Themes of Marriage Contained in Two Novels: Pride and Prejudice and Our Mutual Friend

Proposing marriage may be similar yet different in many aspects. Such is the case in the passages spoken by some major characters in two literary novels Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen and Our Mutual Friend written by Charles Dickens. When compared making use of relevant "thesis statement" handout, the given passage in each novels tried to convey that a marriage is driven by superficial and sincere love.

The major ways by which the passages spoken by the speakers may be compared are as follows - 1) Arguments: In the marriage proposal to Pride and Prejudice's Ms. Elizabeth Bannet, Mr. Collins seem to suggest that love does not always dictate marriage, especially when he said in line 5 that marriage will add happiness to him, such that: "… I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness …" while in Charles Dickens' Bradley Heddstone, marriage should be moved by love as in line 11-12, "But if you would return a favourable answer to my offer of my self in marriage, you could draw me to any good - - every good - - with equal force."

2) Assumptions: Mr. Collins addressed a number of reasons why a woman's reputation is important as in the line 15 which says, "(chuse) a gentlewoman for my sake; and for your own, let her be an active, useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good way" while Bradley Heddstone only once in line 25, "I only add that if it is any claim on you to be in earnest, I am in thorough earnest, dreadful earnest."

3) Attitudes: Mr. Collins looks idiotic and pompous with his statements in the first few lines, "My reasons for marrying are first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like my self) to set the example of matrimony in his parish," but Bradley Heddstone showed obsessive love in line 15, "My reputation stands quite high, and would be a shield for yours. if you saw me at my work, able to do it well and respected in it, you might even come to take a sort of pride in me: I would try hard that you should, what ever considerations I may have thought of against this offer."

4) Diction: In Jane Austen's characterization of Mr. Collins appears pompous in speech and his flattery is self-serving because of the high-sounding phrases he uttered in the passage like in line 20, "chuse a gentlewoman for my sake; and for your own, let her be an active, useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good way. This is my advice. find such a woman as soon as you can bring her to Hunsford and I will visit her." Bradley Heddstone, however, looks obsessively in-love with Lizzie Hex.

5) Intended result of the proposal: Mr. Collins' marriage proposal represents marriage for superficial purposes, which can never result in happiness unlike Bradley Heddstone who wishes to have a serious spouse.

In the final analysis, marriage contribute to the sum that happy and strong marriage takes time to build and must be based on mutual feeling, understanding, and respect. Hasty marriages acting on impulse, and based on superficial qualities will not survive and will lead to inevitable unhappiness.

In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen has denounced the elements of marriage and society that she found distasteful. These are the conclusions of her observation of the people in her world. Meanwhile, Charles Dickens champions marriage that is moved by love.