marriage during that era along with the uncommon emotional moral. In the middle the men now move to persuade the women as to why they should marry them. This is where the security of wealth, social standing and pride is presented by each party. Each man believes that these qualities are enticing rewards of marriage for a woman. The authors’ purpose here is to show the reader the customs of that era. In the end, the men finish with the expectation that their offers will be accepted. Women during that era could not be picky with what they were offered and such security was hard to come by.
The author reestablishes here the customs of men and women and he roles they played in courtship. The author’s syntax in Pride and Prejudice moves from long formal sentences to a series of loose complex structures and finally to shorter, demanding compounds. In the beginning the sentences are long and to the point. They are formal and convey the character’s distant unattached mood towards the woman. As the section ends, the sentences evolve into looser more complex structures. It is here that Mr.. Collins presents the advice of his patroness in which the only form of emotion comes out.
The complex sentences show the harasser’s excitement that comes from talking about his honorTABLE mistress. In the end the transition to shorter, more compound sentences take place. The author does this to show the confidence Mr.. Collins has in acceptance of his proposal. Much like the first passage, the second follows along the same lines of organization. The man’s excitement rises as he continues to explain his passion. The author demonstrates this by a series of dashes and commas to create more rapid like flow of the sentences in the middle section. In the end the man is earnestly pushing for an answer of acceptance.
The ending of both acknowledges the men’s persistent manner and commanding attitudes. Society has a tendency to place a price very blatantly on an intimate human relationship. The characters’ contrasting views on the basis for marriage show this. Moreover, the link between the societies of that era and the standards of today’s are closely related. While we have more freedom to choose who to love and who to marry, society still pressures us to find the man who will love us as well as give us a boost in social standing. We are still a society that judges a person’s worth according to one’s social status.
