傲慢与偏见论文(英文).doc

1 IntroductionJane Austen is an earliest and most important woman novelist in English Literature.Different from the style of Walter Scotts fictions.She kept her eyes steadily upon the people and incident ahout her, and write about the small world she lived in.”She was the founder of the novel which deals with unimportant middle-class people and of which there are many fine examples in later English fiction.”(Wu 123)”She herself compared her work to a fine engraving made upon a little piece of ivory only two inches square.”(Liu 371)Her masterpiece Pride and Prejudice is just one of this kind of novels.”It is very thin plot, but around it the authoress has woven vivid pictures of the everyday life of simple country society.”(Liu 372)English novels describe marriage and family in that society too much all long.But different from the common novels ,it reflects the life of middle-class in capitalist society through the description of marriage problem.”The British Critic said that Pride and Prejudice was far superior to almost all the publication of the kind which have come before us.”(Lefory 107)The authoress Jane Austen describes four couples marriages mainly in it.Their attitudes towards marriage are completely different .Through the life of middle-class in the middle of 18th century, the four couples joys and sorrows affect me, especially Elizabeth and Darcy, Lydia and Wickham.They are more representative than the others. So I choose two couples to compare.The heroin Elizabeth is intelligent, lively and humor.She has strong human dignity.She refuses the proposal of Collins who is rich but she dont love,refuses steadily rich young noble Darcys proposal because Elizabeth thinks Darcy is condescend and pride, she cant bear.When domineering Lady Catherine wants to interfere with the freedom of her marriage,she doesnt compromise and give the impression weakness.At last Darcys false Pride is humbled and he helps her family in secret.Elizabeths prejudice is dissolved and she receives Darcys proposal.They marry and live a happy life.Linda is uncontrolled, fearless. She enjoys searching of the officers in Meryton.Wickham is one of them.She cant resist Wickhams sweet words and runs away with him.With Darcys help,they marry formally,but they live a dependent life of which always needs the help of others.On the analysis of the two couplesmarriages,I find that Elizabeth and Darcy are much happier than Lydia and Wickham,because the marriage between Elizabeth and Darcy is based on independence and equality,but the marriage between Lydia and Wickham is not.Thus, we can say the love of independence and equality is the main melody in happy marriage.II A Comparative Analysis on the Independence and Equality in the Two couples Love and MarriageFrom the studying of the two couples, it is not difficult to find out that the marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy is perfect because they possess independence and equality.But Lydia and Wickham doesnt possess them. Lets compare with the two couples from two aspects :the love of independence and equality in love and marriage.1. Different Ways of Showing Independence Elizabeth and Darcy are independent not only in thought and personality,but also in economy. But Lydia and Wickham lack of independent factors which the above mentions.Do you believe what I said?Now, please continue to read.1.1 In ThoughtElizabeth and Darcy are independent in thought while Lydia and Wickham are not.Elizabeth possesses the quality of strong reason and keen observation.She has her own attitude towards marriage. She knows the happy marriage should be based on true love and should chose mate carefully and seriously.(Yu 800)She ignores money and refuses Collins proposal. Collin is a priest.His manner is serious and his behaviors are very formal, and he is follower of rich and powerful.He is swell with pride when he is recommended to Lady Catherine and then has a goodhouse, a large enough income.He thinks it will surely succeed in proposing to Elizabeth.But Elizabeth doesnt like himand says to him,”It is impossible for me to do otherwise than refuse your proposal.”(Austen 78)Elizabeth disagrees with her best friend Charlotte to marry Collins for only seeking for material enjoyment.She feels that”Charlotte the wife of Mr.Collins, was a most humiliating picture.And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.”(Austen 90)Elizabeth doesnt only take a fancy to the appearance of a man.She admires handsome Wickham first.In the process of her observing and understanding , she finds out that Wickham has only empty appearance and fawns on rich ladies.Wickhams attention to her is over from then on.She also disagrees with Lydia to seek for moment enjoyment.After Lydia and Wickham elope.She says to Lydia,”I dont especially like your way of getting husbands.”(Austen 223)Elizabeths independence in thought is also reflected in rejecting Darcys proud offer.She is an independent woman and cant endure Darcys pride and looking down upon her family.She thinks that both sides should love each other deeply.This is her belief and never shakes.Darcy is independent in thought,too.He has money and rank.He should marry a girl who has the same condition.This is what Miss Bingley and his aunt Lady Catherine think.Miss Bingley tries the best way to win Darcy,but he still dislikes her and doesnt marry her.Lady Catherine is a noble woman, and she has a very large fortune.She deems that her daughter suits him very much,Darcy and her daughter will unite the two estates by marriage. But Darcy is not interested in her. He loves Elizabeth, Her charmful appearance,intelligent and character.His admiration to Elizabeth is prevented so much.When Elizabeth goes to Mr Bingleys on foot and looks after her sister Jane.Bringleys sisters make fun of her and her family at the back.Even Miss Bingley says to Darcy,”I am afraidthat this adventure has rather lessened your admiration for her fine eyes.”(Austen 34)But Darcy replies”Not at all,They are brightened by the exercise,”(Austen 34)At Pemberley when Miss Bingley notices that Darcy admires Elizabeth,she merely intends to confuse Elizabeth and make her show some feeling that may harm her in Darcys opinion.But it affects nothing to Darcy.She continues to criticize Elizabeths appearance,behavior and dress.Dracy can no longer controls himself and says.”For many months I have considered her as one of the best looking women in my acquaintance.”(Austen 191).His love to Elizabeth is prevented by his sense of family states too.He has tormented but with the effect of Elizabeth he triumphs over himself and loves Elizabeth more.On the other hand,Lydia lacks the independence.Lydia is Elizabeths youngest sister.She is empty-headed and idle.She always manages to learn some news and searches the officers.She doesnt possess the quality of independence and is easily tricked by a deceitful man.She only needs encouragement to form an attachment to anybody.Sometimes one officer has been her favorite and sometimes another.It is the best proof that she runs away with WickhamHowever Wickham doesnt love her really and has no intention to marry her.His enthusiasm is not stable and his thought is lack of independence. Sometimes he loves good-looking Elizabeth. Sometimes he seeks for rich Miss Marry King and lures Darcys sister to flight with him for revenging himself on Darcy.At last he runs away with Lydia because he wants to escape from his debts and leave Brighton with a woman companion.Lydia and Wickham arent independent in thought and easily drift with their own desire and tides.1.2 In PersonalityElizabeth and Darcy are independent in personality while Lydia and Wickham are not.Peoples thought determines their personality and their personality reflects their thought.Elizabeth has the sense of independence and she can resist all outside interference.She withstands her mothers pressure and refuses Collinsproposal.When her mother Mr.Bonnet knows Elizabeth refuse Collins,she says,”I will never see her again.”(Austen 83)She talks to Elizabeth again and again and tries by turns to persuade her and threaten her.But Elizabeth still insists her own idea.Elizabeths independent personality also expresses that she isnt fear of the person who has much money and high rank.Whenever Miss Bingley speaks to her with biting sarcasm, she answers back sarcastically but proper limit.She doesnt compromise and give the impression of weakness when Lady Catherine observes Darcy wants to marry her and attempts to interfere with the freedom of her marriage.She says,”If Mr.Darcy is neither by honor nor inclination confined to his cousion.why is not he to make another choice?And if I am that choice,why may not I accept him?(Austen265)Lady Catherine is seriously displeased and leaves impolitely.Elizabeth makes no answer and walks quietly into the house.Facing to Lady Catherines threatened and impoliteness,she remains calm.Isnt it a good explanation that her personality is independent?Darcys independent personality is showed in this,too.After Lady Catherines conversation with Elizabeth,she calls on him to tell all about this.But with the opposite effect to that which she intend,Darcy doesnt obey his aunts advice,but comes to Longbourn and proposes her again.Elizabeth is moved and receives his offer.It is one of the most important reasons of which Elizabeth and Darcy has independent personality that they march to perfect marriage.Lydias dependence in thought expresses her dependence in personality.I have said before,Lydia likes searching for officers.While there is an officer in Meryton,she will be trying to attract him.When the regiment is leaving Meryton in one weeks time,she thinks it will not much matter what one, wears.What she does is for the officers whom she is seeking for.She likes othershighly appraise and is vainglorious.She is very proud that she runs away with Wickham and marries him before coming back.She is afraid the villagers dont know and put the hand with the ring on the window frame of the carriage on her way back home.For the satisfaction of her vainglory,she doesnt considers what she does is unashamed.Can we say she is a woman who possesses independent personality?Wickham is just the same kind person who is lack of indepence.He always desires to unite to rich family.He is seeking for enjoyment and lives a life of idleness but never thinks of that he is poor.He is in debt soon.He is idle and has no desire for progress.He always attempts to get more money from Darcy and live under anothers roof.It is a best proof that he and Lydia stay at Janes home very long and has no attention to leave.As a person they dont have the foundational human dignity.They are far from being human who have independent personality.1.3 In EconoyElizabeth and Darcy are independent in economy while Lydia and Wickham need the help of others.Elizabeth shares a part of five thousand pounds among her parentsinheritance.Darcy has rich family property and ten thousand a year.After they marry,they can support the family more enough and frequenly help Mr.and Mrs.Wickham.Mention Lydia and Wickham,when they marry,Lydias property is nearly as same as Elizabeth,as her father says”one hundred a year during my life and fifty after I am gone.”(Austen 222)Wickham is in debt.It is Darcy who helps him pay off the debts and obtains a good position in the army,then gives a thousand pounds to Lydia.When their marriage stars, they arent independent in economy.Even after they marry, they still ask for help.Elizabeth frequently sends some relief from her own private money,and for Elizabeths sake,Darcy helped Wickham.They always stay at Bingleys good temper fails him.Its not praiseworthy to live such a dependent life.2. Different Attitude to the Idea of EqualityIn the process of reading Pride and Prejudice,it is not difficult for me to find out the two couplesattitudes to the equality in love and marriage are different.Lets analyze the attitudes through the following three aspects.2.1 TheTwo Womens Different AttitudesThe two women,Elizabeth and Lydia are different between the attitudes to equality.Elizabeth cant receive Darcys proud proposal because he doesnt stand on the level of equality,while Lydia only seeks for the moment enjoyment.”Elizabeth believes that Darcys offer seems a charity more than a request.”(Yu 800)Darcys words are not more expressive on the subject of tenderness than of pride.He expresses his sense of her inferiority connections and his feeling that he was lowering himself.He has no doubt that Elizabeth will give him a favorable answer.But Elizabeth is stirred to sense of insult by his language and is angry about his confidence.She exposes his greatest pride and selfishness,and bitterly attacks Darcy that he separates Bingley from Elizabeths older sister Jane.She emphasizes to Darcy,”You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept itI felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever to prevailed on to marry.”(Austen 134)To be a woman who has the sense of equality,she hopes that she can be respected and has the equal right.”She insists that if both sides stand on the level of equality,they will gain the true love.”(Yu 800)This is a challenge to Darcy.On the country Lydia is obviously an egoist.For her favorite she always determines to have her own way and scarcely receive others advice,never considers others feeling.In her head she doesnt have the spirit of equality.She loves Wickham but she never probes whether he loves her equally and runs away carelessly with him only because of her moment enjoyment.Lets look at how Mrs.Gardiner Writers to Elizabeth about Lydias employment,”Darcys first object with her, he acknowledged,had been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation,and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to receive her,offering his assistance,as far as it would go.But he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was she wanted no help of his;she would not hear of leaving Wickham.She was sure they should be married some time or other,and it did not much signify when.”(Austen 238)Can she think like this if she is a woman who has the spirit of equality?Remember that Wickham runs wither only because of escaping from debts,not because of marrying her at that time.2.2 The Mens Different AttitudesDarcy respects Elizabeths idea of equality while Wickham himself desires to be given fortune.Facing Elizabeths strong requiring of equality,Darcy receives the challenge.He scorns Elizabeths relations no longer,even he can talk gentle and equally with them.When Darcy meets Elizabeth at Pemberly unexpectedly,he enters into conversation with Mr.Gardiner,Elizabeths uncle,and asks permission for his sister to call upon Elizabeth.When Elizabeth tells him that Lydia has run away with Wickham,he doesnt despise her but he can conquer his own nature and bring about the marriage by giving Wickham money.What he does saves Mr.Bennetsface.He has done it for Elizabeth,his beloved. His pride is humbled.He doesnt prevent Bingley marrying Jane.He starts to stand on the level of equality to propose Elizabeth and he succeeds.Compared with Darcy,Wickham doesnt have this kind of sense.Though Lydia loves Wickham so deeply and even escapes with him,Wickham had no intention to marry her and still hopes to make his fortune by a good marriage in some other place.Its not equal for Lydia.Similar to Lydia,Wickham only seeks for his desire and scarcely cares for others even for character.But he marries Lydia because he has extorted a big amount of money from Darcy.Wickham and Lydia cant stand on the same lever of equality.2.3Their Attitudes to Treat Each Other After MarriageElizabeth and Darcy treat each other equally after marriage,while Lydia and Wickham dont.Of course Elizabeth and Darcy unite with the foundation of equality.After their marriage they mutually respect and love each.Even Gorriage ,Darcys sister often listens with astonishment at Elizabeths lively,joking way of talking to her brother.Darcy receives Elizabeths advice and offers to end the quarrel between Lady Catherine and him.Darcy respects Elizabeths relations too.He still helps Wickham whom he doesnt like only because he is the husband of Elizabeths sister.But Lydia stubbornly sticks to her own view to love Wickham.Lets look at how the novel describes,”wickhams affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had expected it to be-not equal to Lydias for him.”(Austen 234)In Lydias eyes love is all her pursuit except all the others including equality.In Wickhams eyes Lydias value is not herself but the comfortable life that it depends on Lydias brother-in low.Their marriage isnt based on equality from the first to the end.III ConclusionWhile I analyze all the above mentioned,I feel all the time that Jane Austen”creates the characters which give her novels universal and lasting appeal.”(Lefroy 5)I will never forget Elizabeths character and Darcys sincere love.In the estate society, their statuses are not equal but they can smash the bonds of tradition and can trea