Review of Pride and Prejudice
--Raendyll Yan
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is regarded as one of the most famous English literature ever since it was first published in 1813.The book telling a story of the Bennets with five daughters but no sons has a micro but deep insight of society and human nature.The title covers two main psychological features of general people which are shown in the characters of the novel of which, more specifically, „pride‟ indicates Mr.Darcy, the hero, while „prejudice‟ indicates Mi Elizabeth Bennet, the heroin.
Summary The novel begins with the entrance of a rich bachelor, Mr.Bingley with his two sisters, Caroline Bingley and Luisa Hurst and his friend, Mr.Darcy to Longbourn and Mr.s Bennet‟s requiring her husband call upon the newcomers to see if one of theirs five daughters can marry the gentleman.Mr.Bingley is attracted by Jane Bennet, the eldest of the five at their first meeting, they fall in love with each other after several balls and at the mean time, Elizabeth Bennet the second eldest of the five seizes the attention of Mr.Darcy.However, because of family dignity from the man and the prejudice caused by imprudent judgment of the lady, the Darcy-Lizzy relationship hasn‟t the same development as that of Mr.Bingley and Jane, the prejudice of which has deepened even further with the appearance of Mr.Wickham, the son of Mr.Darcy‟s late father‟s steward, and his intended wrong saying of Mr.Darcy.And Elizabeth is even fond of Wickham herself.When the Bennets and the neighborhood observe the development of Mr.Bingley and Jane, Mr.Collins pays a visit to Longbourn who is the cousin of the girls and the heir of the property of the Bennets after Mr..Bennet die.Mr.Collins is a clergyman and crazily admires his patrone, Lady Catherine de Bourgh who happens to be sister of Darcy‟s mother.Mr..Collins offers his proposal to Elizabeth Bennet during his stay in Longbourn, but rejected.The he turns to Charlotte Lucas and marries her to fulfill his purpose to visit Longbourn—getting married.As the consequence of the conspiracy of Caroline Bingley and Mr.Darcy, Mr.Bingley believes the indifference of the Jane, thus, they separate.Even when Jane pays a visit to Caroline when she is in London with her uncle and aunt, Mr.and Mr.s Gardiner, they keep this as a secret to Bingley After the marriage of Mr.Collins and Charlotte, Elizabeth is invited to visit them in Hunsford, where they pay several visits to Lady Catherine de Bourgh.During Elizabeth‟s stay in Hunsford, she meets Mr.Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, the former of which offers a proposal in an arrogant manner to Elizabeth but refused.The next day Elizabeth receives a letter from Mr.Darcy which tells the truth about his interfering of Bingley-Jane relationship as well as the evil of Mr.Wickham particularly the intended elopement with Georgiana Darcy, younger sister of Mr.Darcy.Elizabeth returns to Longbourn with mixed emotion and her feeling to Mr.Darcy begins to change.Lydia receives an invitation to Brighton with Colonel Forster‟s wife. Though trying to persuade her father, Elizabeth doesn‟t make it to prevent Lydia from the trip to Brighton.
After a long misery time in her home, Elizabeth is asked to go north with her uncle and aunt.They pay a visit to Pemberley, Mr.Darcy‟s estate.The earlier return of the master surprises both Elizabeth and Mr.Darcy.And the change in Mr.Darcy‟s attitude confuses Elizabeth and he ever wants to make his sister Georgiana acquaintance with Mi Elizabeth.There she also meets Mr.Bingley and his sisters.When Elizabeth enjoying her journey, two letters from Jane ends the trip earlier than plan—their youngest sister Lydia has run away with Wickham.Elizabeth and her uncle and aunt hurries to Longbourn and Mr.Gardiner set out to aist Mr.Bennet in finding Lydia while Mr.s Gardiner remains at Longbourn to look after the Mr.s Bennet and rest of the family.Lydia is found at last and marries Wickham in town.When the new couple returns to Longbourn, Lydia gives out that Mr.Darcy was in the wedding of Wickham and Lydia.Elizabeth discovers that it was Mr.Darcy who help find Wickham and Lydia and persuade Wickham to marry Lydia.Bingley and Darcy suddenly return to Meryton and visit the Bennets again.Bingley soon get engaged with Jane.At the mean time, Lady Catherine de Bourgh suddenly drops by Longbourn to make Elizabeth promise not to marry Darcy.Elizabeth rejected firmly and Darcy comes propose again, accepted by Elizabeth.At last, they get married and live happily together.Characters
Elizabeth Bennet Elizabeth Bennet is the second of the five daughters of the Bennets who is the heroin of the novel.She is a smart independent woman, deeply loved by her father, Mr.Bennet.She has her own unique opinion of whatever she meets, and always likes to make judgments at the first sight, which naturally leads to some mis-judgment and prejudice—her misunderstanding of Mr.Darcy.She is a brave woman who is true to herself.She always follows her own feeling when dealing with different kinds of things happen in her life.Her dislike of Mr.Darcy, her travel to look after Jane, her initial fancy of Mr.Wickham, her rejection of Mr.Collins proposal, her temped prevention from Lydia going to Bridgton, etc, all of these show her loyalty to her own feelings.And because of her direct personality and bravene, she catches the attention of Mr.Darcy and makes his propose twice and, finally, get her happine.She also shows her courage to court equality, (though not the main theme of the novel nor the author‟ tendency to court equality) when Lady Catherine de Bourgh rudely requests her not to accept any of Darcy‟s proposal.„In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere.He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman‟s daughter; so far we are equal.‟ This what she says to Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her rejection to de Bourgh exprees her being true to herself which may has been lost and should be learnt by people or everyone who always thinks about surrender to limits and restrictions around them.Fitzwilliam Darcy Fitzwilliam Darcy, the hero of the novel, is the wealthy owner of a famous family estate of Pemberley in Derbyshire.His is the first been noticed by crowds because of his handsome appearance and big fortune.But he is soon regarded disagreeable because of his silence and seldom dancing with women.But his demerit is not pride as many people think.Mr.s Gardiner has corrected it as obstinacy—„ “He has been accused of many faults that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it,) your uncle would most readily have settled the whole.” ‟ He is also deeply trusted by his friend Mr.Bingley and really loves and cares about his sister, Georgiana.
Readers always get to know his characteristic from the observer, from people around him like the neighbours in Longbourn or Mr.s Reynolds.It is showed from different angles but each of them has it own prejudice, otherwise, which forms a relatively clear image of Mr.Darcy.Here it doesn‟t mean he is a 100% perfect man.It shouldn‟t be regarded proper to make decision for others especially when it comes to the one concerning lifelong happine and the interest of others.His interference in the relationship between Mr.Bingley and Jane which brings so many ups and downs in the plot and influences so many people around has been strongly opposed and criticized by Elizabeth.Though admitting later after Elizabeth‟s refusing his proposal and gaining her forgivene and understanding, Mr.Darcy or part of his decision should not be regarded as morality.Mr.Bennet He is a gentleman with five daughters and because he doesn‟t have male heirs his property must be inherited to his nephew Mr.Collins.He is a wise and humorous man who loves reading.He really cares about his second daughter, Elizabeth.From the observation of Elizabeth, Mr.Bennet‟s marriage is unfortunate—„Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour, which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her.Respect, esteem, and confidence, had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happine were overthrown.‟ But still, here comes to respectful side of Mr.Bennet‟s character—„But Mr.Bennet was not of a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment which his own imprudence had brought on, in any of those pleasures which too often console the unfortunate for their folly or their vice.He was fond of the country and of books; and from these tastes and arisen his principal enjoyments.To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement.This is not the sort of happine which a man would in general wish to owe to his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.
The book gives a relatively thorough comment of the impact on the whole family exerted by Mr.Bennet‟s impropriety as a husband.It goes, via the feeling of Elizabeth, like this—„She had always seen it with pain; but respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and to banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation and decorum which, in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own children, was so highly reprehensible.But she had never felt so strongly as now, the disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage, nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising from so ill-judged a direction of talents; talents which rightly used, might at least have preserved the respectability of his daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife‟
Mr.Bennet is kind of man who has his own philosophy of life.He loves reading, and his own decision.He really cares about his family and daughters, which can be shown from his initial visit to Mr.Bingley and his immediate departure after Lydia‟s running away with Wickham.Besides his lazine also makes his family depreed—„The whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr.Bennet the next morning, but the post came in without bringing a single line from him.His family knew him to be on all common occasions, a most negligent and dilatory correspondent, but at such a time, they had hoped for exertion.‟
Though not being the leading character of the novel, the author still paid much attention and efforts on the establishment of the character, which makes Mr.Bennet a real and lovable person. Mr.and Mr.s Gardiner This couple, though not the leading characters of the novel, witnees and influences so much of the development of the story.Mr.Gardiner is Mr.s Bennet‟s brother and a succeful busineman of sensible and gentlemanlike character, greatly superior to his sister as well by nature as education.And his personality and characteristic seem different by the traditional judgment and stereotype of others—„The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well bred and agreeable.‟ He wins the respect of Mr.Darcy by his character and promotes, to some extend, the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth.„Mr.s Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mr.s Bennet and Mr.s Philips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces.‟ She has an intimate relationship with the two elder sisters of the Bennets.Her existence is a great consolation to the two ladies.She witnees all the relationships of the Bennet‟s ladies—she reminds Elizabeth to be careful about her affection towards Mr.Wickham, she picks up Jane in London to give her comfort, she bring Elizabeth to travel Pemberley where she meets Mr.Darcy and acquaints with Mi Darcy, she witne the marriage of Lydia and Wickham and she observes the affection of Mr.Darcy to Elizabeth. Mr.s Bennet Mr.s Bennet is one of the most interesting and vivid characters of the novel.Being a mother of five daughters, her major task and ambition is to marry her daughters to rich, handsome young men.The novel points out her personality and characteristics directly at the very first chapter—„Her mind was le difficult to develop.She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper.When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous.‟ She judges people at her first sight and purely controlled by her temper and situation.In chapter 2, when Elizabeth refers to Mr.s Long‟s promise to introduce Mr.Bingley, she just says like this „I do not believe Mr.s Long will do any such thing.She has two nieces of her own.She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her.‟ But after she regains hope that her eldest daughter, Jane, may marry well she just says something really kind about Mr.s Long.She doesn‟t set an ideal model to her youngest daughter and spoils her too much.Actually she doesn‟t know how to behave herself and pa her value directly to Lydia.However the demerit of her personality does really make Mr.s Bennet an impreive character.The amazing irony of the author makes Mr.s Bennet a true-to-life person.Mr.Collins Mr.Collins is the cousin of the five Bennet ladies and the heir of the Bennts‟ property.Mr.Collins is obsequious, pompous and lacking in common sense.„Mr.Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little aisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the neceary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance.The subjection in which his father had brought him up, had given him originally great humility of manner, but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feeling of early and unexpected prosperity.‟ He meets Lady Catherin de Bourgh merely by a „fortunate chance‟ so that he admires the Lady with heart and soul, and regards all she says as golden words.The novel clearly shows his motivation of visiting Longbourn family—„Having now a good house and very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report.Also, as he says frankly to Elizabeth—‘But the fact is, that being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father, (who, however, may live many years longer,) I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughter, that the lo to them might be as little as poible, when the melancholy event takes place—which, however, as I have already said, may not be for several years‟, he console himself by marrying one of the daughter.He doesn‟t have any feeling or paion of love either.He merely takes it for granted that he may get the affection of Elizabeth because of his income, status and his connection with both Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the Bennets.(Elizabeth‟s rejection of Mr.Collins‟ marriage proposal is welcomed by her father, regardle of the financial benefit to the family of such a match.) The author made Mr.Collins an interesting and ridiculous character.
Besides, Jane Austen also painted other characters succefully, including Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Lydia, Mr.Wickham etc.She uncovered the merit and demerit of every character sharply and vividly and made all of them true-to-life.Readers can often find something in common in their daily life.Comments Plot
Most of Jane Austen novels were set in English village, where life is simple and where there is a seldom social change.Therefore, much of the attention of the author is paid on people—the changes of people as Elizabeth once tells to Mr.Darcy.As for a novel, the twists and turns of the plot are most important and catching.The main plot of the novel is the development of Darcy-Elizabeth relationship, during which the alteration of their attitude towards each other plays a very important role.But focusing mainly on these two people may make the story dull and tiresome, so the author skillfully use Mr.Collins, Mr.Wickham and also their marriage as ingredients to make the plot more lively and complicated (both Mr.Collins and Mr.Wickham have more or le affected Elizabeth‟s emotional life) Besides, the coincidences of the story are also attracting.What I want to mention here is the one-day earlier returning of Mr.Darcy to Pemberley which gives further development of the relationship between him and Elizabeth.Style Pride and Prejudice, like most of Jane Austen‟s works, employs the narrative technique of free indirect speech (the free representation of a character‟s speech—not the words actually spoken by a character, but the words typify the character‟s thoughts, or the way the character would think and speak, if he or she thought or spoke.By using narrative that adopts the tones and vocabulary of a particular character (like Elizabeth) Austen invites the reader to follow events from Elizabeth‟s viewpoints, sharing her prejudices and misapprehensions.We can find a lot in the story, and mainly from Elizabeth and Mr.s Gardiner who show their viewpoints and thoughts and let the reader know what exactly what they think.Theme
Though the novel is entitled with „pride‟ and „prejudice‟, the theme of the novel is not simply about these two feelings and I think the title just stands for the hero and heroine of the novel.This is a love and marriage story but talks more than love, or shows other things by presenting a love story.
One simple and obvious theme in Pride and Prejudice and much of Austen‟s work is the importance of environment and upbringing on the development of young people‟s character and morality.In Pride and Prejudice, the failure of Mr.and Mr.s Bennet as parents is blamed for Lydia‟s moral judgment; Darcy on the other hand, has been taught to be principled and scrupulously honourable, but he is also proud and overbearing.Kitty, rescued from Lydia‟s bad influence and spending more time with her older sisters after they marry, is said to improve greatly in their superior society.We can learn from some of Elizabeth‟s thoughts about her parents and how she looks into the education of the five girls of the family.The novel talks more about claes and freedom.Though Austen‟s novel doesn‟t aim at the social revolution and changes directly, it really uncover people‟s thoughts and awarene of the problem of the gap between claes and the pursuit of freedom and equality.The historical events which defined the social and political background of Jane Austen‟s adult life were the French Revolution and the subsequent wars between England and France.It is a well-worn fact that these events make little explicit appearance in her novels; but in so far as they highlighted the question of relationship between claes and also, though the repreive social response to them in England, the limits of individual rights to free expreion, they are central to Pride and Prejudice, and specifically to the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth.No one has a stronger sense of the social impoibility of this relationship than Lady Catherine de Bourgh: „My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other.They are descended on the maternal side, from the some noble line; and, on the father‟s, from respectable, honourable, and ancient, though untitled families…and what is to divide them? The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune.Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be.If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere, in which you have been brought up.‟ She speaks for the aristocratic concept of marriage as a contract between families, Elizabeth and Darcy oppose to this the concept of marriage as a personal agreement between individuals.For Darcy, he is determined to pursuit his love and happine in spite of convention and family dignity.And for Elizabeth, she has got great courage to enter into a superior cla.The novel ends therefore with an emphatic statement that the social gulf, much streed by Elizabeth in earlier paages of the novel, has been croed.With her dangerous tendency to mock and challenge convention, she has brought „a little liveline‟ to Darcy, but she has also, on a social level, brought the middle claes into the home of the aristocracy.Conclusion Though written more than hundred years ago, the characters in the novel still seems vivid and real today.And the themes of the story deserve people‟s thoughts and reflection through the social development of human society.
Reference
1.Introduction by Dr Ian Littlewood, University of Suex in Pride and Prejudice, Wordsworth Claics 2.Pride and Prejudice from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 3.Pride and Prejudice published in 1813, Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2009
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Book review of Pride and Prejudice 傲慢与偏见读后感
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