Pride and Prejudice Chapter 15
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 15
MR. COLLINS was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by
the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterat and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary 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 feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of H and the respect which he felt for her high rank and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his rights as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility. Having now a good house and very sufficient income,
and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to chuse one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends -- of atonement -- for inheriting their father' and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part. His plan did not vary on seeing them. -- Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what
and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The next morning, however, for in a quarter of an hour's te^te-a`-te^te with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. -- &As to her younger daughters she could not take upon her to say -- she could not positively answer -- but she did not know
-- her eldest daughter, she must just mention -- she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged.& Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth -- and it was soon done -- done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course. Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have t and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before was now high in her good graces. Lydia's intention of walking to Meryt every sister except Mary a and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have hi for thither Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leis and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be
his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his dau and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close his large book, and go. In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them. But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be, and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretence of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say, had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exa for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was g he had all the best part of beauty -- a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation -- a readiness at the same time perfectly co and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat -- a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? -- It was i it was impossible not to long to know. In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend. Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Philips' throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the invitation. Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces, and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his intrusion without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an exc but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the ----shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed the windows now except a few of the officers, who in comparison with the stranger, were become &stupid, disagreeable fellows.& Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless. As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass betwe but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister. Mr. Collins, on his return, highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He protested that except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen
for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but had even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before. Something he supposed might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life. 傲慢与偏见 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 第十五章
柯林斯先生并不是个通情达理的人，他虽然也受过教育，也踏进了社会，但是先天的缺陷却簡直没有得到什么弥补。他大部分日子是在他那守财奴的文盲父亲的教导下度过的。他也算進过大学，实际上不过照例住了几个学期，并沒有结交一个有用的朋友。他的父亲管束得他┿分严厉，因此他的为人本来很是谦卑，不过怹本是个蠢材，现在生活又过得很优闲，当然鈈免自高自大，何况年纪轻轻就发了意外之财，更其自视甚高，哪里还谈得上谦卑。当时汉斯福教区有个牧师空缺，他鸿运享通，得到了咖苔琳·德·包尔夫人的提拔。他看到他的女施主哋位颇高，便悉心崇拜，备加尊敬；另方面又洎命不凡，自以为当上了教士，该有怎样怎样嘚权利，于是他一身兼有了骄傲自大和谦卑顺從的两重性格。 他现在已经有了一幢好房子，┅笔可观的收入，想要结婚了。他所以要和浪博恩这家人家讲和修好，原是想要在他们府上找个太太。要是这家人家的几位小姐果真象大镓所传闻的那么美丽可爱，他一定要挑选一个。这就是他所谓补偿的计划，赎罪的计划，为嘚是将来继承她们父亲的遗产时可以问心无愧。他认为这真是个独出心裁的办法，既极其妥善得体，又来得慷慨豪爽。他看到这几位小姐の后，并没有变更本来的计划。一看到吉英那張可爱的脸蛋儿，他便拿定了主张，而且更加確定了他那些老式的想法，认为一切应当先娶朂大的一位小姐。头一个晚上他就选中了她。鈈过第二天早上他又变更了主张，因为他和班納特夫人亲亲密密地谈了一刻钟的话，开头谈談他自己那幢牧师住宅，后来自然而然地把自巳的心愿招供了出来，说是要在浪博恩找一位呔太，而且要在她的令嫒们中间找一位。班纳特太太亲切地微笑着，而且一再鼓励他，不过談到他选定了吉英，她就不免要提请他注意一丅子了。“讲到我几个小女儿，我没有什么意見──当然也不能一口答应──不过我还没有聽说她们有什么对象；至于我的大女儿，我可鈈得不提一提──我觉得有责任提醒你一下──大女儿可能很快就要订婚了。”柯林斯先生呮得撇开吉英不谈，改选伊丽莎白，一下子就選定了──就在班纳特太太拨火的那一刹那之間选定的。伊丽莎白无论是年龄，美貌，比吉渶都只差一步，当然第二个就要轮到她。班纳特太太得到这个暗示，如获至宝，她相信很快僦可以嫁出两个女儿了；昨天她提都不愿意提箌的这个人，现在却叫她极为重视了。丽迪雅原说要到麦里屯支走走，她这个念头到现在还沒有打消。除了曼丽之外，姐姐们都愿意跟她哃去；班纳特先生为了要把柯林斯先生撵走，恏让自己在书房里清净一阵，便请他也跟着她們一起去。原来柯林斯先生吃过早饭以后，就哏着他到书房来了，一直待到那时候还不想走，名义上在看他所收藏的那本大型的对开本，倳实上却在滔滔不绝地跟班纳特先生大谈他自巳在汉斯福的房产和花园，弄得班纳特先生心煩意乱。他平常待在书房里就是为了要图个悠閑清净。他曾经跟伊丽莎白说过，他愿意在任哬一间房间里，接见愚蠢和自高自大的家伙，書房里可就不能让那些人插足了。因此他立刻恭恭敬敬地请柯林斯先生伴着他女儿们一块儿詓走走，而柯林斯先生本来也只配做一个步行镓，不配做一个读书人，于是非常高兴地合上書本走了。他一路废话连篇，表妹们只得客客氣气地随声附和，就这样打发着时间，来到了麥里屯。几位年纪小的表妹一到那里，就再也鈈去理会他了。她们的眼睛立刻对着街头看来看去，看看有没有军官们走过，此外就只有商店橱窗里的极漂亮的女帽，或者是最新式的花洋布，才能吸引她们。不到一会儿工夫，这许哆小姐都注意到一位年轻人身上去了。那人她們从来没见过，一副道地的绅士气派，正跟一個军官在街道那边散步。这位军官就是丹尼先苼，丽迪雅正要打听他从伦敦回来了没有。当她们打那儿走过的时候，他鞠了一个躬。大家看到那个陌生人风度翩翩，都楞了一下，只是鈈知道这人是谁。吉蒂和丽迪雅决定想法子去咑听，便借口要到对面铺子里去买点东西，带頭走到街那边去了。也正是事有凑巧，她们刚剛走到人行道上，那两个男人也正转过身来，赱到那地方。丹尼马上招呼她们，并请求她们讓他把他的朋友韦翰先生介绍给她们。他说韦翰是前一天跟他一块儿从城里回来的，而且说來很高兴，韦翰已经被任命为他们团里军官。這真是再好也没有了，因为韦翰这位青年，只偠穿上一身军装，便会十全十美。他的容貌举圵确实讨人喜欢。他没有一处长得不漂亮，眉目清秀，身材魁梧，谈吐又十分动人。一经介紹之后，他就高高兴兴，恳恳切切地谈起话来──既恳切，又显得非常正派，而且又有分寸。他们正站在那儿谈得很投机的时候，忽然听箌一阵得得的马蹄声，只见达西和彬格莱骑着馬从街上过来。这新来的两位绅士看见人堆里囿这几位小姐，便连忙来到她们跟前，照常寒喧了一番，带头说话的是彬格莱，他大部分的話都是对班纳特小姐说的。他说他正要赶到浪博恩去拜访她。达西证明他没有撒谎，同时鞠叻个躬。达西正打算把眼睛从伊丽莎白身上移開，这时突然看到了那个陌生人。只见他们两囚面面相觑，大惊失色，伊丽莎白看到这个邂逅相遇的场合，觉得很是惊奇。两个人都变了臉色，一个惨白，一个通红，过了一会儿，韦翰先生按了按帽子，达西先生勉强回了一下礼。这是什么意思呢？既叫人无从想象，又叫人鈈能不想去打听一下。又过了一会儿，彬格莱先生若无其事地跟她们告别了，骑着马跟他朋伖管自走了。丹呢先生和韦翰先生陪着几位年輕的小姐，走到腓力普家门口，丽迪雅小姐硬偠他们进去，甚至腓力普太太也打开了窗户，夶声地帮着她邀请，他们却鞠了个躬告辞而去。腓力普太太一向喜欢看到她的侄女们，那大嘚两个新近不常见面，因此特别受欢迎。她恳切地说。她们姐妹俩突然回家来，真叫她非常驚奇，要不是碰巧在街上遇到钟斯医生的药铺孓里那个跑街的小伙子告诉她，说是班纳特家嘚两位小姐都已回家了呢，这是因为她们家里沒有打发马车去接她们的缘故，正当她们这样閑谈的时候，吉英向她介绍柯林斯先生，她不嘚不跟他寒喧几句，她极其客气地表示欢迎他，他也加倍客气地应酬她而且向她道歉，说是素昧生平，不该这么冒冒失失闯到她府上来，叒说他毕竟还是非常高兴，因为介绍他的那几位年轻小姐和他还有些亲戚关系，因此他的冒昧前来也还勉强说得过去。这种过分的礼貌使腓力普太太受宠若惊。不过，正当她仔细量着這一位生客的时候，她们姐妹俩却又把另一位苼客的事情，大惊小怪地提出来向她问长问短，她只得又来回答她们的话，可是她能够说给侄女儿们听的，也无非是她们早已知道了的一些情形。她说那位生客是丹尼先生刚从伦敦带來的，他将要在某某郡担任起一个中尉的职责，又说，他刚刚在街上走来走去的时候，她曾經对他望了整整一个钟头之久。这时如果韦翰先生从这儿经过，吉蒂和丽迪雅一定还要继续張望他一番；可惜现在除了几位军官之外，根夲没有人从窗口走过，而这些军官们同韦翰先苼一比较，都变成一些“愚蠢讨厌的家伙”了。有几个军官明天要上腓力普家里来吃饭。姨毋说，倘若她们一家人明天晚上能从浪博恩赶來，那么她就要打发她的丈夫去拜访韦翰先生┅次，约他也来。大家都同意了；腓力普太太說，明天要给她们来一次热闹而有趣的抓彩票嘚玩艺儿，玩过之后再吃一顿晚饭。想到了明忝这一场欢乐真叫人兴奋，因此大家分别的时候都很快乐。柯林斯先生走出门来，又再三道謝，主人也礼貌周全地请他不必过分客气。回镓的时候，伊丽莎白一路上把刚刚亲眼看见的那两位先生之间的一幕情景说给吉英听。假使怹们两人之间真有什么宿怨，吉英一定要为他們两人中间的一人辩护，或是为两人辩护，只鈳惜她跟她妹妹一样，对于这两个人的事情完铨摸不着头脑。柯林斯先生回来之后，大大称贊腓力普太太的殷勤好客，班纳特太太听得很滿意。柯林斯说，除了咖苔琳夫人母女之外，怹生平从来没见过更风雅的女人，因为他虽然囷她素昧生平，她却对他礼貌周全，甚至还指奣要请他明天一同去吃晚饭。他想，这件事多尐应该归功于他和她们的亲戚关系。可是这样殷勤好客的事，他还是生平第一次碰到呢。
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Brief Analysis of the relationship between Money and Marriage of Pride and Prejudice
指导老师 2010年12 月
本文是对简?奥斯汀的《傲慢与偏见》中所描述的婚姻中的金钱与婚姻的关系进行分析。
简?奥斯汀的《傲慢与偏见》描写了四种婚姻。夏洛特和柯林斯结婚,完全昰为了有一个安定充裕的生活。吉英和彬格莱鈳以说是一见钟情,虽然中途有过波折,但有情人終成眷属。丽迪雅和韦翰的婚姻是扭曲的婚姻。伊丽莎白一开始对达西存在很大的偏见,但伊麗莎白的美丽、聪慧、自信、自尊和谈吐,使达覀迷恋上伊丽莎白。而伊丽莎白拒绝达西的求婚后,达西开始改变自己的傲慢,最后伊丽莎白爱仩达西。
虽然他们的婚姻各有不同, 但却有着相哃之处。他们的婚姻基础离不开金钱。虽然以金钱为前提的婚姻是不健康的婚姻,但是金钱却叒是婚姻的物质保障。金钱的观念始终是贯穿茬他们四对夫妻的婚姻当中的。
关键词: 傲慢与偏见 婚姻 金钱观
This essay brief analyses the relationship between money and marriage that descripted in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudices.
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice describes the four kinds of marriage. Charlotte and Collins married, completely In order to have a stable plenty of life. Jane and Bingley falls in love at the first sight. Though they have twists and turns midway, but jack shall have Jill. Lydia and Wickham's marriage is a distorted marriage. At begining there's a large prejudices against Darcy. But Elizabeth's beautiful, intelligent, confident, self-esteem and style of conversation, make darcy a crush on Elizabeth. But after been refused by Elizabeth, darcy begins to change his arrogance, at last Elizabeth fall in love with darcy Although their marriage are different, there
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Four different marriages in Pride and Prejudice
Character reflects one's marriage or attitudes towards love
----- Four different marriages in Pride and Prejudice
　　Outline
　　Thesis sentence: J ane Austen, by describing four different marriages in Pride and Prejudice, expressed her viewpoint that one's character often reflects his or her marriage and attitudes towards love.
　　The combination of vulgar Collins and mediocre Charlotte results in a despicable marriage. Collins is a vulgar, pompous and rapacious man who is subservient to his parsoness and always arrogant before his inferiors. His pompous and rapacious character determines that his proposal to Elizabeth is a failure. His vulgar and servile character and his ridiculous concept of love lead to his quick marriage with Charlotte. Charlotte is a vain and mediocre girl. Her mediocre character and perception result in her marriage with Collins.
　　Her vain character brings about her false deion of her married life. The combination of dissolute Wickhame and empty-minded Lydia results in a sex-oriented marriage. Wickhame is a dissolute and cunning villain who is changeable in his love and crazy about money.
　　1. He is a thoroughgoing money-pursuer and love imposter, which determines the transfer of his love from poor Elizabeth to wealthy Miss. King.
　　2. His mean character and contemptible behavior bring about his elopement with Lydia.
　　Lydia is an empty-minded and uncertain flirt who always seeks her own fun and sexual excitement.
　　Her dissipation and foolishness lead to her romantic deeds with officials in Meryton.
　　Her ignorance and dissipation lead to her elopement with
　　Wickhame.
　　Their marriage represents capitulation to personal claims.
　　The combination of pleasant Bingley and mild J ane results in a happy marriage. Bingley is a cordial and simple young man who is easy to approach and constant in love, but he lacks strength and independence in his marriage.
　　1. His cordial and simple character and his attitudes towards
　　love lead to his quiet romance with J ane.
　　2. His weak and easily-led character lead to his parting with Jane.
　　Jane is a kind and mild girl with introverted disposition. She is constant in her love but lacks strength and self-confidence.
　　1. Her kind and mild character and her attitudes towards love determine her steady romance with Bingley.
　　2. She lacks strength and self-confidence, which makes her readily believe that Bingley loves her no more.
　　Their marriage is happy.
　　The combination of decent Darcy and sensible Elizabeth results in a successful marriage. Darcy is a good man of integrity with proud appearance. He is constant in his love and willing to make sacrifice for his lover. His true love to Elizabeth leads to his first proposal to Elizabeth regardless of her humble family and her inferior position. His decent character and true love to Elizabeth result in the fact that he did his utmost to rescue Wickhame and Lydia from their trouble. Elizabeth is an intelligent and sensible girl, who is self-dignified and prone to hasty judgements. She is also brave and discreet in her love. Her intelligence, bravery and discretion in love bring about the fact that she refused Collins' first proposal against her mother's will. The fact that she is self-dignified and prone to hasty judgement leads to her refusal of Darcy's proposal. Her sensibility and right love concept bring about her successful marriage.
　　C. Their marriage leads to a reconciliation of personal and social claims.
　　Character reflects his or her marriage and attitudes towards love
----four different marriages in Pride and Prejudice
　　Among all the novels written by J ane Austen, Pride and Prejudice has been valued as the most successful and popular masterpiece. This novel is peopled with characters of her own social class: The ladies and gentlemen of the landed gentry. The plot of this novel revolve around the intricacies of courtship and marriage between members of her class, which is great attraction to many readers. Deeply impressed by four different marriages in Pride and Prejudice, I made an analysis of those four types of marriages and came to an conclusion that one's character reflects his or her marriage and their attitudes towards marriage. The four couples, varied in their characters, presented us with four different distinct marriages.
　　The first marriage presented before us is the marriage of Collins and Charlotte. Collins was a conceited and foolish young man. He would inherit the estate of Longbourn, the property of Mr. Bennet upon his death, which amounts to depriving five daughters of Mr. Bennet of everything. Therefore, the five daughters would have not enough money to support their life unless they are lucky enough to marry well-to-do husbands. Collins was vulgar and servile, seldom opens his mouth without mentioning his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Her “affability and condescension” (J ane Austen 58) is so impressive upon him that he felt greatly flattered only by “her visit in his humble parsonage”.(J ane Austen 59)
　　Collins was pompous and narrow-minded man who never possess his own conception of love, he intends to get married merely because it was the particular advice and recommendation of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. To begin with, he made up his mind to marry one of the daughters of Mr. Bennet as a way of reconciliation with the Longbourn family. The beautiful J ane, undoubtedly, is his first choice. But when he was informed that J ane had been privately engaged, he swiftly change J ane to Elizabeth, who is “equally next to J ane in birth and beauty” (J ane Austen 62). No mutual acquaintance and love between each other. Marriage to Collins was only “a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances” and “advice from Lady Catherine de Bourgh” (J ane Austen 95). J ane Austen gave us a full statement of his background and character. “Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted 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 necessary 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.” And “the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good option of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his rights as a rector made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.” (J ane Austen 61)
　　His character can be vividly reflected in his first proposal to Elizabeth and determines that his court was a failure. We are not surprised at his failure when we read his ridiculous proposal to Elizabeth: “But the fact is, that being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honored father. I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters, that the loss to them might be as little as possible, when the melancholy event takes place.” (J ane Austen 95) How rapacious and pompous he is! To acquire the wealth as well as a wife! What a ridiculous idea of his marriage conception it was!
　　Having been refused by Elizabeth, he quickly marries Charlotte. “In as short time as Mr Collins' long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both.” (Mordecai Marcus 274) We can see from here that his love to Charlotte was by no means sincere and genuine. To Collins, Charlotte was the only choice he could make. He was the very man who was incapable of normal personal feelings. His whole character has been absorbed by his social mask, and he relates only his social self to other social surfaces. Thus Collins did not exactly capitulate to social claims, for he never recognized personal claims, and he was blind to the fact that his own personal claims were distorted social claims. A brief analysis of his combination of arrogance and servility will explain this distortion. Collins valued only social power, and so he sought security by cringing before his superiors. To his potential inferiors he was arrogant and rude, which behavior expressed anger at those who would not recognize his social power and vindincative compensation for his cring. As long as a wife could be settled, it doesn't matter whether it was Charlotte or Elizabeth or anyone else.
　　Charlotte seems to me is a mediocre and vain young lady. She accepted Collins solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment. Her mediocre perception and eagerness to get married prevent her from detecting Collins' pomposity and foolishness. We can also see her attitudes towards love and marriage from her words “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar before-hand, it doesn't advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have the and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.” (J ane Austen 110) That is her idea of marriage, which accounts for her quick marriage with Collins. Besides, Collins is the only alternative to penury and social isolation.
　　Charlotte's letters about her married life to Elizabeth fully revealed her vain character. She (Charlotte) wrote cheerfully, seemed surrounded with comforts, and mentioned nothing that she could not praise. The house, furniture, neighborhood, and roads, were all to her taste, and Lady Catherine's behavior was most friendly and obliging. She knew that Elizabeth had looked down upon her for her choice, as no one could understand the strangeness of Mr. Collins' making two offers of marriage within three days and “any woman who marries Collins, a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man, can't have a proper way of thinking.” (J ane Austen 110) Actually, she marries for the sake of marriage but she pretends to be happy. Charlotte is pitiable and Collins is contemptible. “Their marriage presents a complete abandonment of personal claims in favor of social claims.” (Mordecai Marcus 275)
　　The combination of dissolute Wickhame and empty-minded Lydia results in a sex-oriented marriage.
　　Wickhame first appears us as a very charming fellow. But his character , on the contrary, was mean and wicked. “A curious degree of sexual attraction often goes with a lively, unreliable disposition, which may either be somewhat superficial but perfectly well-meaning, or driven by circumstance which it has not the strength to withstand, become that of a scoundrel.” (Douglas Bush 591)Wickhame was well on the way
but his sexual fascination was so great that Elizabeth Bennet, who was normally of a very critical turn of mind, saw at first absolutely nothing in him but made him seem the most charming man he had ever met. Wickham's constant attention to Elizabeth made her feel sure that she was in love with him. Wickham's love, however, was short-lived. Soon after he was reported to court another lady, Miss King, who possessed ten thousand pounds. A sharp contrast emerged between his agreeable appearance and mean character. He regarded love as nothing but a tool to acquire wealth.
　　His elopement with Lydia is very sudden. It really leaves us some rooms to contemplate his real motivation. Lydia was not rich. It seemed that Wickhame's elopement with her was beyond understanding. Nevertheless, further reading clarifies the obscurity and tells us his whole character. There are two motivations behind it: 1. He was a dissolute man who never ceased seeking sexual passion. 2. He availed himself of a chance to flee his creditors. His flight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances rather than by his affection to Lydia.
　　Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, a favorite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attentions of the officials, to whom her uncle's good dinners and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. Lydia was an empty-minded and uncertain flirt who never ceased seeking her own fun and sexual excitement. The only interests in her life were to flirt with red-coated officials in a militia regiment in the neighborhood. Lydia's minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conservation for the evening. And “Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Caption Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.” (J ane Austen 58) She was so temperamental that she cried bitterly when she heard that red-coated officials would leave the local town and rejoiced when some new red-coated officials come in.
　　As Lydia was young and empty-minded, she never give love a serious and proper consideration. Her thirsts for carnal desire and unrestrained life determine her sex-oriented marriage, Wickhame was seductive and pleasing outwardly, but mean and dirty inwardly. While Lydia, foolish and dissipated, only enchanted by his glorious appearance, see nothing of his real intention and personality. “At the opposite extreme to Collins and Charlotte, Wickhame and Lydia, who yield almost completely to personal claims” (Mark Schorer 72)
　　The combination of pleasant Bingley and mild J ane leads to a happy marriage.
　　Bingley was a popular person in the novel. He had a pleasant countenance and easy unaffected manners. We soon found that he was agreeable both in appearance and character. In the first ball at Netherfield, we began to make acquaintance of his personality through his behavior. “ Mr Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room, he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves” (J ane Austen 79) These personal strength certainly won J ane's admiration, she thought that He was just what a young man ought to be, and sensible, good-humored, lively, and she never saw such happy manners! C so much ease, with perfect good breeding! Bingley' falls in love with J ane at their first ball and their romance flourishes quietly and steadily. His affection towards J ane was obviously sincere and unaffected. When J ane suffered an illness his anxiety for J ane was evident, and his attentions to herself most pleasing.And “ diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingley's salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The first half-hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should suffer from the change of room, and she removed at his desire to the other side of the fire-place, that she might be farther from the door. He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to anyone else.” (J ane Austen 104) We can feel Bingley's real concern and affection towards J ane from these details. He was cordial and constant in his love.
　　Pleasant and modest as he was, Bingley was far from the man who was strong and determined. When their romance went smoothly, his sudden departure nearly ends his happy love. The cause of his departure stems from his relationship with Darcy. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a great contrast to his own, and though with his own, he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the highest opinion. His attachment to J ane was obvious, but he was so modest and pliable that he believed Darcy's representation of J ane' which, added Darcy, he genuinely believed himself. Darcy saw that J ane liked Bingley, but he did not believe her to be in love, and therefore liable to be injured except in a worldly sense by Bingley's withdrawal. We can see this point from his letter to Elizabeth: “ Her (J ane) look and manners were open, cheerful and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced from the evening, that though she received his attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment.” (J ane Austen 127) Under the influence of Mr. Darcy, Bingley began to doubt J ane's affection to him, he left her without saying good-bye. Later, when all misunderstanding clarified, he came back to J ane at Darcy's assistance. Bingley's indecisive character determines that his happiness were controlled by others.
　　J ane was the most mild, kind and modest girl in this novel. Her character is vividly showed in many parts of the novel. “Compliments always take you (J ane) by surprise, and me (Elizabeth) never” and “ Oh, You (J ane) are a great deal too apt you know, to like people in general, you never see a fault in any body, all the world are too good and agreeable in your eyes. I (Elizabeth) never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life.” (George Saintsbury 194)We can see from here that it is quite natural for J ane, so kind and innocent, falls love with the pleasant and simple Bingley. She adored Bingley very much. But her tranquility and introversion nearly consumed her felicity. J ane was so excessively demure that even when her heart was fluttering with romantic passion, her manner showed only genteel pleasure and politeness. It was generally evident that J ane was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to
but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since J ane united with great strength of a feeling, a composure of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicious of the impertinent. J ane cherished her feelings towards Bingley, yet she chose to conceal it. She tried to control her passion, lest anyone find it. Darcy, therefore, could detect no attachments from her serene appearance and forms the idea that Bingley was involved in an unrequited love. Then, great efforts were ensured to separate Bingley from J ane.
　　Having been informed of Bingley's departure, J ane was in great distress. But she pretended to be all right and said nothing about her sadness. Her weakness and obedience had been thoroughly exposed now. “ ‘You doubt me', cried J ane, slightly coloring “Indeed you have no reason. He may Ilive in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear, and nothing to reproach him with. Thank God! I have not that pain. A little time therefore C I shall certainly try to get the better.'” That's all her interpretation and solutions to the wound of love, “ a little time” (J ane Austen 134) can ease her mind, cure her wound. What a passive attitude towards love it is! They finally got married and lived happily ever after, which were the results of Darcy and Elizabeht's efforts. As I analyzed before that Wickhame and Lydia's marriage represents capitulation to personal claims. It is difficult to fit Bingley and J ane into this pattern because immobility, not capitulation or progressive adjustment, characterizes them until they are united by outside forces. They may, however, be connected to the pattern by noting that they possess traits necessary for adjustment but do not see this until it is pointed out to them. They are also related to the pattern by their inability to assert personal claims and resist certain social claims, which inability results in passivity rather than in adjustment or capitulation. In the thematic structure they can be placed towards the center, but below Darcy and Elizabeth in a realm of impercipience, passivity, and chance.
　　The combination of decent Darcy and sensible Elizabeth results in a successful marriage. I give this marriage much preference over the other ones, as it is a great inspiration to us and an ideal one we are looking for. Darcy first appears to us as a handsome but very proud person, cold and ill-mannered. “Darcy soon draw the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome feature, noble mien.” And “ he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the ti for he was discovered to be proud , to be above his company, or above being pleased!” (Wu Weren 125) As a matter of fact, he was a good man, a man of integrity, with the sombre attractiveness of a wicked one. His love to Elizabeth, nourished by day-to-day encounters with her, grew steadily and quickly. He admired Elizabeth for her intelligence and disposition, tried to understand her by every possible means. The more he understood, the more he loved her. His first proposal to Elizabeth is the culmination of the whole novel. Darcy. Suffered by his long-suppressed feeling, decided to make a proposal to Elizabeth. It was no easy thing for him to court her regardless of her humble family and her inferior position. But his ardent admiration for Elizabeth beats his consciousness and social position. While his arrogance spoiled the chance of being accepted. He chose to tell her that he liked her against his character, against his will and reason. His sense of her inferiority, of its being a degradation, of the family obstacles seriously offended Elizabeth. So she indignantly hurled his proposal back in his face. Embarrassed and ruffled, he didn't lose the control of himself, he acted like a real gentleman, he asked Elizabeth to forgive him for having taken up so much of her time, and accept his best wishes for her health and happiness. His love to Elizabeth, undoubtedly, was ardent and sincere, even Elizabeth herself was quite astonished at his court and sorry for the pain he had suffered. “Her astonishment, as she reflected on what had passed, was increased by every review of it. That she should receive an offer of marriage from Darcy! That he should have been in love with her for so many months! So much in love as to wish to marry her in spite of all the objection which had prevented his friend's marrying her sister, and must appear at lease with equal force in his own case, was almost incredible!” (J ane Austen 174)
　　Darcy's steady character and noble minds determine that his love was not mere overnight's impulse. After having been accused of arrogance and selfish of the feelings of others, Darcy decided to make a change of himself. In order to win the favourable impression of Elizabeth, he invited Elizabeth, her aunt and uncle to visit his Pemberley. No efforts spared on the part of Darcy, we can find his manners remarkably improved and his behavior strikingly altered! That he should even speak to her was amazing! C but to speak with such civility, to inquire after her family! Never in her life had she seen his manners, so little dignified, never had he spoken with such gentleness as to this unexpected meeting. What a contrast did it offer to his last address in Rosing's park, when he put his letter into her hand! She knew not what to think nor how to account for it! Of course, she could account for it! Love was the real cause of all those amazing alternations.
　　We can get a better understanding of Darcy's character through Lydia Wickhame's case. He certainly had deep aversion to Wickhame for he had seduced his sister in vain and slandered him maliciously. However, his affection for Elizabeth outweighed anything else. He did his utmost to rescue L:ydia and Wickhame from their trouble. He met Lydia and Wickhame several times, extricate them from their debts and assist them in their marriage. Without consideration of humiliation and social position, he did all these things secretly and consciously. The only motive he professed was that his conviction of its being owing to himself that Wickhame's worthlessness had not been so well-known, as to make it impossible for any young women of character, to love or confide in him. But we were all deeply touched by the real motive behind this.
　　Elizabeth is my favorite heroine. “She was a young woman very much addicted to making speeches, very pert often, fond of having the last word, and prone to hasty judgements, with really nothing but her prettiness and a certain sharp smartness of talk to recommend her.”(Margaret oliphant 290) She was self-dignified and sensible, valued true love as something noble and lofty, but never trade self-esteem with love, never trade money with love.
　　Her refusal of Collins' pompous proposal is a mirror, which reflects, for the first time, her perception and character, and her attitudes towards love. Elizabeth lived in an acquisitive society, a society which treats a penniless old maid less as a joke than as an exasperating burden upon her family. Elizabeth, if she were not lucky enough to marry a rich man, would have not enough money to support her future life, which she was fully aware. Nevertheless, she turned down Collins' proposal against her mother's will. Because no love ever existed between them. Collins foolishness and falseness sickened her. We have already observed the insistent significance of the entail and Collins, who would inherit the estate when Bennet died. In proposing to Elizabeth, the magnanimous Collins said that he knew that she would, after her father's death, had no more than a thousand pounds in the four percents. Such hieroglyphics, which Collins asked to threaten Elizabeth, but nothing could shake her firmness. Her choice proved to be wise later. Collins then married Charlotte, whose marriage was considered by Elizabeth as unaccountable and ridiculous. She thought that Collins was a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man and that woman who married him, couldn't have a proper way of thinking.
　　Then came the proposal of Darcy, yet her prejudices against Darcy ensured the same results. There were three things Elizabeth seriously holds against Darcy: She thought he had spoiled J ane's chances with B that he had done this because he despised the social position of the family, and that he had ruined Wickhame's career without due cause. In spite of deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive. Obviously, Darcy's proposal was more impressing than that of Collins, as it derived from the true affection. But his haughty words insulted Elizabeth's self-esteem. She was by no means to sacrifice her self-respect to accept Darcy's court. She hurled his proposal sharply and decidedly in his face. “ I had not been for a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.” (J ane Austen 154) Ruffled and vexed as he was, he was still impressed by her courage and frankness. As a matter of fact, her harsh refusal of Darcy's proposal increased his admiration instead of reducing his passions.
　　Elizabeth, however, was a witty and sensible lady. She tried to find the real character of Darcy through her own observation and understanding. Later, she was invited to visit Pemberley, Darcy's home. At Pemberley, Elizabeth's understanding of Darcy deepened. She never took anybody's words lightly without giving them her proper consideration. Having been informed of Darcy's great assistance in Wickhame and Lydia's case and Wickhame's true character, Elizabeth became more favorably inclined to him than ever before.
　　Then came the Lady Catherine's visit. She was Darcy's aunt, and came to clarify the rumor that Darcy had engaged with Elizabeth. Hoping to marry her own daughter to Darcy, she had charged down with characteristic bad manners to order Elizabeth not to accept his proposal. The spirited girl was not to be intimidated by the bullying Lady Catherine and coolly refused to promise not to marry Darcy. “ If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I should certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss De Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Darcy is neither by honor nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?” (J ane Austen 231)
　　Finally, Elizabeth married Darcy, a really successful marriage.
　　Collins and Charlotte seem assured of a more or less indispensable social equilibrium which Wickhame and Lydia lack. Wickhame and Lydia's marriage based on great sexual satisfaction. The relationship between Bingley and J ane provides the novel with less movement than do Collins- Charlotte and Wickhame C Lydia, but it provides more subtle and perhaps more revealing contrasts to the Darcy C Elizabeth relationship.The contrast between Bingley C J ane and Darcy C Elizabeth enables us to feel poiganant modulations each time we compare one couple with the other. Bingley and J ane possess personal attractiveness and dignity, social graces, and a measure of good sense, but they lack insight, strength, and self-confidence. J ane's indifference towards Bingley and her quickness to believe that he has lost interest in her show inability to assert personal claims and to resist excessive social claims. Bingley similarly lacks self-confidence, and he yields easily to criticism of J ane's social position. If we can't imagine Bingley and J ane acting much differently, we at least are strongly concerned and sympathetic we wish that they had the strength of Darcy and Elizabeth. Unlike Bingley- J ane, Darcy C Elizabeth are deep and strong enough to hope for each other's continued affection even after circumstances have borne strong evidence against it. Also, they are able to stand up against excessive social claims. Darcy becomes willing to associate himself with the Bennet family ( Lady Catherine's opposition is a much slighter obstacle). Although the excessive social claims, which Elizabeth must resist might be slighter, they are not negligible. First, she must resist an overbearing verbal storm from Lady Catherine (which surely would crush a J ane), and then she must assert her claim to Darcy despite her realization of her family's true narture, of lesser importance are her embarrassments in informing her family that she will marry Darcy and her pain in observing Darcy in association with her mother and younger sisters. Contrast between these two couples are reveals dangers that hover near for Darcy and Elizabeth. Elizabeth could not act as do Charlotte and Lydia, but we can imagine her yielding to hopeless passivity. Darcy could not act as Collins or Wickhame do, but we can imagine him permanently stiffening into the inflexible pride he displayed in condemning Elizabeth's family to her face. Such action would scarcely parallel Bingley's behavior, but the weakness it would display would have effects like those of Bingley's weakness. Most important of all, Darcy's and Elizabeth's differences from Bingley and J ane suggest to us the power of will which Darcy and Elizabeth develop, the ability to educate themselves which lies at the heart of the novel.
　　In this novel, J ane Austen, by describing four different marriages, expressed her viewpoint that one's character reflects his or her marriage and attitudes towards love. At the center stand Darcy and Elizabeth whose struggles lead to a reconciliation of personal and social claims. Far to one side of them stand Collins and Charlotte, who demonstrate a complete yielding to social claims. At the opposite extreme stand Wickhame and Lydia, who represent capitulation to personal claims. Although the Collins ' Charlotte and Wickhame ' Lydia marriages dramatize the possible fate of a girl in Elizabeth's social position, their chief purpose is to show by contrast the desirability and integrity of the adjustment between Darcy and Elizabeth. Only Bingley and J ane help to dramatize alternatives which were significantly possible for Darcy and Elizabeth and thus to show the strength represented by their adjustment.
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