Pride and Prejudice傲慢与偏见简介英国文学

Austen’s literary concern


As a novelist Jane Austen writes within a very narrow sphere. The subject matter, the character range, the physical setting, social setting, and plots are all restricted to the provincial or village life of the 19th century England. (some family things, dancing parties, tea parties, picnics and gossips). But with a close study of the characters and setting, she can portray them with absolute accuracy and sureness.
However, Darcy continues to be attracted to her, in spite of himself, till he proposes to her but is rejected indignantly. Later on, on a trip to north of England with her uncle and aunt, Elizabeth chances to meet Darcy, who receives them very warmly and shows greatly improved manners. Thus pride is checked and prejudice removed. Just at this point, news reaches Elizabeth that her youngest sister Lydia has eloped with Wickham. By Darcy’s help, their marriage is finally brought about. And through his influence, the former tie between Bingley and Jane is renewed, which leads to their engagement. Darcy and Elizabeth also become engaged despite the intervention of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The story then ends happily with the marriages of Jane and Elizabeth.
Pride and Prejudice
was first written in the late 1700's, then rewritten in 1811-1812 and finally published in early 1813.
Pride and Prejudice, originally entitled First
Walter Scott praised her: “That young lady has a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with. The big-wow strain I can do myself, like any now going; but the exquisite touch which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me. What a pity such a gifted creature died so early!”
The house where she lived, Chawton, Hampshire
Jane Austen’s House at Chawton
Her literary achievemeejudice 1813
Emma 1816
Biographical Introduction




Family background: was born in a country clergyman’s family and was brought up in an intelligent but restricted environment. Education: Through a wide reading of books available in her father’s library, Jane acquired a through knowledge of 18th century literature. Life: she lived a quiet, retired and uneventful life. And her closest companion was her elder sister, who likes her, never married. Writing: she began as a child to write novels for family entertainment. Her works were published anonymously due to the prejudice against women writers then.

She depicted the everyday life of the families of bigger or smaller landlords and clergymen, with the interest centered chiefly upon the love and marriage of the young and the not-so-young folk, describing in detail their ordinary conversations, walks, drives, teas, dances, visits, picnics, journeys and other common activities.
Persuasion 1818
Sense and Sensibility 1811
Northanger Abbey 1818
Major works
Sense & Sensibility
Mansfield Park
Emma
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
Pride& Prejudice
Impressions, is the story of a young girl who
rejects an offer of marriage because the young nobleman who makes it has been rude to her family.
Mr and Mrs Bennet live with their five daughters at Longbourn near London. Because they have no son, their property will have to pass, according to the law at that time, to a cousin, William Collins. Hoping to secure their daughters’ position in society, they both want to marry them to some wealthy gentlemen. It so happens that Charles Bingley, a single man in possession of a good fortune, comes to settle in the neighborhood with his two sisters and his friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, who is also rich and unmarried. Bingley and Jane fall in love with each other almost at first sight. And Darcy is attracted to Jane’s sister Elizabeth, but he offends her by his insolent behavior and rude remarks at a ball. The dislike and repulsion is increased by the pride of the one and the prejudice of the other.
She wrote 6 novels: “Sense and Sensibility”《理智与情感》 （1811） “Pride and Prejudice” 《傲慢与偏见》 （1813） “Mansfield Park” 《曼斯菲尔德庄园》 （1814） “Emma” 《艾玛》 （1816） “Northanger Abbey” 《诺桑觉寺》 （1818） “Persuasion” 《劝导》 （1818）
Austen’s literary concern


Austen’s main literary concern is about human beings in their personal relationships. Austen shows a human being not at moments of crisis, but in the most trivial incidents of everyday life. Austen is particularly preoccupied with the relationship between men and women in love. Stories of love and marriage provide the major themes in all her novels. (marry for material wealth and social position; marry for beauty and passion; marry for true love)