In Appleman’s section on Marist theory, she mentions Marxist theory as “the axis (centrality) of class in the worlds portrayed in the novels of Jane Austen or the Brontes” (61). Never being one to pass up a moment to talk about my favorite author, Jane Austen, I was proud of Appleman’s statement. I have always stressed the social side of Austen’s writing, and I think there really is something to it. Her novels are painted as love stories and regarded as something like kryptonite by men. However, while Austen’s stories do have marriages and the pursuit love, those elements are really only catalyst for other, more important, concerns.
I am curious as to the Marxist view of marriage. For some reason, this little cultural/political institution really does bring about the worst in people - and it all goes back to class as far as Austen is concerned. What happens when two people want to marry? Well, if they are of the same socio-economic status and ethnicity, then not much. But when there is a class difference, as is the case with most of Austen’s lovers, then eyebrows are raised and heads begin shaking. Austen uses marriage as a catalyst in order to expose the weaknesses of her class-based society. This is the real reason why she is one of my favorite authors; she mocks us in our pretensions and uses the innocent device of love to show us the hypocrisy of our social structures.
