英语专业毕业论文

1 OUTLINE Abstract Key Words I. Introduction II. The Analysis of Magic Jade in A Dream of Red Mansions 2.1. Social Background for A Dream of Red Mansions 2.2. Its Influences on the Character 2.3. The Characteristics of Magic Jade III. The Analysis of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice 3.1. Social Background for Pride and Prejudice 3.2. Its Influences on the Character 3.3. The Characteristics of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy IV. The Contrast between Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Magic Jade 4.1. Magic Jades Characteristics and Its Results 4.2. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcys Characteristics and Its Results V. Conclusion Bibliography 中文标题、摘要、关键词 2 The Contrast of Characters between Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Magic Jade Author: Liu Yining Number: 06680514 Tutor: Tan Yafang Abstract: A Dream of Red mansions, one of Chinese Four Great Classical novels, is a masterpiece of Chinese literature, which mainly tells a love story between Magic Jade and Black Jade. Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, a love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, is one of the greatest novel in western literature. Magic Jade and Mr. Darcy, both with distinct personality, come from the upper classes of society. But different social background, family, and different thoughts, lead to their different endings. Although, Magic Jade and Fitzwilliam Darcy are both living in the upper class of feudal society, they possess distinct personalities. Magic Jades rebellious character results in his tragic life. Mr. Darcy who originally maintains an arrogant character and shows his prejudice against Elizabeth, however, abandons all of his prejudice and gets married with Elizabeth finally. Key Words: Magic Jade； Mr. Darcy； characteristics； comparison I. Introduction Cao Xueqin and Jane Austen are both famous in the eastern and western literature. And A Dream of Red Mansions and Pride and Prejudice are their extraordinary masterpiece. Cao Xueqin (17151763), the author of A Dream of Red Mansions, is regarded as the greatest novelist in the Chinese literary history. His given name was Cao Zhan and his courtesy name is Mengruan. Cao belonged to a Han Chinese clan which later became part of the Plain White Branch of the Manchu Banners. Although forced into slavery to Manchu royalty in the late 1610s, his ancestors distinguished themselves through military service and subsequently held posts in officialdom. A Dream of Red Mansions provides a detailed, episodic record of the two branches of the Jia clan, the Rongguo House and the Ningguo House, who reside in two large adjacent family compounds in the capital. Their ancestors were made dukes, and as the novel begins 3 the two houses remain among the most illustrious families in the capital. One of the Clans offspring is made an Imperial Consort and a gigantic landscaped interior garden, named the Prospect Garden, is built to celebrate this event. The novel describes the Jias wealth and influence in great naturalistic detail, and charts the Jias fall from the height of their prestige, following some thirty main characters and over four hundred minor ones. Eventually the Jia clan falls into disfavor with the Emperor, and their mansions are raided and confiscated. In the storys preface, a sentient Stone, abandoned by the Goddess Nwa when she mended the heavens aeons ago, begs a Taoist priest and Buddhist monk to bring it to enjoy in the worldly world. The Stone and Divine Attendant-in-Waiting are separate. The main character, Magic Jade, is the adolescent heir of the family, a reincarnation of the Divine Attendant-in-Waiting. The Crimson Pearl Fairy is incarnated as Magic Jades sickly cousin, the emotional Black Jade. Magic Jade, however, is predestined in this life to marry another cousin, Precious Hairpin. This love triangle against the backdrop of the familys declining fortunes forms the most well-known plot line in the novel. Jane Austen (17751817) was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction among the gentry have earned her a place as one of the most widely read and most beloved writers in English literature. Amongst scholars and critics, Austens realism and biting social commentary have cemented her historical importance as a writer. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading. The stabilize support of her family was critical to Austens development as a professional writer. Austens artistic apprenticeship lasted from her teenage years until she was about thirty-five years old. During this period, she experimented with various literary forms, wrote and extensively revised three major novels and began a fourth. From 1811 until 1816, with the release of Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816), Northanger Abbey and Persuasion (1818). Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. Austen originally called the story First Impressions, but it was never published under that title. Instead, she made extensive revisions to the manuscript, then retitled and eventually published it as Pride and Prejudice. In renaming the novel, Austen may have had in mind the final chapter of Fanny Burneys Cecilia, itself called Pride and Prejudice and where the phrase appears three times in block capitals. 4 Pride and Prejudice has often been depicted as a simple story of love between a wealthy, proud aristocrat and intelligent, beautiful young woman born into a family of five daughters with little financial security. Elizabeth Bennet the second of five daughters in the Bennet family, is bright, attractive, witty, and of good moral character Though the storys setting is uniquely turn of the 19th century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of most loved books and still receives considerable attention from literary critics. This modern interest has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austens memorable characters or themes. This paper compares the following aspects: Firstly, the background of Pride and Prejudice and A Dream of Red Mansions. Secondly, authors thought and its influences on the characters. Thirdly, the characters of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Magic Jade. II. The Analysis of Magic Jade in A Dream of Red Mansions 2.1 Social Background for A Dream of Red Mansions The main line of A Dream of Red Mansions to Magic Jade, Black Jade and Precious Hairpin is between love marriage and tragedy. A description of the rise and fall of sediments represented by the Four Big families reveals the complex contradictions of the feudal family. The performance of the feudal marriage, morality, culture, education decadent and degenerate create a series of nobility civilians and the tragic image of a slave woman who has demonstrated an extremely broad typical feudal society living environment. Rebel extolling aristocratic also works against the feudal ethics and love. The initial pursuit of individual freedom embodied the democratic idea, and reveals the profound and comprehensive Jia, Lin, Xues love and marriage between social causes of the tragedy. However, due to historical limitations, the authors write in the demise of the feudal family, it is also expressed regret over the sad feelings Mongolia had one fatalism and nihilism colors. A Dream of Red Mansions is a great saga of a noble Chinese family. It portrays us Jia household as a center and Four Big Families (Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue) as the background which influence is the most important target and purpose to maintain stability and harmony of the family. Each person in the family is just the blood chain in the family. 5 Cao Xueqin, the author of A Dream of Red Mansions, lived in the mid-18th century of China. Although he would influence by the thought of bourgeois democracy and freedom, feudalism was still in dominant status. Bourgeois, which just began to sprout, seemed weak by facing the powerful feudalism. However, Bourgeois democracy and freedom, which always combat and destroy by feudalism, was just a hazy phenomenon. Cao, who was born in flourishing family and finally dead in a dilemma situation, lived an extravagant life in his youth. He became a plebeian with scarcely enough to feed and clothe himself after suffering political disaster which led his family fortunes declined. The huge drop led him to endure the whole gamut of human experience and the hardships of life. Being seen the demise of feudalism and destruction of niceness, Cao experienced lifes sorrow and frustration. Because of authors economic hardship and mental underappreciated, A Dream of Red Mansions laid a tragic tone. In A Dream of Red Mansions, under the domination of feudal ruling class, dramatis personae young men and women have no rights in love and making friends. It is improper for men and women to touch each others hand in passing objects. Getting married needs to present with respect and arrange a match by parents order and on the matchmakers word. It is precisely because the existence of such corrupt customs. It causes China staged numerous marriages and love tragedy since ancient times. In Chinese feudal society, it is limited in interaction between men and women, especially for women in their social communication. Then womens narrow social circle determines their access to a very small chance of a happy marriage. 2.2 Its Influences on Magic Jade Magic Jade, the main male character of A Dream of Red Mansions, is a figure who runs through the whole book. According to the textual research, there are authors personal experiences from the character. Magic Jade is brought up in a noble family that the whole family pays great expectations to him. But he, who doesnt like learning, hates the traditional ideas of feudal, disgusts his family by which he always fetter, fills with the rebellious spirit. Cao Xueqin can be called a master of characterization. In A Dream of Red Mansions, there exist more than four hundred and fifty characters； each of them has their own characteristics. In addition, Cao is proficient at fields of learning, like poetry, stone, 6 painting and calligraphy, medicine, architecture, cooking, printing and dyeing, etc. So description of a noble family in the daily diet, landscape architecture, furniture, utensils, clothing decoration and car sedan pomp, are true and delicate. 2.3 The Characteristics of Magic Jade In the eyes of feudal orthodox people, Magic Jade, who seems incompetence, worthless fellow, is a person with a contrariness nature. The author uses a negative article to characterize Magic Jades character by means of describing his malapropos manners. And those express more of his rebellious character. Magic Jade, whose manner doesnt fit with his familys hopes, exhibits his rebellious character in the following aspects: Firstly, Magic Jade is unwilling to read classics and to take the examinations career path of the economy. Magic Jade lives in the years, when men earn fame and fortune by means of taking imperial examination, and shows no interests in it, especially has an implacable hatred for eight-legged essays. He always says not are the seeking official position steps of posterity (Cao, 1986: 97), and regards the people who take imperial examination as people of the exploiting class who seek rank and handsome salary. He will not be reprimanded politely said: A good girl, who learns to Fish for fame and honors, is just the people of the exploiting class who seek rank and handsome salary (Cao, 1986: 155). In addition, Magic Jade hates the interaction with those nobility and gentry. Once, Jia Yucun, a poor scholar claiming relationship with the powerful Honored Mansion, begs for an audience to Magic Jade at Jia household. Magic Jade refuses him curtly. At the same time, Magic Jade, who doesnt read at a venture, always says Reading books which unrelated with imperial examination (Cao, 1986: 56). He likes reading romantic novels, for example, The Romance of West Chamber. Even, the manager from old-style private school praises him as Although, you hate reading, maintain a talent of working out crooked ideas especially in matching an antithetical couplet (Cao, 1986: 67). It is embody his essentials of basic training in the four couplets Magic Jade versified in palatial mansion. Like, Approach to Apricot Tavern The green tide fills the creek where clothes are washed； Clouds of fragrance surround the girls plucking water-cress Where the Phoenix Alights 7 Still green the smoke from tea brewed in a rare tripod； yet cold the fingers from chess played by quiet window. Pure Scent of Alpinia and Iris Singing on cardamoms makes lovely poetry； Sleeping beneath roses includes sweet dreams. (Cao, 1986: 123) It is obviously the rebellious character of Magic Jade in his unwilling to take imperial examination. He, who shows indifference or disregard on high official positions and riches, disregards people who cast aspersions on him, and yearning for freedom. Secondly, Magic Jade is combating the perspective of Males are supposed to be worth more than the other sex, and advance a new theory of Males are fouling and females are a fair name (Cao, 1986: 170). When Magic Jade was ten years old, he said Girls are made of water, men of mud, I feel clean and refreshed when Im with girls but find men dirty and stinking (Cao, 1986: 221). This, which is disregarding with traditional views, becomes the classical quotation of A Dream of Red Mansions. But, females, under controlling of males, involved by principles of the three cardinal guides and the five constant virtues as specified in the feudal ethical code, are in the position of subsidiary and oppresses. However, Magic Jade is a youth who was born in the feudal noble family. He shows his deeply sympathy, sincerely feelings of respect and affection to females, and regards males as mud. He is also a cordial abhorrence with males who always indulgence and philander. It is undoubtedly overthrowing the perception of males being supposed to be worth more than the other sex. This, which shows his rebellious to feudalism, possesses far-reaching consequences. Thirdly, Magic Jade is opposing to the feudal ruling class and yearning for equality and free life. Magic Jade is discrepancy with his status in his an opinion of equality. The first time he meets Qin Zhong who is Magic Jades classmate under the same tutor, Magic Jade said Surprisingly, there exists those kind of person! Now I become the guy who is lowly and vulgar unexpectedly. It is hateful why I was born in the noble family. If I were born in a poor family, its regretless for me to communicate with him in my life. The word 8 prosperity is afflicted with great suffering by me (Cao, 1986: 321). Thus, Magic Jade, who isnt aware of his respectable, is ashamed of it. He regards his brothers and sister, slave girls, or footboy as his treating equally to his friends. He admires the person from poor family, and yearns for free life out of palatial mansion. Therefore, Magic Jade always dreams a free life in a desolate place. At last, Magic Jades Yearning for freedom in love and marriage boldly. .A Dream of Red Mansions tells about a tragedy of non-freedom in love and marriage. It is an impressive tragedy love story between Magic Jade and Black Jade. The tragic roots of the novel are to arrange a match by parents order and on the matchmakers word. Freedom to choose ones spouse is unacknowledged with the tradition view of feudalism. Magic Jade, who rebels the perception of arranging a match by parents order and on the matchmakers word regardless, maintains his attic faith to yearning for freedom in love, and realizes the arrangement between him and Black Jade. He bravely blurts out I dont want the match between gold and jade, I only want the solemn oath contracted in days gone by the plant and stone (Cao, 1986: 333). The solemn oath contracted in days gone by the plant and stone (Cao, 1986: 356) means freedom in love, the match between gold and jade (Cao, 1986: 280) means subcelestial arrangement. Magic Jade, abandons the match between gold and jade, is a rebellious to feudalism. III. The Analysis of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and prejudice 3.1 Social Background of Pride and Prejudice The story of Pride and Prejudice took place in the time of the Regency in Britain. At that time, Britain was at the period of transition from the earlier stage of Capitalism to Capitalist Industrialization. In the countryside, the aristocratic family still held great power and right that country squires were likely to fawn upon them. However, as the development of Capitalism and the expand of the rank of rich people, the distinction between social strata was becoming smaller and smaller, while money was getting more and more important in peoples mind about social value. A western literature critic once said that even David Ricardo (a British economist) had an unlikely clearer understanding about the function of money in daily life as Jane Austen had.(Cao, 1986: 256)It is exactly because of the secure pledge in finance that the country squire society could be existing strongly and 9 solidly. Pride and Prejudice has often been depicted as a simple story of love between a wealthy, proud aristocrat and an intelligent, beautiful young woman born into a family of five sisters with little financial security. Elizabeth, the second of five daughters in the Bennet family, is bright, attractive, witty, and of good moral character. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the son of a wealthy, well-established family and the master of the great estate of Pemberley, is Elizabeths male counterpart. Jane Austens works criticize the novels of sensibility of the second half of the eighteenth century and are the part of a transition to nineteenth-century realism. Austens plots, though fundamentally comic, highlight the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security. Like those of Samuel Johnson, one of the strongest influences on her writing and her works are concerned with moral issues. During Austens lifetime her works brought her little personal fame and only a few positive reviews. Through the mid-nineteenth century, her novels were admired mainly by members of the literary elite. However, the publication of her nephews A Memoir of Jane Austen in 1869 introduced her to a far wider public as an appealing personality and kindled popular interest in her works. By the 1940s, Austen had become widely accepted in academia as a great English writer. The second half of the twentieth century saw a proliferation of Austen scholarship, which explored many aspects of her novels: artistic, ideological, and historical. 3.2 Its Influences on Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy Capitalism has been fully developed in British in her era. The Bourgeois, whose power is being stronger, earned a dominant position in the community. Democracy and freedom have become an irreplaceable part in social life. The problem, people faced, is not how to fight for democracy and freedom, but to use it. Democracy and freedom, which always be the unreal longing thoughts in human beings brain, have becoming living reality. In Austens works, these entirely phenomenon are the realistic picture of real-life. Although Austen was born in a well-off family, because of living in the rural towns, where only faced with quiet, comfortable living environment of landowners and clergymen. However, great changes in the UK and Europe, between social and economic revolution 10 vigorous, at that time, has not been reflected in her writings. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen does not follow the traditional Western literary pattern which is in a tragic stage, but use a comic tone in writing a field of life comedy. Whether strong Elizabeth and wisdom Darcy, weak Bingley and kind-hearted Jane, or wise Charlotte and arrogant stupidity Collins, nave Lydia and frivolous Wickham, the author would take a tolerant attitude and give them a happy ending. That is the reason why the narrator relates Elizabeths point of view of events more frequently than Darcys. So Elizabeth often seems to be a more sympathetic figure. The reader eventually realizes, however, that Darcy is her ideal match. Intelligent and forthright, he has a tendency to judge too hastily and harshly, and his high birth and wealth makes him overly proud and overly conscious of his social status. Indeed, his haughtiness makes him initially bungle his courtship. When he proposes to her, for instance, he dwells on how unsuitable a match she is more than on her charms, beauty, or anything else complimentary. Her rejection of his advances builds a kind of modest in him. Darcy demonstrates his continuous devotion to Elizabeth, in spite of his distaste for her low connections, until he rescues Lydia and the entire Bennet family from disgrace, and when he goes against the wishes of his haughty aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by continuing to pursue Elizabeth. Darcy proves himself worthy of Elizabeth, and she ends up repenting her earlier, overly harsh judgment of him. 3.3 The Characteristics of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy In the novel, Mr. Darcy is a wealthy gentleman with an income of at least 10,000 a year, and the proprietor of Pemberley, a large estate in Derbyshire, England. Darcy slights Elizabeth Bennet at their first meeting, but then is attracted to her, and later begins to court her in his own way, while struggling against his continued feelings of superiority. Ironically, when Darcy realizes his friend Bingley is seriously courting Elizabeths elder sister Jane. He disapproves, and subtly persuades Bingley that Jane does not return his feelings which he honestly believed. He later explains this seeming hypocrisy by asserting I was kinder to Mr. Bingley than to myself (Austen, 1999: 88). Although he does not realize this, Darcys interference in Bingley and Janes budding relationship has caused Elizabeth to dislike him intensely. It is when she defiantly rejects his proposal of marriage that Darcy is awakened； he is 11 stunned, and shocked into a new reality of how his behavior is perceived by others, especially Elizabeth. Now he reconsiders all, and then commits to go out of his way to demonstrate his respect and devotion for her. He tempers his pride, re-evaluates his feelings on the relationship between Bingley and Jane, and acts to rescue Elizabeths youngest sister Lydia from disgrace at the hands of George Wickham. After these two have run away together, Darcy induces Wickham to marry Lydia. His rescue of Lydia from disgrace was done not to win Elizabeth but to ease her distress. Because he tries to keep her from knowing about it, and because he feels responsible for having failing to denounce Wickham whom he knew had already attempted to seduce his sister. The novel suggests that it may have cost him as much as a years income. Mr. Bingley eventually comes back to Jane, and Darcy proposes to Elizabeth again. Elizabeth accepts him, and her mother is happy with the double wedding of her two eldest daughters to wealthy husbands. Darcy is depicted within the novel as a seemingly cold and aloof man with a large sense of personal pride that frequently expresses itself as arrogance. His distant manner and apparent contempt for those around him earns the disdain of both Elizabeth and many of the other characters, particularly in light of the claims of the more charming George Wickham that Darcy has wronged him, which are initially believed because of his more charming appearance. It is eventually revealed, however, that these first impressions are erroneous, as Darcys seemingly arrogant character masks a sincerely generous and upright nature, and that it was in fact Darcy who was wronged by Wickham, whose own character is revealed to be untrustworthy and duplicitous. Even his interference in the relationship between Jane and Bingley is explained as being motivated by genuine concern for the feelings of his friend rather than out of malicious intent. Although upon reexamination of his behavior Darcy comes to acknowledge that his interference was harmful and wrong. IV. The Contrast between Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Magic Jade After analyzing the characters of both Magic Jade and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the writer finds that Magic Jade and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy own some differences. 4.1 Magic Jades Characteristics and Its Results Magic Jade, the main male character in A Dream of Red Mansions, well-born and wise, is placed great hopes by his family. But his thoughts and characteristics impel his rebellion 12 to his family. It is not occasional of being such rebellious characteristics. Magic Jade is the character which could embody authors creative ideas. He has not only pleasing appearance, but also revealing a remarkable temperament which materialize his characteristics like clever, straightforward, indiscriminate love etc. especially, his rebelliousness which always discusses by the readers. Magic Jade, who always regards as lifeblood, is an extremely special person in Jia household. However, he, whose extraordinary manners and thoughts are unsuitable, is a person contrasting sharply with his family. The poem in the third part of the novel, Black Jade First Meets Magic Jade, named Xi Jiang Yue, which is a picture drawing by the author, describes the real characteristics of Magic Jade. It seems like poking fun at Magic Jade, actually, it is eulogize him. With studying the characters of Magic Jade, we can obtain the following aspects: At first, Magic Jade owns a tragic life. But, in the upper class of feudal society, Magic Jade lives, is with clear hierachy. He has no freedom to choose his future, career, and even his marriage. Simultaneously, his rebellious character leads to his tragic life. Secondly, Magic Jade owns rebellious character. Owing to his rebellious character, Magic Jade fights against the feudal ruling class and yearns for equality and freedom life. He always holds that everyone is born equally. Obviously, it is against the value of the mainstream culture at that time. This results in his tragic life. At last, Magic Jade, who is yearning for freedom in love and marriage, finally gets married with Precious Hairpin instead of Black Jade with whom he fills in love. Because he lives in the feudal society which ones marriage is arranged by parents order and matchmakers words. Thus, Magic Jade, who was born in a noble family, isnt fitting with feudalism. His rebellious character and yearning for ideality, is a fight for the society full of males being supposed to be worth more than the other sex. Finally, he failed with his rebellious, and his tragic ending makes people sigh and ponder. 4.2 Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcys Characteristics and Its Results Fitzwilliam Darcy is the main male protagonist. Twenty-eight years old and unmarried, Darcy is the wealthy owner of the famously superior estate Pemberley in Derbyshire. Portrayed as handsome, tall, and intelligent, but not convivial, his concern with decorum 13 and moral rectitude is seen by many as an excessive concern for social status. He makes a poor impression on strangers, such as the people of Meryton, but is valued by those who know him well. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a fictional character and one of two protagonists in Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice. He is an archetype of the aloof romantic hero, and a romantic interest of Elizabeth Bennet, the novels main protagonist. The storys narration is almost exclusively from Elizabeths perspective； she is portrayed as the sympathetic figure and Darcy hardly so at all until the later chapters of the novel as knowledge and ironic events are revealed to Elizabeth. Usually referred to only as Mr. Darcy, his first name is mentioned twice in the novel After analyzing the characters of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the writer finds the following aspects: At First, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy lives a happy life. However, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a wealthy gentleman with an income of at least 10,000 a year. He has enough freedom to choose what he wants to do, even to choose his life and marriage. So he gets married with Elizabeth Bennet finally. Secondly, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who maintains an arrogant character, gradually changes. And Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy shows an arrogant character at the beginning of Pride and Prejudice. After he meets Elizabeth Bennet, he starts to abandon the arrogant character, and finally falls in love with her. This change in the character earns him a happy life. Thirdly, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who is also yearning for freedom in love and marriage, finally gets married with Elizabeth Bennet who is the person he wants to marry. Because, he is wealthy, handsome, tall, and intelligent, at that time, he could choose his life style, career, and his marriage as he like. So he gets married with the person he wants to marry. Thus, his changing in his characteristics earns him a happy life, even he is born in a noble family. He is luckier than Magic Jade that he can choose his ideality and he has enough freedom to do what he wants to do, even Magic Jade and him are both born in feudal society. So, they both live in the upper class of society, with distinct personalities, lead to their different endings. 14 IV. Conclusion A Dream of Red Mansions and Pride and Prejudice are both famous in the eastern and western literature. And the male protagonist of the two works, who are the representative person, i