傲慢与偏见英文读书报告.doc

Pride and prejudice I read in vacationWhen I was in middle school, my English teacher recommended us to read some popular foreign novels, such as Jane Eyre, Gone with the Wind and Pride and Prejudice. At that time, I read such kind of novels which were translated into Chinese. I love them very much, from which, Pride and Prejudice is my favorite. I enjoy the love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Hence I have watched the film Pride and Prejudice several times and read the book which is written in English.Main CharactersAmong all characters, I like Elizabeth Bennet best. Elizabeth Bennet is the main character and protagonist. The second of the Bennet daughters at twenty years old, she is intelligent, lively, attractive, and witty, but with a tendency to judge on first impressions and perhaps to be a little selective of the evidence upon which she bases her judgments. The story follows as Elizabeth Bennet deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of early 19th-century. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the main male character. Twenty-eight years old and unmarried, Darcy is the wealthy owner of the famous family estate of Pemberley in Derbyshire. He is handsome, tall, and intelligent, but not convivial. His aloof decorum and moral rectitude are seen by many as an excessive pride and concern for social status. He makes a poor impression on strangers, but is valued by those who know him well. Later in the story, Elizabeth unknowingly teaches him to be more humble and caring.Other CharactersMr. Bennet is the patriarch of the Bennet, and he seems to have inured himself to his fate. A bookish and intelligent gentleman somewhat withdrawn from society, he dislikes the indecorous behaviours of his wife and three younger daughters, but he offers little beyond mockery by way of correcting them. Mrs. Bennet is frivolous, excitable, and narrow-minded, and is susceptible to attacks of tremors and palpitations. Her public manners and social climbing are embarrassing to Jane and Elizabeth. Jane Bennet is the eldest Bennet sister. She is twenty-two years old and is considered the most beautiful young lady in the neighbourhood. Her character is sweet, shy, and sensible, but not as clever as Elizabeth. Her most notable trait is a desire to see only the good in others. Jane is closest to Elizabeth.Charles Bingley is a young gentleman without an estate. His wealth was recent, and he is seeking a permanent home. He is handsome, good-natured, and wealthy, and he is contrasted with his friend Darcy as being less intelligent but kinder and more charming. Plot SummaryPride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The novel is restricted to country gentry and the provincial and village life of 19th century England. Pride and Prejudice emphasizes man in his social environment rather than in his individual conditions. And it is classified as Romantic. The story is told through Elizabeth, but not in first person. The atmosphere is intellectual and cold, and there is little description of the setting. The main actions of the novel are the interactions between opinions, ideas, and attitudes, which weaves and advances the plot of the novel. The narrative opens with Mr. Bingley, a wealthy young gentleman and a very eligible bachelor, renting a country estate near the Bennets called Netherfield Park. He arrives accompanied by his fashionable sisters and his good friend, Mr. Darcy. Attending the local assembly Bingley is well received in the community, while Darcy begins his acquaintance with smug condescension and proud distaste for all the country locals. After Darcys haughty rejection of her at the dance, Elizabeth resolves to match his coldness and pride, his prejudice against country people, with her own prideful angerin biting wit and sometimes sarcastic remarksdirected towards him.Soon, Bingley and Jane are attracted to each other. Janes romance with Bingley flourished quietly, aided by family calls, dinners and balls. Later Elizabeth begins a friendship with Mr. Wickham. Wickham tells her that he has been seriously mistreated by Darcy; Elizabeth seizes on this news as further reason to dislike Darcy. Ironically, Darcy begins to find himself drawn to Elizabeth, unbeknownst to her.Mr. Collins, the male relative who is to inherit Longbourn, makes an appearance and stays with the Bennets. Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth are amused by his self-important and pedantic behaviour. At a ball given by Bingley at Netherfield, Elizabeth is asked to dance by Mr. Darcy. At the ball, Collins and the Bennet familysave Jane and Elizabethcombine in a public display of poor manners and upbringing that clearly disgusts Darcy and embarrasses Elizabeth. The next morning, Mr. Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth, who refuses him, much to her mothers distress. Collins handily recovers and, within three days, proposes to Elizabeths close friend, Charlotte Lucas, who immediately accepts. Though appearing at the point of proposing marriage to Jane, Mr. Bingley abruptly quits Netherfield and returns to London, leaving the lady confused and upset. In the spring, Elizabeth joins Charlotte and her cousin in Kent. The parsonage is adjacent to Rosings Parkthe grand manor of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr Darcys auntwhere Elizabeth and her hosts are frequently invited to socialize. After Mr. Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam arrive to visit Lady Catherine, Elizabeth learns from Fitzwilliam that Darcy prides himself on having separated Bingley from Jane; and, with the poorest of timing, Darcy chooses this moment to admit his love for Elizabeth, and he proposes to her. Incensed by his high-handed and insulting manner, she abruptly refuses him. Deeply shaken by Elizabeths vehemence and accusations, Darcy writes her a letter which reveals the true history between Wickham and himself. Regarding Bingley and Jane, Darcy justifies his interference. After reading the letter, Elizabeth begins to question both her familys behaviour and Wickhams credibility. And her early impressions of Darcys character might not have been accurate. Some months later, during a northern tour, Elizabeth and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner visit Pemberley, Darcys estate, while hes away. As they tour the grounds Darcy unexpectedly returns home. He makes an obvious effort to be gracious and welcoming. Later he introduces Elizabeth to his sister, a high compliment to Elizabeth. Elizabeth is surprised and hopeful of a possible new beginning with Darcy.Elizabeth and Darcys renewed acquaintance is cut short by news that Lydia, the youngest sister, has run away with Wickham. Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle hurriedly leave for home. Soon, thanks apparently to Elizabeths uncle, Lydia and Wickham are found and married. By accident, Elizabeth learns that Darcy himself was responsible for both finding the couple and arranging their marriage.Bingley returns to Longbourn and proposes marriage to Jane who immediately accepts. Soon afterward, Lady Catherine has heard it rumored that Darcy was engaged to Elizabeth and come to Longbourn to order Elizabeth not to accept his proposal, but Elizabeth refused. The next day Darcy visits Longbourn, and once again proposes marriage. Elizabeth accepts, and the two become engaged. Pride had been humbled and prejudice dissolved.Personal Expression and ConclusionMy final thoughts on Pride and Prejudice are that it is a fascinating book but I am not entirely sure if I completely understood the thematic message of the book. I love the character of Elizabeth and I appreciate the marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth that reveals th