Abstract

Changes in society, economy and politics have influenced every class at the age when Jane Austen lived. Affected by Renaissance, the young generation showed humanitarian attitudes to marriage and love. At the same time, Jane Austen’s ideal marriage not only required equality and respect, but also needed freedom and acknowledgement. By describing different love stories Austen wanted people to get rid of the outdated restraints and to find their own values and gain a happy marriage. This thesis will take some Jane Austen’s works as examples to study what Western women’s love values were in 19th century and what affected the form of those values.

Key words: social status, economy, religion, feminism, love values

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction .1

2. Perfect match .1

2.1 Social status 2

  2.1.1 Women’s status in patriarchal society2

2.1.2 Respected order of different professions.3

  2.2 Economic status .4

  2.2.1 Pursuit of fortune 4

  2.2.2 Money and happiness 5

3. Religion . .5

3.1 Preference for clergy 6

3.2 characteristics of clergymen in Austen’s works.6

  3.2.1 Positive characters6

3.2.2Negative characters7

4. Indications of Feminism in representative heroines7

 4.1 Equality in wisdom.8

4.1.1 Elizabeth Bennet  .8

4.1.2 Emma Woodhouse .8

4.2 Women’s self-esteem 9

4.2.1Elinor Dashwood 9

  4.2.2Marianne Dashwood 9

5. Conclusion .9 

Works Cited .11