(傲慢与偏见伊丽莎白人物分析)The Characters of Elizabeth in Pride and Prej

The Characters of Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice

Abstract:

Pride

and

Prejudice

is

the

masterpiece

of

Jane

Austen,

a

remarkable

woman

writer

in

the

19

th

century

English

literature.

In

the

novel,

the

heroine

Elizabeth is a character with multi-dimensional personality. She is clever, lovely and

has the courage to pursue happiness which is the positive side in her character; on

the contrary, the negative aspects are her prejudice against Darcy, blind worship for

Wickham and the limitations of her notion on marriage.

Key words:

Pride and prejudice; Elizabeth; character

“

Pride

and

Prejudice

”

described

the

British

women

in

18

th

century

and

the

beginning of the 19

th

century who must attach to the men in spite of the economy,

society and family status; moreover it is a rigidly stratified society and pays attention

to suitable marriage.

Elizabeth,

the

main

character

in

Pride

and

Prejudice

written

by

Jane

Austen,

is

considered to be a new woman who breaks the tradition. Much of the story is seen

through her intelligence that also reflects the folly of others. Many of her personal

traits and behaviors are attractive to us. Especially when it comes to her marriage,

we can know that love is the most important thing for Elizabeth instead of property

and

status.

That

view

and

quality

is

what

we

need

to

possess

in

modern

society.

Although Elizabeth has some obvious shortcomings, we cannot deny that she is an

extraordinary woman.

On the one hand, I will talk about

the positive side in Elizabeth’s character

.

Firstly, Elizabeth is a smart girl. She shows her witty mind whenever she is talking

with others. For instance, in the conversation, “Miss Eliza Benet,” said Miss Bingley,

“despise cards, she is a great reader and has no pleasure in anything else.”“I deserve

neither such

praise nor such censure,” cried Elizabeth, “I am not a great reader, and I

have

pleasure

in

many things.”

Regarding Miss

Bingley’s

sneering,

Elizabeth replied

wisely

and

politely.

In

addition,

she

can

grasp

so

much

information

and

judge

out

others’

personalities

in

short

time.

Elizabeth

can

found

Mr.

Darcy’s

arrogance

and

impatience while Mr. Bingley was so enthusiastic to her sister Jane. And she can read

about

some

inappropriate

words

and

deeds

of Mrs.

Benet

and her

little

daughters

just

from

a

dancing

pa

rty.

What’s

more,

Darcy

once

said

“I

began

to

find

it

was

rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.” Even

Mr. Benet thought that Elizabeth was the cleverest daughter than others. According

to his view, only excellent man can get together with his daughter.

Secondly,

Elizabeth

loved

her

families

and

cared

them

very

much.

That’s

largely

moved me. In the 18

th

or 19

th

century, the main attention of the society was paid to

property and status. In Pride and Prejudice, we can fortunately find some true love

between families, especially Elizabeth. Her older sister Jane got cold on the way to

visit

Bing

ley’s

estate,

only

Elizabeth

cared

about

Jane’s

health.

She

took

it

upon

herself

to

walk

3

miles

through

the

mud

to

look

after

Jane

in

spite

of

others’

astonished

eyes

and

her

awkward

look.

Her

coming

made

everyone

surprised

and

unbelievable because they seldom met such a different female like Elizabeth around

their living environment. It was Elizabeth’s care to her sister that made D

arcy find out

her

beauty.

Moreover,

for

Lydia’s

marriage,

she

also

tried

her

best

to

support

her

sister

by

sending

her

private

savings.

At

that

time,

the

quality

was

precious.

In

modern

city,

not

only

the

west

but

also

China

increasingly

felt

the

weak

affection.

The

altruistic

love

Elizabeth

showed

is

enough

to

make

readers

moved.

“Love

is

priceless” is reflected incisively and vividly by Elizabeth.

Thirdly, Elizabeth had independent mind and broke traditional concept. Compared

with

the

contemporary

women,

especially

compared

with

many

women

in

the

Bennett’s family, Elizabeth’s most distinct quality is the independent consciousness:

she

wouldn't

rely

on

anyone

no

matter

in

the

family

and

society.

She

abandoned

many women's old idea, and appeared with a new guise. For example, facing the

Mrs.

Catherine

’s

blame

for

all

the

five

sisters

in

a

social occasion

at

the

same

time,

Elizabeth wouldn't flatter her, but point out sharply

:”

I think it would be very hard

upon

younger

sisters,

that

they

should

not

have

their

share

of

society

and

amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early.

The last born has as good a right to the pleasure of youth as the first. How call them

defend at home on such a motive!”

And as when Darcy's aunt intimidated Elizabeth