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[Abstract]This paper aims to reveal Jane Austen’s creative style of realism through an analysis of the emotional contradiction in Pride and Prejudice, which develops as the only clue of a love story. Its essence as an entanglement of “rationality” and “emotionality” embodies the author’s view of love and the voice of women’s liberation.
[Key words]pride;prejudice; emotional contradiction; rationality; emotionality.
I.Introduction
As a writer in the age of rationalism, the heroes in Jane Austen’s novels are described as “ordinary people of reason without any romance”, by which brand her representative work Pride and Prejudice is characterized. No one would doubt that Pride and Prejudice is a love story between Elizabeth and Darcy because only one clue exits throughout it-- the emotional contradiction, Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice. The whole plot is promoted round its emergence, development, transformation and integration.I’d like to take an analysis on the emotional contradiction of “pride”and “prejudice”.
Ⅱ.The emergence, development, and transformation of the “emotional contradiction”
Pride and Prejudice begins with a vivid presentation of the characters.The goal of Mrs Bennet’s whole life is to marry her five daughters to rich people as they have no right to inherit the property. She brings them to a ball to be known by Mr Bingley, their new neighbor, who is a wealthy bachelor. To her satisfaction, the eldest daughter Jane and Bingley fall in love with each other at first sight. However, another two extraordinary people, Darcy and Elizabeth, attract our more attention.
Darcy is a gentleman who draws people’s attention by “his fine, tall person, handsome features, and noble mien”. (Page 6) But he’s so proud and superior to the company that he refuses to dance with others and even insults Elizabeth by saying that “she’s tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I’m in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”(Page 7) These words hurt Elizabeth’s self-dignity badly and stir her prejudice to Darcy. As soon as the protagonists meet each other, the contradiction of “pride” and “prejudice” comes into being and the plot develops from this point.
During their consequent contact, Darcy is forced to acknowledge Elizabeth’s figure to be light and pleasing and her face to be rendered uncommonly by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. Obviously, Darcy has fallen in love with her, Darcy pays more and more attention to Elizabeth. Elizabeth can’t help concerning Darcy’s marriage. In vain has Darcy struggled and repressed his feelings that finally he proposes to Elizabeth. To his astonishment, he is refused and rebuked angrily. Elizabeth “hates his sense of her inferiority, of its being a degradation, and of the family obstacles”. (Page 141) So far, the contradiction develops to its climax and in fact this moment symbolizes the beginning of their transformation. Darcy realizes his fault and changes his arrogant attitude. He secretly helps Lydia’s marriage that safeguards the Bennet’s fame, and saves the love between Bingley and Jane. After knowing Darcy’s real character, Elizabeth’s prejudice changes into regrets, self-criticism, respect and even love. Since “pride” and “prejudice” disappear, the novel ends up with Darcy and Elizabeth’s happy marriage.
Ⅲ.The contradiction’s essence: An entanglement of “emotionality” and “rationality”, an embodiment of the author’s view of love
Jane Austen’s novels not only describe simple romantic affairs, but show us how the characters pursue their happiness and status. It’s quite clear that both the development of “pride”, “prejudice” and the characters’ daily thoughts as well as behaviors are influenced by “rationality”, which is just the basic standard of the author.
Darcy lives in an atmosphere filled with the conception of power and status since childhood, which made him arrogant and self-centered. He minds the status so much that even if he has been prompted by the irresistible love, he hesitates to propose to Elizabeth. At such a crucial moment, Darcy still keeps an arrogant attitude and show magnanimity before the very lady he asks to marry, which just intensifies their contradiction instead of attracting Elizabeth. Obviously, Darcy’s rationality is displayed by his strong sense of power and status. On the other hand, somber, calm, and practical are shown as Elizabeth’s rationality. She’s as sensitive as Darcy to her origin. She has to do her utmost to revolt against Darcy’s pride, protecting herself from being hurt, which is caused by a long-time mental accumulation as the second-class. “I shall certainly let him know that I see what he’s about. If I don’t begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.” (Page 16) —Her motto in dealing with the emotional entanglement has been the cause of constant quarrels and prejudice against Darcy. Only when Darcy throws off his airs and helps Elizabeth’s family sincerely that can Elizabeth accept the love which has already sprout in her heart.
As long as love exists, the strength of emotionality can’t be ignored, especially in a love story. From the very beginning, Darcy has been lost in the emotional entanglement, which is exactly out of his control. He proposes to Elizabeth once and once again, ignoring his relatives’ opposition and social reality. Elizabeth seems to detest Darcy so much, but she accepts Darcy’s invitation to dance together, and his explanations to her criticize. Moreover, she assures her love to Darcy after seriously fighting back the interference of his aunt.
Thus we can see that, “pride” and “prejudice” is actually an entanglement of rationality and emotionality. It clearly reflects Darcy and Elizabeth’s feelings under the rational restriction and the strength of love, which leads them to overcome the prejudice of both society and themselves. As an end to the novel, their marriage is a combination of emotionality and rationality, what is just Austen want to show us in her works. That’s a good reflection of her own view of love: Emotionality and rationality, ideal and reality should be in perfect harmony and happy marriage should base on true love.
Ⅳ.Social realities the contradiction reflect and its value
According to Marxist theory, we’d better set a problem into a certain historical scope to know it well. This naturally brings us to the everyday life of British rural middle class in the end of 18th century to understand the view of love embodied in Austen’s works.
“A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (Page 1) The first sentence of the novel has provided us the background of social relationship. To view it from another standpoint, a single woman who possesses nothing should marry to a rich man. A woman lacking economic assurance is actually in a passive situation of waiting for being chosen in marital market.. Marriage is the best way for them to gain social status. That’s the real connotation of the “universally acknowledged truth”, in which the inequality between men and women has been exposed completely.
Obviously, Darcy is the pet of this truth, who is loved and courted by so many young ladies. Just as Miss Lucas said, “His pride does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there’s an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favor, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud.”(Page 13) However, Elizabeth, an outstanding female, is beyond the truth. She has her own pursuit to love and put it as primary principle in choosing a mate. Her thoughts and actions that seem to conflict with the whole world cause the contradiction of prejudice against Darcy. She even refuses the prince’s proposal which makes the contradiction between “pride” and “prejudice” a highlight, because she suspects that she’s only treated as a “chosen good” without love, or Darcy is only attracted by her charming appearance, neglecting her real value. We may view the contradiction as a taunt to the marital problem as well as women’s advocating voice of personal independence and demand for equal rights in that era. Only on the basis of being loved equally, can Elizabeth accept Darcy’s second proposal. Their pursuit to true love and the realization of each other’s essence change their attitudes. “Prejudice” fades and “pride” disappears.
Some people may presume that Darcy’s pride is acceptable as a matter of course under the social reality while Elizabeth should be responsible for her own prejudice. Fairly speaking, Elizabeth’s prejudice does not originally exist but is stirred by Darcy’s pride. It’s an instinctive response when a woman’s personality is hurt and insulted. We can consider this from the author’s characterization: Although Elizabeth cannot be compared with Jane in appearance and with Miss Bingley in accomplishments and manners, she has the acute ability of observation and judgment based on genuine talent, strong confidence, and spiritual superiority. It is Elizabeth’s rebellious spirit, unyieldingness to social reality that attracts Darcy so much. Her struggle against fate gains true love from the noble male and a happy marriage. The author has successfully taunted and opposed to the mudane view of love and marriage with the character Elizabeth. We can realize Austen’s brand-new ideal of human dignity and views on women: Women are as intelligent as men. They’ve got the same ability to deal with the problem from a rational standpoint, which is to think about women’s own values and enjoy happy marriage based on true love. This might be the voice of women’s liberation delivered by Austen.
IV. Conclusion
Pride and prejudice, a simple emotional contradiction described in the love story between Darcy and Elizabeth, shows us the different mentation and value orientations of the unmarried British rural middle class youth during their courting and choosing mates. It reminds us of the cultural heritage, value and taste, political and economic structures in that era. It presents us the course of women’s awakening and liberation.The daily lives of ordinary people in Austen’s works profoundly reflect the essence of social realities and the process of history. No wonder commentators say that Austen’s rationality takes up Fielding’s realism.
Reference
[1]Jane Austen.Pride and Prejudice[M].上海：上海世界圖书出版社，2001.
[2] 陈明瑶.理性与感情——试析《傲慢与偏见》之情节构思[J]. 四川外语学院学报，2000 (1).
[Key words]pride;prejudice; emotional contradiction; rationality; emotionality.
I.Introduction
As a writer in the age of rationalism, the heroes in Jane Austen’s novels are described as “ordinary people of reason without any romance”, by which brand her representative work Pride and Prejudice is characterized. No one would doubt that Pride and Prejudice is a love story between Elizabeth and Darcy because only one clue exits throughout it-- the emotional contradiction, Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice. The whole plot is promoted round its emergence, development, transformation and integration.I’d like to take an analysis on the emotional contradiction of “pride”and “prejudice”.
Ⅱ.The emergence, development, and transformation of the “emotional contradiction”
Pride and Prejudice begins with a vivid presentation of the characters.The goal of Mrs Bennet’s whole life is to marry her five daughters to rich people as they have no right to inherit the property. She brings them to a ball to be known by Mr Bingley, their new neighbor, who is a wealthy bachelor. To her satisfaction, the eldest daughter Jane and Bingley fall in love with each other at first sight. However, another two extraordinary people, Darcy and Elizabeth, attract our more attention.
Darcy is a gentleman who draws people’s attention by “his fine, tall person, handsome features, and noble mien”. (Page 6) But he’s so proud and superior to the company that he refuses to dance with others and even insults Elizabeth by saying that “she’s tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I’m in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”(Page 7) These words hurt Elizabeth’s self-dignity badly and stir her prejudice to Darcy. As soon as the protagonists meet each other, the contradiction of “pride” and “prejudice” comes into being and the plot develops from this point.
During their consequent contact, Darcy is forced to acknowledge Elizabeth’s figure to be light and pleasing and her face to be rendered uncommonly by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. Obviously, Darcy has fallen in love with her, Darcy pays more and more attention to Elizabeth. Elizabeth can’t help concerning Darcy’s marriage. In vain has Darcy struggled and repressed his feelings that finally he proposes to Elizabeth. To his astonishment, he is refused and rebuked angrily. Elizabeth “hates his sense of her inferiority, of its being a degradation, and of the family obstacles”. (Page 141) So far, the contradiction develops to its climax and in fact this moment symbolizes the beginning of their transformation. Darcy realizes his fault and changes his arrogant attitude. He secretly helps Lydia’s marriage that safeguards the Bennet’s fame, and saves the love between Bingley and Jane. After knowing Darcy’s real character, Elizabeth’s prejudice changes into regrets, self-criticism, respect and even love. Since “pride” and “prejudice” disappear, the novel ends up with Darcy and Elizabeth’s happy marriage.
Ⅲ.The contradiction’s essence: An entanglement of “emotionality” and “rationality”, an embodiment of the author’s view of love
Jane Austen’s novels not only describe simple romantic affairs, but show us how the characters pursue their happiness and status. It’s quite clear that both the development of “pride”, “prejudice” and the characters’ daily thoughts as well as behaviors are influenced by “rationality”, which is just the basic standard of the author.
Darcy lives in an atmosphere filled with the conception of power and status since childhood, which made him arrogant and self-centered. He minds the status so much that even if he has been prompted by the irresistible love, he hesitates to propose to Elizabeth. At such a crucial moment, Darcy still keeps an arrogant attitude and show magnanimity before the very lady he asks to marry, which just intensifies their contradiction instead of attracting Elizabeth. Obviously, Darcy’s rationality is displayed by his strong sense of power and status. On the other hand, somber, calm, and practical are shown as Elizabeth’s rationality. She’s as sensitive as Darcy to her origin. She has to do her utmost to revolt against Darcy’s pride, protecting herself from being hurt, which is caused by a long-time mental accumulation as the second-class. “I shall certainly let him know that I see what he’s about. If I don’t begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.” (Page 16) —Her motto in dealing with the emotional entanglement has been the cause of constant quarrels and prejudice against Darcy. Only when Darcy throws off his airs and helps Elizabeth’s family sincerely that can Elizabeth accept the love which has already sprout in her heart.
As long as love exists, the strength of emotionality can’t be ignored, especially in a love story. From the very beginning, Darcy has been lost in the emotional entanglement, which is exactly out of his control. He proposes to Elizabeth once and once again, ignoring his relatives’ opposition and social reality. Elizabeth seems to detest Darcy so much, but she accepts Darcy’s invitation to dance together, and his explanations to her criticize. Moreover, she assures her love to Darcy after seriously fighting back the interference of his aunt.
Thus we can see that, “pride” and “prejudice” is actually an entanglement of rationality and emotionality. It clearly reflects Darcy and Elizabeth’s feelings under the rational restriction and the strength of love, which leads them to overcome the prejudice of both society and themselves. As an end to the novel, their marriage is a combination of emotionality and rationality, what is just Austen want to show us in her works. That’s a good reflection of her own view of love: Emotionality and rationality, ideal and reality should be in perfect harmony and happy marriage should base on true love.
Ⅳ.Social realities the contradiction reflect and its value
According to Marxist theory, we’d better set a problem into a certain historical scope to know it well. This naturally brings us to the everyday life of British rural middle class in the end of 18th century to understand the view of love embodied in Austen’s works.
“A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (Page 1) The first sentence of the novel has provided us the background of social relationship. To view it from another standpoint, a single woman who possesses nothing should marry to a rich man. A woman lacking economic assurance is actually in a passive situation of waiting for being chosen in marital market.. Marriage is the best way for them to gain social status. That’s the real connotation of the “universally acknowledged truth”, in which the inequality between men and women has been exposed completely.
Obviously, Darcy is the pet of this truth, who is loved and courted by so many young ladies. Just as Miss Lucas said, “His pride does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there’s an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favor, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud.”(Page 13) However, Elizabeth, an outstanding female, is beyond the truth. She has her own pursuit to love and put it as primary principle in choosing a mate. Her thoughts and actions that seem to conflict with the whole world cause the contradiction of prejudice against Darcy. She even refuses the prince’s proposal which makes the contradiction between “pride” and “prejudice” a highlight, because she suspects that she’s only treated as a “chosen good” without love, or Darcy is only attracted by her charming appearance, neglecting her real value. We may view the contradiction as a taunt to the marital problem as well as women’s advocating voice of personal independence and demand for equal rights in that era. Only on the basis of being loved equally, can Elizabeth accept Darcy’s second proposal. Their pursuit to true love and the realization of each other’s essence change their attitudes. “Prejudice” fades and “pride” disappears.
Some people may presume that Darcy’s pride is acceptable as a matter of course under the social reality while Elizabeth should be responsible for her own prejudice. Fairly speaking, Elizabeth’s prejudice does not originally exist but is stirred by Darcy’s pride. It’s an instinctive response when a woman’s personality is hurt and insulted. We can consider this from the author’s characterization: Although Elizabeth cannot be compared with Jane in appearance and with Miss Bingley in accomplishments and manners, she has the acute ability of observation and judgment based on genuine talent, strong confidence, and spiritual superiority. It is Elizabeth’s rebellious spirit, unyieldingness to social reality that attracts Darcy so much. Her struggle against fate gains true love from the noble male and a happy marriage. The author has successfully taunted and opposed to the mudane view of love and marriage with the character Elizabeth. We can realize Austen’s brand-new ideal of human dignity and views on women: Women are as intelligent as men. They’ve got the same ability to deal with the problem from a rational standpoint, which is to think about women’s own values and enjoy happy marriage based on true love. This might be the voice of women’s liberation delivered by Austen.
IV. Conclusion
Pride and prejudice, a simple emotional contradiction described in the love story between Darcy and Elizabeth, shows us the different mentation and value orientations of the unmarried British rural middle class youth during their courting and choosing mates. It reminds us of the cultural heritage, value and taste, political and economic structures in that era. It presents us the course of women’s awakening and liberation.The daily lives of ordinary people in Austen’s works profoundly reflect the essence of social realities and the process of history. No wonder commentators say that Austen’s rationality takes up Fielding’s realism.
Reference
[1]Jane Austen.Pride and Prejudice[M].上海：上海世界圖书出版社，2001.
[2] 陈明瑶.理性与感情——试析《傲慢与偏见》之情节构思[J]. 四川外语学院学报，2000 (1).