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In this paper, the marriages of Xue Baochai, from Dream of Red Masions and Charlotte Lucas, from Pride and Prejudice are to be analyzed. The paper tries to reveal the differences in marriages between China and England. Different factors will be analyzed to find the causes to the differences. In the end, after the analysis of Baochai’s and Charlotte’s marriages, some suggestions will be provided in seeking happy marriages.源'自:优尔`!论~文'网www.youerw.com
2. Literature Review
Marriage, an important part of culture, reflects the different values of groups of people. In most European countries, the marriage is deeply affected by Christianity . The focus on the respect for the inpidual’s willing in Christian enables woman to have more freedom in her marriage. “European pattern unmarried life for an adult woman was accepted as a normal alternative to marriage”. (John 43) Besides, monogamy was commonly practiced in the west. The fact can be referred from Lin’s book. “The story of God’s creating Eve from Adam as Adam’s wife could be seen as the source of monogamy”. (Lin Zhongze 2002 63) While in China, marriages are deeply affected by the thought of patriarchal. “The main purpose of the Chinese traditional marriage is reproducing, growing clan, protecting family’s reputation and improving the family’s prestige”. (Han Fang 2008 1215) On this purpose, polygamy was practiced in China long before. Besides, few people could choose their marriages by following their own feeling in the feudal society. “The Chinese culture has the characteristic of collectivity, which never allows the idea of self over community”. (Ma Fangqin 2012 1).
3. Analysis of Two Characters
3.1 Xue Baochai
Xue Baochai is a model Chinese Feudal maiden, sensible and tactful. She comes from an aristocratic family and receives good education. Although reluctant to show the extent of her knowledge, Baochai is descibed quite learned about everything, from Buddhist teachings to to the ways of making plate crack. In the novel, the author first describes her like that although she is only slightly older than Daiyu, she is such a proper and charming young lady that most people considered her superior to Daiyu.(Yang Xianyi 2003 31) Though she seems to have everything an ordinary girl dreams of, she bears the great pressure from her big family. Baochai and her mother lodged at her aunt’s home for her mother’s sake. The novel depicts her as beautiful and intelligent, but also reserved and following strictly the rules of decorum.
Unlike Daiyu, Baochai was deeply affected by the feudal value. Although she received good education in her childhood, after her father’s death, she was taught to be a feudal maiden and to aim at marrying a good husband. Her natural pursuit for love has been restrained by her family, eventually, she lost her own personality and became a sacrifice of the feudal society.
In conclusion, though she is once a girl with dreams and ideas, there is lack in resistance in her personality and limpness in her nature, which leads to her tragedy.