Mullan On Marriage

In Chapter Eighteen of What Matters in Jane Austen? Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved by John Mullan, the author addresses the topic of “What Are the Right and Wrong Ways to Propose Marriage” according to Jane Austen’s novels while simultaneously contributing commentary that reflects his own interpretation of Austen’s words. In this, through a thorough dissection of literary works, Mullan conveys his line of reasoning precisely and acutely accurate in the notion that: to properly propose a man must appeal to a woman’s sense of power, her independence (though still remaining in the realm of propriety) while at the same time succeeding in his role of fulfilling the masculine undertakings deemed fit by society. In whole, Austen’s novels possess particular characteristics that define the gender roles reflected in nineteenth century English society, and are fully encompassed in an observation —regarding marriage—by Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey stating, “‘man had the advantage of choice, woman only the power of refusal.’” (I.x) (Mullan 279) In this, a clear statement is put forth, one blatantly illustrating the unbalanced scale upholding man on his pedestal and woman timidly shying away on hers, lowered by an edict of nature conveying that only men are capable of freedom of choice—women confined by their sole ability to …show more content…
And alas, while these fictitious men, romanticized by Austen have accomplished this feat of proposal, rejection, and proposal yet again, the query that continues to resound is if they performed it properly? The answer: we may never know, for, “Once the proposal has been made, nothing can be the same again.” (Mullan