傲慢与偏见读书报告

1. IntroductionJane Austen was born in 1772 in a country of England. She grew up in the countryside, the people she contract most were the landlord and pastor. She likes to observe the quite and comfortable life of them. So she quite understood the middle class people’s life under the capitalism. In her books, we could not read any reflection of the serious social contradiction. She wrote about the civilian population’s daily life, point of views and thinking. Most of her works are humorous. She described common stories to reflect a scene of rural life which the die-hard of feudal still existed in the early bourgeois society. “She has described one's own little world in her world around truly with women's characterized outsight in every possible way, marriages and love disturbances especially among ladies and gentlemen” (ZhuLi, 2009:62) Among Jane Austen’ works, marriage is the thematic. Compare to Jane Austen’s other works, Pride and Prejudice reflect her view on marriage clearly. Pride and Prejudice was published in January 1813, and it achieved a popularity that has endured to this day. It’s the novel which Austen likes most. And it’s also the most popular novel among her works.In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen used her humorous way to describe the story about how single men choose their wife and how the single ladies and their mother choose their husband. Pride and Prejudice showing the different attitudes of the girls of the township middle-class family background of love and marriage. The marriages of the five couples reflect woman’s view on marriage in 18 century. And from it, we can realize author’s view on marriage.2. Five Marriages in Pride and PrejudiceThe first sentence of Pride and Prejudice is “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of wife.”“Fortune”is the key word of this sentence. The author imply that under the social background of 18th century, a single man who want to get married need a good fortune, and every single ladies want to married with a rich man. Pride and Prejudice was written about the story of love and marriage among Mr. Bennets’ daughter and their friend. There are five marriages in Pride and Prejudice.2.1 The Marriage Bases on Exterior and Enjoyment2.1.1 Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s MarriageWhen Mrs. Bennet was young, she has a good-looking, and because of that, Mr. Bennet got married with her. The reason why Mrs. Bennet married with Mr. Bennet is Mr. Bennet has a fixed income, which will make her life without the worry of survive. However, after their marriage, Mr.Bennet found his wife was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. “The business of her life was to get her daughters married; solace was visiting and news.”(Jane Austen, 5)Mr. Bennet always mocked at his wife.Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice. Though Mrs. Bennet have been married him three and twenty, she was insufficient to understand his character.Mr. and Mrs. Bennett’s character and hobby was different. They didn’tunderstand each other. Their marriage was based on exterior and equal marriage. Their marriage seems unhappy.2.1.2 Lydia and Wickham’s MarriageLydia was wild volatility, recklessly and knows little about self-respect. Her ignorance and emptiness of mind made the author distain her. Though she was just 15 years old, she always talks about love. The business of her life was to flirt with the officers and pursue the admiration of them. Her standard of choosing a husband was not the man’s property but the man’s looking. Wickham was handsome, so when she met Wickham, she was absorbed by him. She tries her best to catch his attention. What’s more, she put away her self- respect and moral code to run away with Wickham for enjoyment.Wickham is good looking, but his is a rascal and hypocrite. He tell lie to libel against Darcy and made people misunderstand him. He likes gamble and had been in debt. He didn’t want to get married with Lydia, but he run away with her because he thinks he need a woman accompany with him on the way. He is also a play boy, he cheat Miss. Darcy’s love and display his affection to many girls.Lydia and Wickham’s marriage is the most absurd marriage. Jane Austen didn’t mention why Wickham choose Lydia to run away with him, but she mention why Wickham agreed married with Lydia. It’s because if he married with Lydia, Darcy will give him a lot of money.In the last chapter, Jane Austen wrote that “His affection for her soon sunk into indifference.” The author didn’t admire their marriage.Among these two marriages, we can know that Jane Austen didn’t admire the marriage bases on exterior and enjoyment.2.2 The marriage bases on money and social status2.2.1 Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins’ marriageIn pride and prejudice the author described Collins as a man neither sensible nor agreeable, she think he is easy to make people feel annoying. Collins has stupid behavior, timeserving,flattery and conceit. Most of his words is flattering Lady Catherine. He fawns on Lady Catherine, then, Lady Catherine gave him a position as a pastor. He is Mr. Bennet’s nephew. Because Mr. Bennet with no son, so after his death, Mr. Collins will inherit his heritage. He is complacent about himself and he believes “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of wife.” So when Lady Catherine told him that it is time for him to get married, he came to Bennets as to choose a girl as his wife. He proposed to Elizabeth because of her beauty. When Elizabeth refused his proposal, he didn’t feel disappointed. After a few days, he proposes to Charlotte. His attachment to Charlotte must be imaginary.Charlotte is an old mild who was at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome. In pride and prejudice, author wrote that “Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want”Their marriage was the most realistic marriage, which based on money and social status. After their married, Charlotte need to patient with Collin’s stupid manner. And Collins wasn’t familiar with Charlotte. He knew nothing about love. Their marriage won’t be happy.Austen’s writing about this marriage is full of taunt. She despised the marriage which base on money and social status.2.3 The marriage bases on feelings of both men and women2.3.1 Jane and Mr. Bingley’s MarriageJane is a nice girl who is beautiful, kind-hearted and mild that everyone loves her. Mr. Bingly is handsome, gentle and rich. He is the man of every girl’s dream. Both of them seem like each other in their first meet. Then, with the increase in access to them, they slowly have been attracted by the advantages of each other. They fall inlove with each other.However, under his friend and sister’s instigate, Mr. Bingly and Jane’s diffident and weak personality made them didn’t brave enough to fight for their love. Fortunately, these two lovers finally got married.The gentleman and gentlewoman’s marriage is happy.2.3.2 Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy’s marriageDarcy was a business man, his fine, tall, handsome features noble mien. However Darcy did not like to have any communication with them. He was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased. People found Darcy was a supercilious and stiffness person. That was why Elizabeth did not like him at the beginning. Then, Wickham made up the story and told a lie to Elizabeth made her misunderstand him and hate him more. In fact, though Darcy looks pride, but he has a kind-hearted.Darcy loves Elizabeth. When he saw her, he thought her eyes are beautiful, and then he paid attention on her. Though Darcy didn’t like Elizabeth’s familiars, he can bear them as to get married with Elizabeth.When Darcy first proposed to Elizabeth, Elizabeth refused him because she thought he was pride and the misunderstanding of him. But Darcy didn’t give up. He wrote a letter to Elizabeth to clarify the misunderstanding. Then, Elizabeth began to change her opinion on him. Darcy did many things to help her solve the problem. Then, Darcy altered himself. During the intercourse of Darcy and Elizabeth’s uncle and aunt, Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Gardiner, Darcy was civil, nice well behaved, polite and unassuming. One could change his shortcomings and become a perfect man gradually is encouraged. Gradually, Elisabeth believed he is a nice gentlemen and fall in with him.Their marriage is the most enviable marriage. Jane Austen wrote many stories to foreshadow their marriage. In the last chapter, author wrote some stories to reflect their happy life. Jane Austen appreciates for their marriage.3. ConclusionFive marriages in Pride and Prejudice reflect Jane Austen’s view on marriage. She though that the marriage which base on money, social status, enjoyment and exterior won’t be happy. She objects to get marriage for money. In her point of view, marriage is holy. The feeling of both man and woman is the most important thing for the marriage. The marriage needs the understanding of each other.Jane Austen regarded Darcy and Elizabeth’s marriage as the happiest marriage. “Marriage couldn’t without love.”Bibliography[1] 简•奥斯丁. 孙致礼译. 傲慢与偏见[M]. 南京译林出版社,2002.[2]江凤. 论《傲慢与偏见》中奥斯丁的婚姻观[J]. 渝西学院学报（社会科学版），2005，4[3] 雷兵. 影片《傲慢与偏见》中的婚姻观分析研究[J]. 电影评介，[4] 邓燕林论《傲慢与偏见》中夏洛特与柯林斯的婚姻[J].南昌教育学院学报,2010(3)。