Origins of the English Marriage Plot: Literature, Politics and Religion in the Eighteenth Century

In the eighteenth century, the English novel became central to marriage due to clandestine weddings and the unruly culture that surrounded them. Lord Chancellor Hardwicke mandated Anglican church weddings as the only legal form, leading to resistance and a new kind of realist marriage plot. This plot engaged with the most compelling political and social questions of its time, leading to the rise of the novel.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The significance of marriage in the English novel underwent a remarkable transformation during the eighteenth century. The emergence of clandestine weddings and the unruly culture that accompanied them posed a significant threat to power and property, leading to urgent public debates about the location and manner of marriage. In 1753, Lord Chancellor Hardwicke made an unprecedented and controversial use of state power by mandating Anglican church weddings as the sole legal form of marriage. This decision sparked widespread resistance and fueled a new genre of realism in English literature, known as the "marriage plot."

The novelists of this period, such as Samuel Richardson and Jane Austen, played a crucial role in shaping the narrative of the English marriage plot. They focused on church weddings as a central theme in their fiction, exploring the social, political, and economic implications of marriage in their respective works. By examining the engagement between the English marriage plot and the most pressing political and social issues of the time, The Origins of the English Marriage Plot provides a fresh and innovative perspective on the rise of the novel.

The marriage plot emerged as a response to the changing social and political landscape of the eighteenth century. The rise of the middle class and the increasing importance of property ownership led to a desire for stability and security in marriage. At the same time, the traditional patriarchal system of marriage was being challenged by new ideas about gender roles and sexual equality. The church wedding, with its symbolic significance and legal implications, became a powerful tool for authors to explore these themes and challenge the status quo.

In Richardson's "Pamela," for example, the protagonist, Pamela, is forced into an unhappy marriage with Mr. B. to save her family's reputation. The novel explores the power dynamics of marriage, the importance of social status, and the consequences of defying societal expectations. Through Pamela's struggles and eventual emancipation, Richardson challenges the notion of marriage as a means of social control and promotes the idea of personal fulfillment and independence.

Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" is another classic example of the English marriage plot. The novel follows the romantic journey of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, two characters who are initially prejudiced against each other due to their social differences. However, through their interactions and the development of their relationship, Austen explores the complexities of marriage, including the importance of love, respect, and communication. The novel also sheds light on the social pressures.

In conclusion, the English marriage plot emerged as a response to the changing social and political landscape of the eighteenth century. The emergence of clandestine weddings and the unruly culture that surrounded them posed a significant threat to power and property, leading to urgent public debates about the location and manner of marriage. The novelists of this period, such as Samuel Richardson and Jane Austen, played a crucial role in shaping the narrative of the English marriage plot by focusing on church weddings as a central theme in their fiction. By examining the engagement between the English marriage plot and the most pressing political and social issues of the time, The Origins of the English Marriage Plot provides a fresh and innovative perspective on the rise of the novel.

Weight: 602g
Dimension: 161 x 234 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108485685