The Gradatlon Of The Marriage In The Transforming Period Of English Society From 17^th To 18^th Century

The thesis deal with the gradation of marriage in England From 17^th to 18^th century.It tries to find out the performance, distinguishing features,conditions and social background of marriage.It also explores the interrelationship between the gradation of marriage and the transformation of society.We hope that we could find some enlightenment from it.In the introduction,it outline the purposes of the writing and the present study situation.Chapter I It discusses the performance and distinguishing features of the gradation of marriage.The English married late generally during 17^th and 18^th century.Commonly,women married between 24 to 27 years old,while men married between 24 to 29.It was more and more difficult for parents to control the marriage of their children.The relationship between husbands and wives became warme and kind.Chapter II The emphasis is the conditions of the gradation of marriage.Neolocal residence was very popular in England,marriage portion was becoming more and more and the feature of property settlement was to ensure the majority of the children poor,which are the reasons why the children married late.The closed domesthicated nuceal family became the main family mode;the relationship between parents and children was becoming kind.These made it more and more difficult for parents to control the marriage of their children.Affection individualism supplied the gradation of marriage for ideological condition.Chapter III Marriage keep in close contact with society.New means of production and the reform of political system caused the gradation of marriage.The development of material life and spiritual life promoted it.In the concluding remarks,it summaries the main content and viewpoints of this thesis.