珍˙奧斯汀以婚姻為其小說的主題，除了藉之批判當時的社會價值觀，諸如社會地位及財富、長子繼承、階級歧視等，同時，亦展現她對理想婚姻的看法。小說中的女主角大多經歷諸多考驗之後方和其所愛結合。勸導中的安妮(Anne Elliot)費時八年追求婚姻幸福。受限於當時的禮教束縛，她不但要克服社會價值觀所造成的阻礙，更要證明自己的堅毅性格及對愛情的忠貞。歷經曲折，終與溫特沃斯上校(Captain Frederick Wentworth)結成連理。本文主在探討置身於當時的社會制度及種種不利條件下，安妮如何追求理想婚姻。第一章探討有產階級及海軍軍官的婚姻觀與婚姻生活及安妮如何藉助他們的婚姻經驗來建構自己的婚姻觀。第二章探討在追求理想婚姻的過程中安妮所面對的難題及其解決之道。第三章則由時空的移轉及安妮心態的改變來討論安妮的成長，如何從遁世消極轉變為積極追求婚姻幸福。第四章主要探討安妮與溫特沃斯上校冰釋前嫌的過程，並以兩人的真愛與成長驗證奧斯汀對理想婚姻的看法。身為海軍軍官之妻，安妮婚後的生活雖充滿不確定性和戰爭的威脅，但由於兩人的真愛與成長，將會營造幸福的家庭。

Marriage, including the courtship, constitutes a major and recurring theme of Jane Austen’s novels. She utilizes this theme to attack the social values of her time, such as society’s concern about rank and property, primogeniture, and class bias. At the same time, she presents her ideas and expectations of an ideal marriage. Generally speaking, most of her heroines marry in the end only after they have undergone various trials on their journey towards marriage. I choose Persuasion to explore the theme of marriage because her heroine, Anne Elliot, is different in some ways. Among the Austen’s heroines, she is the oldest and spends more time (eight years) to complete the journey. She has to overcome various trials and difficulties. She has to pursue her happiness in marriage but still has to act within the bounds of social decorum. After marrying Wentworth, she has to face the uncertainties of future life. Her plight not only reflects Austen’s critique of the social values but also reveals what constitutes an ideal marriage. Her courtship shows the importance of true love for each other and personal maturity to an ideal marriage.
There are four chapters in this thesis. Chapter One discusses the courtships and marriages of the propertied class like the Elliots and the Musgroves and of the naval officers like Croft and Harville, and traces how these examples influence Anne’s concept of an ideal marriage. Chapter Two discusses the problems Anne has met in this journey and how she removes all doubts and difficulties to achieve the purpose of marrying for love. In Chapter Three, I discuss Anne Elliot’s progress towards maturity from three aspects: first, the transposition of places with Anne’s movements from Kellynch, to Uppercross, to Lyme, and finally to Bath; second, the passage of seasons from autumn, to winter, and to the next spring; and last, the conversion of her mentality from passivity to activity. Chapter Four treats the reconciliation between Anne and Wentworth. The discussion focuses on two triangular relationships: One involves Captain Wentworth, Louisa, and Anne; the other Anne, Mr. Elliot, and Captain Wentworth. In these entanglements, both Anne and Wentworth trace the mistakes they have made eight years earlier. When the chance of happiness comes again, Anne becomes proactive and Wentworth swallows his pride and proposes marriage again.
This thesis concludes that, in their courtship, Anne has transcended her social and emotional confinement, and Wentworth has undergone a testing of his own heart. Their reunion shows the importance of love and maturity that eight years have brought to them. The happy ending is that Anne gains the love of Wentworth, a desirable marriage, and the recognition from others of her personal worth. Being a sailor’s wife, Anne will be separated from the conventional society and has to face the uncertainties of future life. However, the heart-to-heart union will make them a happy couple in the brave new world of the navy.

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