Introduction 1.1 Research background Jane Austen (1775-1817), one of the most well-known and popular English writers in the world, kept unmarried all her life. Jane Austen got her education mainly at home, and with a fair amount of reading literature, serious or popular, she was able to write sketches and satires at an early age, which shapes the tone of her works-satire. Due to her marvellous contribution, Eadmund Wilson said:”Since one hundred years ago, several revolution has took place in Britain. The revolution of literary taste affected almost all the popularity of writers, but only Shakespeare and Jane Austen are enduring.” Pride and Prejudice, firstly called The First Impression, was the earliest work done by Jane Austen from 1796. This book came into fame in 1813 after a period of silence. Besides, this book was adapted into films, such as Pride and Prejudice (1995) directed by Colin Firt, Pride and Prejudice (2005) directed by Mattew Macfadyen. Love and marriage between middle-class people is the theme of this book,at the latter period of the 18th century, the Britain novels put its focus on ladies, which , in return, helped lay the keynote of sadness and melancholy. However, to oppose this kind of fake writing method, Austen drew the material from her daily life and this work reflected vividly the conservative and uninformed situation of rural areas in Britain from the end of 18th century to the beginning of 19th century. In this novel, Austen told us four kinds of marriage, all of whose marriage views were typical in the end of 18th century. Marriage views that based on money, parents, status and heart were all ubiquitous. At the same time, Chinese marriage views were also affected by times and were quite different from each other. Literally, China and the West do share some similarities in marriage like the focus on parents#8217; order or money. Despite those, disparities never disappear. Comparison between them can help people better know marriage and better know the differences between two views. . 1.2 Purpose and significance of the study Pride and Prejudice has been widely read since its publication and each generation regard it as a book that benefits them all, not only because the language skills in it, but also the spirit, the marriage views that it tells. For one thing, by analyzing the four kinds of marriage in this book, readers will be able to get a further and comprehensive understanding of what is the Britain countryside like at the end of 18th century and how is the marriage views at that time, thus getting closer to Britain#8217;s history and culture. For another thing, full understanding of different marriage views will provide people with directions and instructions. For instance, the so-called ”Plato#8217;s kind of love#8217; between Darcy and Elizabeth lead us to know what is the real true love, a kind of love that is free from money, status and parents. Also, through Lucas#8217; marriage, the writer get to know that money and traditional thoughts play a vital role in most people#8217;s minds. Hence, through sufficient learning of those four marriages, it would be easy to conclude what is important to a marriage and what marriage view suits you better, and finally makes a happy marriage. Apart from the western views, knowing Chinese views also draws our attention, as Chinese, almost everyone of us get affected, that#8217;s why analyzing Chinese marriage views is also necessary. Young people may be open as westerners, but under the pressure of being filial, some have to hide or change their views, worse than that, their minds would be twisted. Therefore, a better comprehension of Chinese views can make us stay positive and at the same time, flexibly change our views under the precondition that we have the ability to stay true. Also, the history of Chinese marriage may help us to know more about family elders, thus deepening communication and feelings between family members. More important, it#8217;s ensured that people show extreme interest and concern to their nation#8217;s history, let alone marriage, an enduring topic. Last but not least, comparing the East and West would be a bridge to strengthen international cooperation and understanding, it#8217;s an opportunity for nations to learn from each other. Learn what is good and throw what is bad for us. This has been a consistent theme since ancient times-adopting good points and avoid shortcomings. Disparity and similarity both serve the international culture and relationships. 1.3. Structure of the thesis This thesis will first introduce the typical western marriages in Pride and Prejudice, then summarize them to figure out how west marriage looks like and analyze its reasons. After that, we will talk about the Chinese marriage at the same times and also, its reasons. Then, after the detailed introduction of those two kinds of marriage, a comparison and the reasons to it will be given. At last, the writer will give the introduction of marriage#8217;s further development and affects. 2. Literature review Pride and Prejudice, a book that contains four typical marriages of Britain, enjoys fame since its publication. Many scholars have made research on it. Besides, Chinese marriage has been a hot issue at any time, so study on it is also ubiquitous. Moreover, a lot of comparison of them can be found in many essays or books. Fergus(1983) made analysis of the language skills in Pride and Prejudice under the popularity of didactic novels at that time. Austen used harmonious skills to criticize the Britain society at that time, conservative and uninformed. Brown, L.W(1973) studied the feminist tradition in this book, making an account of why mother Bonnet can always manage affairs, that may account for the independence of Elizabeth#8217;s marriage, free from the trouble of money, status. In comparison, the other three ladies in the book is conservative at that time, one is traditional to marry a priest to be stable, one is for joy and excitement without consideration, Lydia has feminist awareness, but that is selfish and inconsiderate . Th last one is coward in that she totally depends on Bingley and never goes for herself,without Elizabeth#8217;s encouragement, she may not be able to be happy ultimately. Four kinds of marriage in Pride and Prejudice are analyzed too many times, Cui, Shijuan(2014) also classified them into four kinds--marriages that based on personality, sincere love, hormone and material, which helps us to know this book more vividly. Cui, Shijuan(2014)wrote four chapters for this book, in the first chapter, the author makes a study on Elizabeth#8217;s and Jane#8217;s marriages, which the author thought to be the happy ending. Both of their marriages are based on true love, which is essential for a happy marriage. Elizabeth has the courage to go after her love, so does Darcy, they love each other regardless of outside conditions. Also, Jane and Bingley don#8217;t care about people;s views and be together finally. Their marriages tells us that love is the foundation of a good marriage. Then, in the second chapter, there are two marriages which are tragic--Charlotte and Lydia, the first married for a stable life, Collins is a priest in need of a woman to take care of him and to be sociable while Charlotte, having been at the age of marrying and leaving his parents no burden, chooses to marry Collins even she doesn#8217;t love him, for them, what counts most is the material. Lydia, a young girl who is so shallow that she only cares about lust and joy, marries Wickham, a soldier loves money and temporary beauty of Lydia. Wickham promises to marry Lydia just because Dacry gives him money. These two marriages are tragedy in that they are connected by material, which is definitely not forever. Comprehensively, the author provides three theories to construct marriage and they are respectively Like-Attracts-Like Theory, Complementary Theory and Gradient Theory. The first focuses on the social strcture, which underlines the social status#8217;s importance in marriages. The second means that people will choose those who will complement their psychological and social neds, which is not rare in life. The last one is about the gender preferences, which means that people will have expectations for their partner. These three concludes factors counting in marriage and lastly, the author holds the view that marriage should be considered rationally, total dependence on love, money or lust is not gonna work. We must consider carefully and comprehensively. This is exactly what I think. Besides, The author thought the common foundation is the material, which is also necessary in Chinese concepts of marriage, Chinese traditional marriages stresses being matched, which is the core of ancient marriages affected by family. Zheng,Guoxiang(2012) clarified the family values#8217; effect on children#8217;s values. In China#8217;s marriage, she points out that family is the most important in ancient times, people#8217;s marriage are set for family#8217;s interest, there is no freedom and what is good for your family is what you need to do, this is the so-called collectivism, In my opinion, it#8217;s conservative and silly, just like a spirit of dedication, with this, people may not be east to live for themselves. While in West, individualism is popular, which largely assures people#8217;s rights and freedom, which can be concluded from Elizabeth#8217;s refusal to Collins. China is different from the west in most areas, let alone the concept of marriage, Liu, Tingting(2012)made a very detailed comparison between those concepts of marriage, based on two symbolic books, which are Pride and Prejudice and A Dream in Red Mansions. Four kinds of marriages are called marriage of love, hesitation, insurance and excitement.The author found they do share some same values like the importance of money, status. But they also have differences like the aim of marriage. Marriages in west are good for themselves while most Chinese traditional marriages are beneficial to the whole family, which shares the same opinion with Xiao, Dujuan(2011), the author thought the Chinese marriage stress collectivism while the west underline individualism, this is also. Besides, lady like Elizabeth is independent and has the right to choose while woman in ancient China seldom has the right. 3.Conclusion Pride and Prejudice#8217;s marriages are typical four kinds of marriage West, which still are research targets now. Four marriages are respectively based on love, money and joy. During which, the author praises Elizabeth#8217;s courage and feminist awareness, along with her progress, and criticizes Jane#8217;s hesitation, Charlotte#8217;s oldness, Lydia#8217;s desire for joy. The author also further illustrates people#8217;s human rights, which is rare in China when comparing. China, since a long time ago, is a collectivism-oriented country and its#8217; citizen#8217;s marriage are set for family, people don#8217;t have the right to go for happiness, and even it does exists, it will end in tragedy, let alone Elizabeth#8217;s courage and wisdom. Now, the West is still an open country that attaches importance to freedom to choose their their marriages, and what#8217;s better is that China is progressing too. However, bad tradition won#8217;t disappear totally, it must exists somewhere. By this study, people will have more understanding of the development of marriages in both East and West. Besides, rational judgement will be available instead of basing marriage just on money or love. The right thing to do is considering wholly and comprehensively. Works Cited Brown, L.W. Jane Austen and the Feminist Tradition. California: University of California P, 1973. Chen, Shuo[陈硕]. 中美婚姻伦理差异研究[J]. 河南理工大学学报(社会科学版). 2011(04) Copeland Edward : ”Money”, The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen. 1997.5.13 Cui, Shijuan. [崔世娟] 《傲慢与偏见》的婚姻观研究 2014.06.05 Debra Teachman .Understanding pride and prejudice 1997.11.1 Dong, Tian Feng, Libo Ping, Wei[董天,冯丽博,平玮]. 中美婚姻观念的不同及原因探讨[J]. 传奇.传记文学选刊(理论研究). 2010(12) Fergus, Jane Austen and the Didactic Novel 1983.3 Gao, Xueli. [高学丽] 中国传统婚姻观之”门当户对”2017.07.25 Hua, zhu. Product advertisement and National Culture[J]. Journal of Southern Jane, Austen . Pride and Prejudice. Beijing: Foreign Languages P, 2008. Liu, Tingting. [刘婷婷] 中西文化背景下的婚姻观对比分析.苏州大学 2012 Wang, Shouren. Selected Readings in British Literature. Beijing: Higher Education P, 2014 Xie, Lijun[谢利君] 中美家庭观的差异(英文)[J]. 语文学刊(外语教育与教学). 2010(05) Xiao, Dujuan[肖杜娟] 中美婚姻价值观比较研究[J]. 商业文化(下半月). 2011(01) Yu, Longyu. 郁龙余.中西文化异同论. 北京：生活读书新知三联书店，1989 Zheng, Guoxiang[郑国香] 中美家庭价值观的跨文化对比研究[J]. 河南工业大学学报(社会科学版). 2012(02) Zhu, Gang. Twentieth Century Western Critical Theories. Shanghai: Foreign Language Education P, 2001. Outline: 1. Introduction 1.1 Research background 1.2Need for the study 2. Literature review 3.Comparison on marriages between the East and West 3.1 An analysis of marriage views in Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth Darcy Collins Lucas Jane Mr..Bingley Lydia Wickham 3.2 An analysis of Chinese marriage views 3.3 A comparative study on Chinese marriages and Westerns 3.3.1 Similarities and reasons Status Wealth Patriarchy 3.3.2 Differences and reasons: Aim Independence Love 4. Further study on the development of marriage views 5. Conclusion Works Cited