A Book Report of Pride and Prejudice
An introduction to the author
Jane Auston (16 December,1775 – 18 July,1817) was one of the most famous English novelists whose works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century. Although she never married in her all life, her plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. She is part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.
Plot summary
In Hertfordshire lives the Bennet family with five daughters. According to the law, the possession of Mr. Bennet can’t be inherited by any of his girls, which means that at least one of the girls should marry well to support the others on their father's death. One day, a rich gentleman Mr. Bingley, accompanied with his sisters and his best friend Mr. Darcy, come and rent a big house named Netherfield. At the inviting ball, love is soon in the air for the oldest and the most beautiful sister Jane and the newcomer Mr. Bingley, while the second sister Elizabeth with great cleverness has a prejudice against Mr. Darcy who looks haughty and aloof. As Elizabeth comes to Netherfield to visit the ill Jane, Darcy begins to be attracted by her. He struggles a lot and decides to propose to Elizabeth when they meet in Rosings Park, but she rejects him angrily. Later, Mr. Darcy gives Elizabeth a letter, explaining everything and makes an apology for hurting Jane, which makes Elizabeth begin to change her opinion. After knowing that it is Darcy that has saved the family’s good name for her sister Lydia who elopes with Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth finally determines her love with Darcy, and accepts his second proposal.
My Comments
With the scenes of its movie version in 2003 constantly floating around in my mind, I spent almost two months appreciating all the original novel of Pride and Prejudice. I have watched its movie for hundreds of times before. However, when reading the written words of Jane Auston, I am still deeply moved by the personality Elizabeth possesses, and the ideas about love and marriage.
I really love Elizabeth Bennet in this novel. Frankly speaking, it is her impressive smartness and her extraordinary courage that give this role soul to touch people. I do believe brainy is the new sexy. There are always so many women with beautiful looks while few with clever thoughts. Compared with the jealous and conceit Miss Bingley, Elizabeth earns the preference of her father as well as Mr. Darcy. It is too hard to require a woman, whose main job is to marry, to have the courage of making her own decision in 19th century. What I respect Elizabeth the most is that she never hides her passion to rock her own love and life. There is no doubt that she has broken the rules of the marriage market in that time. At such an awkward age urging for marriage, she has an incompatible courage to refuse proposals twice: one is from Mr. Collins who will inherit her father’s fortune, and another is from Mr. Darcy who is wealthy enough to provide her rest of life with splendor and glory.