分析傲慢与偏见

1、An Analysis of Pride and PrejudiceAbstract： Pride and prejudice is a very popular novel written by Jane Austen and it is read widely all over the world. It was written in 1813. That specific history time decided that people at that time took money much more seriously, even on their marriage. In this

2、 paper, the marriage cases of most characters in the book were taken as typical to analyze how money influenced their matrimonial value orientation. Key words Pride and prejudice, money, matrimonial value orientation, marriage分析傲慢与偏见摘要： 简奥斯丁的傲慢与偏见写于1813年，一直以来很受欢迎，并被广泛阅读。特定的历史时代决定了那个时候的人们对金钱特别看重，影响波及

3、婚姻观念。在这篇文章里面，书中大部分人物的婚姻选择都用来作为典型，证实金钱体现他们的婚姻价值取向。 关键词 傲慢与偏见，金钱，婚姻价值取向，婚姻观1. Introduction:Recently, I read through “Pride and Prejudice” which written by a well-known English writer-Jane Austen. It talks about trivial matters of love, marriage and family life between country squires and fair ladies i

4、n Britain in the 18th century. The plot is very simple. That is how the young ladies choose their husbands. From the view point of Austen, Elizabeths marriage, who finally marries Darcy, as well as Jane-Bingleys, composing money and love, is the ideal marriage people should after. But in other marri

5、age cases in this novel, we can see that if money and love cant be held together in one marriage, love would always make a concession to money because of the special social background. After reading through the whole book, we will find that money acts as the cause of each plot and the clue of its de

6、velopment. It affects everybodys words and deeds, even Elizabeth Bennet. Tony Tanner once said, “Jane Austen, as well as other authors, is very clear that no feeling could be extremely pure and no motive could be definitely single. But as long as it is possible, we should make it clear that which fe

7、eling or motive plays the leading role.”2. Study background:Jane Austen (1775-1817), who was born at Steventon on December 16, 1775, was one of the greatest novelists in England. She was the youngest of seven children in her family. She received most of her education at home. Her family is all fond

8、of reading books, which influenced her very much. Her reading extended little beyond the literature of the eighteenth century, and within that period she admired Dr. Johnson particularly. And later she was delighted with both the poetry and prose of Scott. She died on July 18, 1817, and was buried i

9、n the cathedral in Winchester. She wrote six novels in her life. Among the six novels, Pride and Prejudice has been valued as the most successful and popular masterpiece. In this novel, Jane Austen mainly described the ordinary life of the Bennets .She told us four different marriages to show the re

10、aders that different people have different attitudes towards love. And also she expressed her own viewpoints on marriage that a combination based on love and similar interests is a happy and perfect marriage. In her opinion, the money-oriented marriage and sex-oriented marriage are not successful al

11、though the people can live together. The theme is narrow, but she showed us a beautiful tableau of the England peoples life of her own time. It seems that she had a talent to describe the ordinary life of people.The story of Pride and Prejudice took place in the time of the Regency in Britain. At th

12、at time, Britain was at the period of transition from the earlier stage of Capitalism to Capitalist Industrialization. In the countryside, the aristocratic family still held great power and right that country squires were likely to fawn upon them. However, as the development of Capitalism and expand

13、 of the rank of rich people, the distinction between social strata was becoming smaller and smaller, while money was getting more and more important in peoples mind about social value. A western literature critic once said that “even though David Ricardo (a British economist) had an unlikely clearer

14、 understanding about the function of money in daily life as Jane Austen had.” The narration above describes the British country squires life-picture from one aspect. They have enough money for loafing, and these loafers can afford big or small residence with servants for ordering about. They take fa

15、mily background seriously, which is the most important factor to earn others respect, on the basis of fortune and good-breeding. At the same time, they will not trace to its sources. In short, there is exist strict hierarchy, which is classified according to the family and tradition from the surface

16、, but the financial income actually. Those who have the highest income will be in the highest social position, owning large residence and parks, having the nicest furniture and the most precious paintings, and the best streams for fishing. The money earned by trading is despised, but it will be soon

17、 forgotten after generations. However, to avoid being looked down upon, the generation at present will always employ such kind of clever method: giving up business dealing or profession and going to countryside to settle down then nobody will know their past. From a neighbor of the Bennets, we can g

18、et to know how such social process begins: “Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the honor of knighthood by an address to the king, during his mayoralty. The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a dis

19、gust to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; and, quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from the period Lucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and unshackled by business, occupy himse

20、lf solely in being civil to all the world.”To make it clear that money is very important in the marriage convention of such kind of society, Mr. Collins words after Elizabeth refusing his proposal can be taken as proof. It is interesting that, in such marriage based on sole and naked money-transacti

21、on, the woman without property does marry a single man with a good fortune, but the husband himself has nothing to do with the enjoyment the marriage bringing to her. Is not it an excellent irony to the proposition at the beginning of the novel the “truth universally acknowledged”? Wickham-Lydia Sca

22、ndal can be taken as another instance to illustrate that money is of overwhelming importance in marriage. Wickham is very handsome and charming from his appearance, but actually demoralizes. He is extravagant and always greatly in debts of honor. Lydia, far more different from her two elder sisters,

23、 is vain, ignorant, idle and absolutely uncontrolled. Moreover, she indulges herself in flirtation with officers. They elope from Brighton without any engagement and are found out in London finally. Though under such circumstances, Wickham has no intention at all to marry Lydia, but for Darcys help

24、in secret: “Mr. Darcy asked him why he had not married your sister at once? Though Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would have been able to do something for him, and his situation must have been benefited by marriage. But he found, in reply to this question, that Wickham still cherish

25、 the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage in some other county. Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof against the temptation of immediate relief. They met several times, for there was much to be discussed. Wickham, of course, wanted more than he could ge

26、t, but at length was reduced to be reasonable.”In Pride and Prejudice, there are also some description about other peoples different opinion on money and marriage. For instance, Lady Catherine wants her daughter Anne to marry her nephew, Mr. Darcy, to make a union of the two estates, and she believe

27、s it is Darcys duty and responsibility. Miss Bingley, who has a fortune of twenty thousand pounds and is in the habit of spending more than she ought, and of associating with people of rank, shows her great interest to Mr. Darcy, who has ten thousand a year. She also spares no effort to prevent the

28、love affair between Mr. Bingley, her brother and Jane Bennet, Elizabeths elder sister, and hopes that her brother can marry Georgiana, Darcys sister. Only this can enhance his fortune and social position, and also the possibility of her herself marrying Mr. Darcy. Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcys cousin,

29、 is a younger son of an earl, can inherit neither property nor official title. He acknowledges to Elizabeth that his habit of expense makes him too dependent and he cannot afford to marry without some attention to money. He also says that only Darcy can be out of the restraint of money to choose fre

30、ely on marriage. From the part of Mr. Darcy, though he need not marry a lady with property since he is in great wealth, he does experience long-time and fierce struggle in the process of acceptance of Elizabeth for her social position and low connections. “He really believed that were it not for the

31、 inferiority of her (Elizabeth) connections, he should be in some danger.”3. The Feeling of Pride and Prejudice:Then man treat great event in ones life with punishing, Demonstrate different attitudes to the love question of the marriage of young girl of the family origin of middle class of villages

32、and towns, Thus reflected authors oneself marriage view： It is wrong to get married for the property, money and position； Get married and does not consider that above-mentioned factors are unwise too . So, she objects to getting married for money, objecting to regarding the marriage as a trifling ma

33、tter. She emphasizes the importance of the ideal marriage, and regard men and womens emotion as the foundation stone which concludes the ideal marriage .The woman protagonist in the book Elizabeth comes from the little landlords family, reaches the west to have deep love for the rich and powerful pe

34、ople sons and younger brothers. Reach the disparity of ignoring family status and wealth of the west, propose to her, but is refused. Elizabeths misunderstanding and prejudice to him are a reason, but a main one is the arrogance that she dislikes him. Reach the thes of the west in fact status the re

35、flections of difference, exist this kind arrogant, Not having common thoughts and feelings between he and Elizabeth, the marriage that can not have lofty ideals. Elizabeth watches conducting oneself in society and a series of behavior of reaching the west personally afterwards, See he change the pro

36、ud conceited expressions of passing by, dispel misunderstanding and prejudice to him, Thus concluded the happy marriage with him.This writing, to some extent, expresses the authors marriage view: It is wrong to get married for the property, money and position as well; and also it is foolish if you d

37、o not consider the above-mentioned factures. So she objected to getting married for money as well as regarding it as something unimportant. She emphasized the importance of the ideal marriage and regarded the true love as its foundation stone.Pride and prejudice were two weaknesses in our humanity w

38、hich was easily distorted. And in the way of pursuing love, we should not be controlled by these shortages, but to keep our own faiths and feelings.Whether the marriage is a happiness one depended on whether they truly love and know each other. Falling in love at first sight is indeed more romantic

39、than the long-term love. But we can not deny the fact the long-term coexistence will surely bring both of you to a better understanding and a deeper affection.So now, as for us to do is to strive for the hope with correct attitude towards pride and prejudice.4. Conclusion：There are a lot of novels talking about marriage in Britain, but scarcely an author could be like Austen, exposing the money-essence of capitalism marriage system so deeply. In brief, it is money that det