Doran's View Of The Courtships During Queen Elizabeth I

she had in choosing her future husband. But even the children of the poor were expected to

The argument has been put forth that Elizabeth failed to marry due to her council’s attitude. While her council played a vital role, they weren’t the only contributing factor; unsuitable candidates and the political advantage that came with negotiations also resulted in her failure to marry. Elizabeth was ultimately in control of the matches, however relied on the support provided by her councillors.

Marriages tended to be for strategic purposes rather than love, so family life in the Elizabethan Era was different than family life today ("Elizabethan Family Life” 1).

By studying both texts, it becomes clear that over time the process of determining relationships has strongly shifted. In the Regency Era, high born families and gentlemen populated most of upper society. Marriages were decided strategically and politically in order to secure a relationship with a noble. Although mostly sought as a bridge to high

Elizabethan era marriages differ from the marriages carried out today. In the Elizabethan era most of the marriages were arranged by the spouse’s parents, but in this new era you start finding love by meeting a person you find attractive, then you start dating, next you get engaged, and finally you get married! We usually know that in the Elizabethan era it was very ridiculous to marry someone because of love even if love may occur sometimes in marriage. The only reason why the parents organized the marriages was because the two sides of the groom and bride families received benefits from one another. According to the Elizabethan England life website it says that the marriages were arranged for wealth and reputation. In other words, the parents just wanted power, money, and royalty.

Even so, Dione and Murray show public affection for one another, which was also not seen as inappropriate in Regency England before or even after wedlock. Through the presentation of their physical contact and close body proximity, the audience perceive a humorous relationship that is being addressed in an accepted way by the director. Therefore, through the assistance of Heckerling’s Clueless she has emphasised the clear contrast in nuptial expectations between her own and Austen’s time period.

When we look back upon the lives of the men and women living in Elizabethan England their traditions of love and marriage, at first glance, seems so far removed from what we know today. Their antiquated views on the roles men and women play in everyday life further alienate their culture surrounding courtships and marriages. In retrospect, from the views of today’s culture with its emphasis on true love and passion, the customs and traditions of Elizabethan England seem harsh and calculated. The complex rules and subtle nuances seem worlds away from what marriage has evolved to today. Upon closer inspection you might find there are some aspects about courtship and marriage in 16th and 17th century England that don’t differ so strongly

During the 1800’s English people had to follow many specific social rules in order to be considered a respectable member of society. For instance, “A single woman never addressed a gentleman without an introduction” (“Courtship”). Many of these young people met at social events like balls or through friends and family, although the greatest formality was taken at the beginning of the relationship. Courtship progressed through highly regarded steps until the couple felt ready for marriage. And, often, men and women in courting rarely talked, yet rushed into marriage to realize that they were not even fond of each other (“Courtship”). As much as courtship had an effect on the life of the English people, the effect of social status equally changed the situations of those living at that

Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled England for nearly half a century, is remembered in present-day for her political accomplishments, such as, providing economic prosperity, defeating the Spanish Armada, returning England to Protestantism, and clearing debt. Elizabeth is also remembered as being the only queen of England to never marry. As a result of this, Elizabeth received the label, ‘The Virgin Queen’. The reason behind Elizabeth’s refusal to marry has been frequently debated since the beginning of her reign. The most notable arguments in this debate have been, because of the gender expectations and limitations enforced upon women during the 16th century, as a way of establishing and maintaining control and power over her kingdom and its people, and devotion and loyalty to her country rather than a husband and family.

There are many similarities and differences in Elizabethan marriages and relationships compared to the relationships in the text “Bringing Home the Wrong Race”. All three talk about how parents have preferences about what race or certain people they want their son or daughter to date. On the other side, there are many many differences in relationships in the modern text compared to the Elizabethan era and in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. However, the problem of parents still having preferences exists till this day. From race, to religion, to culture, some parents still want their son or daughter to date only a range of people. This problem is addressed in all three texts.

In the Victorian era, courtship rituals were slightly different from modern time courtships. It started with couples speaking first, going out together, and finally they would keep each other company after mutual attraction was confirmed. The character

Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen’s guardian, views marriage within two simple categories: “Business or pleasure”. When differing views ponder the subject of marriage, it can be seen that London’s nineteenth century society concures on the subject. Miss Prism statement that “[p]eople who live entirely for pleasure usually [are married].” ( ). Miss Prism’s harsh criticization of her time period’s views upon marriage demonstrate the hypocrisy within, utterly due to a proposition of love between her and Chasuble.

Through the use of literary devices, Pride and Prejudice reveals Jane Austen’s attitude towards the novel’s theme of true love through the actions of the suitors; the process of courtship in the 1800s articulates characterization, foreshadowing, and irony. The novel opens with the line, “it is a truth acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of wife,” (Austen 1) which foreshadows the conflict of finding a significant other . During the Victorian age, men and women courted others of the same education, wealth, and social status; it was considered uncommon for someone to marry beneath them or to marry for love. Jane Austen uses Elizabeth Bennett’s encounters with different characters of varying

If she married a man with enough money and respectability, then she could look forward to a comfortable life. If she did not marry, then she was doomed to be homeless and indigent, as there were little to no job options for women at the time. In this time when women were fully dependent on men for survival, Elizabeth still manages to stay true to her beliefs by not being eager to marry. If she is to be married, Elizabeth would want it to be out of “true affection”, which could then grant her much “felicity” (Austen, 75). She would never want to marry a man solely for financial security, as society expects many women to. Elizabeth doesn’t let societal pressures hinder her beliefs on what constitutes a successful, worthwhile marriage. When Mr. Collins proposed to Elizabeth, she confidently turned him down by saying it was “impossible for [her] to do otherwise than to decline” his offer (Austen, 81). She had long decided that Collins was a ridiculous man who she had little respect for. She would not give up her independence to spend the rest of her life with him, even if it would have kept the Bennet property within the family. Declining this opportunity of marriage is rather courageous of Elizabeth because she is risking never being proposed to again, putting her chance for a stable life at risk. The Bennets could only afford a small dowry, which would not attract many suitors. With that in mind, Elizabeth shows her

Jane Austen’s well-known novel, Pride and Prejudice, discussed multiple social themes in the 19th century. Austen mainly criticized marriage during her era, when she says that, “it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (Austen 3). As she explains that it was valuable to women since it provided them with security and a social title. The author explored the diverse motives behind matrimony in her time period by using a humorous and romantic plot to discuss the social issues. For instance, Charlotte Lucas’s unreasonable marriage to Mr. Collins is a vital example of how women needed to secure a future and attain social status. To conclude, Lydia Bennet’s meaningless marriage to George Wickham shows that entering the marriage estate could have also been for mainly financial purposes. Contrastingly, Jane Bennet, the heroine’s older sister, marries Charles Bingley for love, security, and a social ranking. On the other hand, Elizabeth Bennet marries Fitzwilliam Darcy after months of misunderstandings and romantic drama for none other than true love. Thus, Austen uses her leading characters’ marriages in Pride and Prejudice to exhibit the various attitudes and reasons for marrying in the 19th century. (Lane 2015)